[Ronaldo]

Hi guys,

I know there are numerous posts about getting work permit in Hong Kong. I am a Singaporean who has been working in China for more than 2 years now. Since my resignation from my present job, I have been approached by one of my customers to join their HK company.

After a good meeting with the top management, I learnt that they have not hired an expat before although they are a member of a French MNC. Thus the HR Director said she will try to apply for a work permit like posting classified advertisements and giving reasons why they cant find such a position in HK. I trust that she will help me with that since she did mentioned the main steps involved.

Then I realised the job will require me to spend 50% of my time in their factory in China. So due to the high taxes in China, its best for me to be employed under the HK company. I am fine with that as I am quite familiar in the Southern region.

Yesterday I have this call from one of the directors (the one who introduced me) that its due to the work permit problem that is pulling them back. I felt surprised as most of my Singaporean friends have done theirs. Maybe all I know are foreign MNCs, this is HK company but I doubt thats the reason. And I heard that in order for them to hire me, my salary should be above HKD20,000 in HK and for the China side RMB10,000.00. This I am not sure but I know in Singapore, for a company to hire a expat, his/her salary must be more than SGD2500.

Actually in the first place, I dont harbour much hope on the job as I do intend to return to Singapore. But I felt hard done by this reason. Maybe its a good way to say no after they met me. I am thinking of getting the work permit on my own and prove that I can work around corners.

From previous posts, I have seen that I will need a employment contract from the company. And does the company have to supply any other documents to the Immigration Dept? I hope to gather more information and maybe drop by the Dept next week.

For the special skill section, I heard its mostly BS as its really up to the individual of selling the candidate. Any advise from the expats in HK who works for a HK company? Are they not as willing to hire an expat? Is there some sort of quota? I know in SG there is.

Thank you in advance and hopefully I will be become a HK expat from a China expat.