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  • 4 Post By Claire ex-ax
  • 3 Post By dak
  • 2 Post By HK_Katherine

Is it legal to work for free on HK employment visa?

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    18

    Is it legal to work for free on HK employment visa?

    Hello All,

    I am here on employment visa and I understand that I am not allowed to take paid work other than the company that is registered on my visa. However, do you know if I am also prohibited from working for FREE?

    I am simply bored but I don't want to violate any HK laws. I am inquiring because most of my weekend is normally wasted on watching movies on my ipad so I want to do something productive. I am a computer science graduate and used to be a web/graphic designer. I am by no means an expert but it was something i really enjoyed doing and in some ways relaxing. Unfortunately, my current office job does not provide me with opportunities to express my creativity and sometimes I miss doing those things


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Sarcasm - because beating the crap out of people is illegal
    Posts
    14,622

    You would have to get permission from your current employer (sponsoring your employment visa) and the Director of Immigration.


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    18

    wow that was quick.. thanks Claire..

    ..and if Grunt likes a post.. then it has to be true

    oh well, i will probably have PR status soon anyway.. i guess i will just have to wait a little longer

    Gruntfuttock, carang and cookie09 like this.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sai Kung
    Posts
    8,561

    what Claire writes is also true of extra paid employment over and above your work for your sponsoring employer.


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Hong Kong
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    12,323

    And true of voluntary (charity) work too. And ignored by pretty much everyone who helps out charities!

    Who would know what you were doing?

    scrambler and z754103 like this.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    1,756

    maybe you should work on some demo stuff in the meantime - reckon anyone who would think about askin u to help out is gonna want some samples first


  7. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    2

    it is illegal even work for free according to hong kong law,you can check it on Gov websites,o(︶︿︶)o


  8. #8

    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    1,880

    As Claire said, the law is pretty clear. What you need to do is weigh up the risk of (a) getting caught and (b) immigration prosecuting you. I think for unpaid work, or better yet, charity work, the risk of both (a) and (b) would be pretty low. It's something you need to decide for yourself though. Everyone has different tolerances to risk and as DeletedUser said, things aren't always black and white.