[pjkl]

I have been proposed a job in Hong Kong for a Hong Kong company, and Ihave to make a proposal for my salary.

I need your help. Is the difference between gross and net salary only 17% or is there somrthing else I have to consider ?

I plan to ask for an housing aloowance. Is it worth ? Does it have to include the total rent or only part of it ?

Regarding health insurance, an idea of how much t will cost me to suscribe for a family of 3 ?

What would cost roughly prschool fr my little boy who is 3 y old ?

If you think there are other things I shold consider, please do not heistate. Many questions I know, but if you have even one answer it would be really appreciated.

Thanks for our help and maybe see you soon.

[Mat]

- 17%...depends, from my understanding, on your salary..can be 0%..up to 17%.

- Housing allowance is of course worth it. Housing is (almost anywhere in the world) one of you biggest monthly expense..so it is worth it to ask for it.

- Heath insurance, not sure for a HK company, but I guess the company should take care of you and your dependent (most of the big companies provide health coverage).

- Preschool: there is a French International School in HK. if you plan on sending your child there, you can look for the prices on the internet (from memory it isn't cheap)

- If I were you I would also ask for the following:
- air tickets back home (once a year for you and your family)
- keep if possible your retirement scheme in France (ask the company to give you a lum sum - quaterly - to pay your retirement scheme in France)

[penguinsix]

Our health insurance, coming from the US, was actually more expensive in Hong Kong that American (which was surprise). I think it was almost 8000HK a month or something obscene for the two of us (more for a family). It covered basically everything, and even provided health care for us when we were back in our 'home country' (something you may want to look into if you are going back and forth).

* An airline ticket or two is good
* Moving money is good too, especially if you can get it in cash (there are always some things you don't ship but need to buy when you get there, like...well...coat hangers, or tin openers, or utensil trays, etc. Crap that adds up).
* Tuitiion to a private school is a nice perk.

[Lizzie@HK]

Bonjour Pjkl,

the difference between the monthly gross and net salary is 5% with a maximum of 1000 HKD/month. This is for the retirement scheme. This sum is given back to you when you leave HK. Then you have to pay the income tax (comme l'impot sur les revenus en France). This depends on how much you earn, how many people you have to support in your household. You can go on the following web-site from the French Consulate and download their guide for newcomers in HK "S'installer a HK et Macao" (dans la section publications). You will find very helpful information on HK, including how to calculate your tax.

www.fccihk.com

Re the housing allowance, go for it. Anyway, the more you can ask to your employer, the better. The amount depends of your position in the company.

For the health insurance, if your employer does not pay it, you can check on the internet how much it costs. I've been told by an other French in HK that Goodhealth is OK. And you have the option to go to the French health insurance CFE (caisse des francais a l'etranger qui est rattache a la secu fr: www.cfe.fr) + mutuelle. You may find cheaper health insurance in HK, but I personaly choose the CFE because I can be paid back when I'm in France and it works like the Securite sociale. I think they have a family package. You will find their price list on their web site.

You may know already: housing and health care are more expensive in HK than in France.

For the school, here is the web site of the French school in HK: www.lfis.edu.hk

Bon courage!