Australian Graphic Designer looking for a job..

[thundacatchergo]

a person from the labour department visited out office a few weeks back. she said it was a routine visit and asked to see everyone's ID card. She said if I didn't and can't show her my ID card, she'll have to report me to the police.

your only problem I see is immigration denying you entry on one of your visit run with your computer and all your work is in HK.

or your girlfriend got pissed off at you for spending too many early mornings in Wan Chai with your special lady friends and reported you to immigration.

Not that I am going to, but I was to break the law, I would legally avoid paying taxes in australia and work illegally in HK. THere are over 200 countries in the world. 1 country a year for 40 years. retire back in sydney with my money.

[jimbo]

Did we decide that it's legal to do that and get paid into my Aust account? I can't see why not.. So I am here on a visitors visa, doesn't stop me from
applying for jobs and getting sponsored, I'm only breaking the law if I work without a work visa..

Posted via Mobile Device

No its still not Legal as has been mentioned by myself and others.
You can't do any sort of work here even if its for an overseas business and being paid overseas. Plus you're not supposed to look for employment on a tourist visa.

Also if you do end up getting a work visa then you're not allowed to work for anybody else apart from the sponsor of the Visa without the express permission of Immigration.

[kryzlowski]

It does seem like it could be a bit of a grey area. But working freelance whilst here on a vistors visa is definitely illegal.. if caught. And I am talking about working for non HK businesses, and being payed into a non HK bank account.

I don't really understand the logic of the previous poster.. the law says you cannot work 'in HK'.. so why would it matter if the clients are not in HK, and the money never touches HK? The fact is you would be physically working here, and in my opinion that is what the law means. Yes, it is also true that this would mean many many consultants passing through HK break the law, but it is in this way I think it is a grey area. They make the wording of the law vague so that they can use it how they like. They are never going to arrest a consultant passing through even if they did happen upon them.

The chances of getting caught are very slim really, but the problem is living off renewed visitor visas (doing the visa runs). I don't think they actively seek illegal workers (working from home that is), but if you've spent 1-2 years here on visitor renewed visitor visas they can easily view it as suspicious, and label you a suspected illegal worker, which gives you about 14 days to leave. So, they do not have to prove anything.. they only have to suspect by your border activity that you are doing more then visiting they can throw you out!

[jamesii]

The chances of getting caught are very slim really, but the problem is living off renewed visitor visas (doing the visa runs). I don't think they actively seek illegal workers (working from home that is), but if you've spent 1-2 years here on visitor renewed visitor visas they can easily view it as suspicious, and label you a suspected illegal worker, which gives you about 14 days to leave. So, they do not have to prove anything.. they only have to suspect by your border activity that you are doing more then visiting they can throw you out!

Well said. Jimbo is correct by law, but as the law is grey here the chances of getting caught here are lower than winning billions of dollars. In all my years in HK I have never been asked to show my ID or passport anywhere, nor my passport (minus at the airport during arrival and departure).

You will not get drama once you are in HK, it will be at the border when your passport gets continually stamped with HK stamps.

Another solution - (now Jimbo will prob correct me) is open up a company here. There are alot of services that set up companies, visa's etc. They are usually advertised on the morning paper or HK-Magazine and it costs upwards of $6000 HKD. I know a few ppl that have done that and have been here for years ever since. Its good cause a) you pay lower tax then Aus, and b) you get a working visa here.
Worth a look at if you don't want to "break" the law....

[PDLM]

Indeed - it is at the airport (or Macau Ferry Terminal, or Shenzhen border crossing) that you will generally be stopped.

But having said that if you, for example, make a formal complaint to the police about the dogs barking near your residence then you will be asked for your ID, and if you can't produce a HKID then you are very likely going to be in trouble for residing in Hong Kong illegally.

Just out of curiosity, what is your view on illegal immigrants in Australia?

[JohanSWE]

Ok we get it......its illegal, that is it s gray zone doesn't not make it less illegal.
Now lets end this or it will just keep going back and forth with variations of the same arguments.