Recent news

Latest items of recent news relevant to Hong Kong as reported in our fortnightly newswire ‘Dernières nouvelles’.

Hong Kong: Increase in the tax rate for top earners (April 2024)

From 1st April 2024 a new two-tier income tax structure will be introduced …

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Hong Kong: State bonus to attract women back to work

The government is considering launching a three-year Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme, targeting individuals aged 40 or above who have not been in paid employment for three consecutive months or more …

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Hong Kong: Axa enhances work-life balance benefits in Greater China (HK&Macau)

The AXA insurance company operating in these special administrative zones has increased paid co-parent leave from 20 days to 40 days …

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Hong Kong: Student employment restrictions lifted

35,000 Full-time non-local postgraduate students are now temporarily exempted from the restrictions on working in all part-time jobs …

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Hong Kong: HSBC enhances parental leave

With effect from 1st January 2024, maternity leave enjoyed by the bank’s full-time employees will be increased from 16 weeks to 20 weeks for each pregnancy …

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Hong Kong: Visa-free access extended and expanded

The visa-free entry periods for the Hong Kong ‘Special Administrative Region’ (HKSAR) passport holders visiting the Republics of Albania and Uganda have been extended to up to 90 days …

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Hong Kong: Local brain drain

The Hong Kong government has relaxed its visa policy for Vietnamese, Laotian and Nepalese highly skilled workers …

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Hong Kong: Speedier facility for issuing multiple entry visas

Foreign employees of companies registered in Hong Kong SAR may now apply for a two (or more) year multiple-entry Chinese business visa at the China Visa Application Service Centre in Hong Kong SAR, with expedited processing …

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Hong Kong: Youth employment scheme extended to 31st December 2023

The scheme applies to Hong Kong residents who were awarded degrees by local or foreign Universities during 2021-23 and are lawfully employable in Hong Kong – provided applications are made before 31st December 2023 …

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Hong Kong: Work injury and special time-off compensation increased

The levels of compensation for employees injured at work, or those with occupational diseases, are generally adjusted every two years …

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Hong Kong: Expansion of the skills pool

To attract more high-skilled foreign nationals, the Talent List has been expanded …

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Hong Kong: Criminal record certificates necessary for visa applicants

Since February 2023 those applying under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) have had to make statements confirming they have a clean criminal record …

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Hong Kong: Changes to occupational safety and health legislation come into effect

The Labour Department (LD) now has the powers of indictment, with the maximum fines and imprisonment terms set at $10 million (US$1 …

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Hong Kong: New statutory minimum wage rate (1st May 2023)

The Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate has been raised from HK$37 …

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Hong Kong: Employment Ordinance (EO) provisions repealed

The Labour Department has announced that from 16th June 2023, the current temporary EO vaccination provisions will come to an end …

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