Hailed as the "Movie Capital of Asia", Hong Kong ranks as the third largest film industry in the world (after Hollywood and Bollywood).
Also, with recent developments in medical facilities, Hong Kong is posed to become the next medical tourism destination in Asia.
According to PayScale.com, the popular jobs in Hong Kong are in the Information Technology (IT), architecture, finance/banking, marketing and service industries. Other job opportunities exist in the telecommunication, insurance, real estate and tourism sectors.
Companies in Hong Kong are on the lookout for applicants with impressive work experience in their respective fields and a command of the Cantonese and/or Mandarin dialects. Teaching English can be a good springboard to get acquainted with the local language. In fact, there is a huge demand for English teachers.
Work Visa and Other Requirements
To avoid any legal predicaments, you should secure a work permit and Hong Kong ID before you relocate. Visitors with tourist visas are prohibited from taking up employment, starting up their own business or attending school - although there are instances of employers providing work such as teaching English, translating, modeling, acting in films or bartending, you do not want to take the risk of getting punished along with your Hong Kong employer. For further details on the procedure and work requirements, visit http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/home.htm.
Some sources for vacancies are the classified section of the South China Morning Post (Thursday and Saturday editions are most helpful) and the Hong Kong Standard (Friday editions) and job section of HK Magazine. Job-seeker tabloids like Recruit and Jiu Jik are available on Wednesdays and Fridays at most Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations for free. Try looking for Job Market Weekly and Career Times issues as well.
Business Etiquette
In Hong Kong, time is money, so meetings or negotiations are normally fast-paced, clear and efficient. Punctuality is therefore expected from both parties and, in case of inevitable conflicts, "courtesy time" (30 minutes extension) is allowed. Face-to-face meetings are usually preferred for conducting business transactions.
Saying "yes" does not agreeing with you - it usually means, "I understand." People generally avoid "no," so make sure to read between the lines.
For business attire, conservative Western-style suits and ties, dresses or blouses and skirts are deemed appropriate.
Working Hours
Office hours are from 9am to 5:30pm or 6pm on weekdays and from 9am to noon or 1pm on Saturday. Office lunch break is from 1-2PM.
Banks are open from 9am to 4:30/5:30pm on weekdays and 9am to 12:30pm on Saturday. Shops are typically open from 10am-7pm daily; shops for tourists are open longer. Restaurants are open from noon to 3pm and dinner is served from 6pm until 11pm.
Wages
Hong Kong follows laissez-faire economics, and with its adaptable labor market, there is no official minimum wage. However, in light of the recent recession, the government recently introduced a bill to set a salary standard to benefit low-income employees.
The government has enforced a minimum allowable wage of HK$3,580 (US$460.89) for foreign domestic helpers since 1973.
Wages in Hong Kong can be on an hourly, daily, monthly or piece rate basis. In 2007, the average monthly wage for supervisory, clerical, technical and miscellaneous non-production workers amounted to HK$11,712 (US$1,507.83) with about 1.5% increase per annum.
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