CNY Lai See Etiquette - Who, How Much, When and Why?

[pin]

So what's the going rate? I have this discussion with the missus every year and we always forget. As a couple do we have to give two lai see (i.e. one per person) or just one (i.e. one per couple)?

- Door people? HK$20
- Unmarried siblings? HK$500
- Unmarried sibling's boyfriend? Anything????? HK$20????
- Helper (newly started)? HK$500
- Secretary? HK$500?

Edited:

Merged a few threads and bumping this back up for the annual FAQs surrounding CNY Lai Sees.

https://geoexpat.com/articles/hong-k...-see-etiquette

[HK_Katherine]

Door people and similar - HKD 20
Work people (secretary and juniors ) - probably a minimum of HKD100 but 500 sounds a lot for a secretary.

As for helper - is she chinese? why would she expect anything if not chinese? This is the place I always struggle - what to do about non-Chinese. As in most of my staff. We give our bonuses around CNY... do I give them money too? Why?

(PS thanks for the reminder to go and get some new notes!)

[z754103]

In my office - fellow colleagues - $100. The secretary who supports you/your team - $800-2000 depending on your seniority etc.

Some expats will give things to their secretaries like spa coupons rather than cash, never sure how the recipients feel about it.

[HK_Katherine]

Now in a VERY long queue in HSBC Premier for notes! Clearly this is a popular thing to do....

[shri]

We've not given new notes for ages... people appreciate the amount, not its age.

[HK_Katherine]

We've not given new notes for ages... people appreciate the amount, not its age.

Do they? My understanding is that the point of this is not to give money but to give luck, and thus new notes are important. Or at least nice crisp looking notes. I

[HK_Katherine]

Apparently we should all use " good as new" notes.

Using good-as-new notes for lai-see

[jgl]

If you can spend it, it's "good as new"

[chuckster007]

Some ppl waited over 2 hrs yesterday for new notes at banks, luckily my MIL to get some for us but I told my mrs, ppl care about getting money, they dont give a monkies if its new notes or old notes. given a choice of brand new 20$ or old 100$, what do u think ppl would want to get LOL

- Door people? HK$20
- Unmarried siblings? HK$100
- Unmarried sibling's boyfriend? HK$20 / 50 MAX
- Helper (newly started)? HK$500
- Secretary? HK$500
- Friends kids - $50

[chuckster007]

So what's the going rate? I have this discussion with the missus every year and we always forget. As a couple do we have to give two lai see (i.e. one per person) or just one (i.e. one per couple)?

Dude I wouldnt worry what other people give, whats the going rate blah blah blah, Its your bloody own HARD EARNED money that you are giving away. Give what you can afford and what you think ppl deserve.

Every person is going to have different amounts they give away.