[mogul_mania]

Hello - I just relocated to HK and will be Frank in the question I seek an answer to. Looking for others knowledge/experience through their own investigations or corporate negotiations.

What is your knowledge surrounding COLA's for individuals and can you direct me to literature/policy on how COLA's are applied? Specifically I am looking for documents which will identify whether COLA's are applied when on business trips. I am reviewing the comparison between per diems and COLA's.

Thanks if you have information regarding the above.

[PDLM]

When I was on an expect package the COLA was a fixed monthly allowance regardless of how much I travelled. In addition, when I travelled I was on full expenses (not a per diem, but subject to reasonableness tests). Since I was travelling 70% some years this was rather a good package.

[mogul_mania]

thanks for the information - and similar to my thoughts. I presume your not an Expat anymore?

[PDLM]

No - I went onto a local package about 3 years back. It didn't make much difference to me since I was being hypotaxed at UK rates (about 35% average) on the expat package, so the savings in tax bill more or less offset the loss of COLA/housing. But that's because I am single - obviously if you have kids and school fees as well then an expat package almost always looks more attractive.