Anyone on a local employment contract?

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  1. #11

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    spaceman,
    trying to interpret what you said, u were placed into a expat after your probation ? or shld we interpret it that you are given a raise in the form of a housing allowance after your probation ?

    expat contract actually means the person continues to be employed by the head company that sends the person over. the orginal basic pay remains, and any cost including housing, schooling, living expenses, etc, are paid in addition to the person. when the person goes back to the hq, the benefits are taken away.

    rental apartition of pay is applicable even to local hkers. not just foreigners.

    and on the other point about putting 10k as housing and 15k as base pay. to do that, one would have to provide the necessary paper trail in case IRA decides to check on you. i doubt anybody being paid 25k p/m would want to rent a place that cost 10k. so eventually you only allocate your actual rent of your pay for the tax considerations.


  2. #12

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    As for my situation, it's rather complicated. Yes, i'm still employed by the company back home. I am a proper expat. There was this funky stipulation during my 'probationary' period here, which wasn't really a probationary period, by definition of expat, but it was based on this scenario, in case this happened, pending this result, to guarantee this, to those parties, with this portion going to this...you get my point...anyways it's all irrelevant - i didn't mean to make it about me.

    As for the MPF, 10k/15k, it's unlikely I admit, but 40% of income dedicated to housing is certainly not unheard of, not in hk at least, and not at that price point. Also, maybe for someone making 20k (total) per month income/housing split might have more pertinent MPF implications, but perhaps with that level of salary a housing allowance is unlikely. in the end it's only a few hundred a month, I suppose.

    are there other advantages FOR THE COMPANY to pay a certain amount in housing instead of straight salary?


  3. #13

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    also, doesn't immig have a non-written policy that a visa won't be granted for a "salary" of less than around 20K? in which case, your "salary" portion of your package, if you break it up, would not be high enough....


  4. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by carang:
    also, doesn't immig have a non-written policy that a visa won't be granted for a "salary" of less than around 20K? in which case, your "salary" portion of your package, if you break it up, would not be high enough....
    Not always. Know of at least two people on a 17K salary + 10 K housing.

    That said it is true that if the salary is too low immigration might refuse the visa.

  5. #15

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    maybe they were ok then because of the housing...i wasn't sure if the immig would take that into consideration or not. thanks!

    ps. i'm sure glad that i dont have to worry about visas ever again, at least not for HK, canada, or the EU!!!


  6. #16

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    Feb 2006
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    I hope Immigration doesn't mind under 20K. My company told Immigration that I will be making 18k per month.


    Somewhere to live bigger than a shoebox (that doesn't involve an hour's commute), and clean air (such that you don't get that sticky feeling every time you go outside) would be two good indicators I'd say. Let's be honest, most people come to HK for the money
    I don't know if I agree with all your statements. First of all, are you aware that the reason you get sticky and hot when you go outside is due to a sub tropical climate? The air quality doesn't help, but even if the air was perfectly clean you would be hot. Same as most of Africa for instance. Egypt is pretty low pollution but you would be hot in the street.

    In fact I know of people that pay good money to go to hot places in Mexico, Hawaii, Thailand and they do this for vacation!

    I am sure lots of people came to Hong Kong for the country. I myself am here because I enjoy Hong Kong and my friends here, not at all money.

  7. #17

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    Nov 2006
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    Don't worry about Immigration - I see this imaginary figure of $20,000 being posted all the time on this and other forums - it's rubbish. My fingers would be sore if I replied each time to dismiss it.

    I know of one ex-pat who was refused for a salary of $14000, though that was about 5 years ago. I have had several applications granted for salaries between $17000 and $20000. Of course it's at the discretion of Immigration, but as long as your profession is reputable you should have no problems.