Introduction
As one of the largest cities in Asia, Hong Kong has been a world-renowned financial centre for some decades. Despite many businesses suffering from operational obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy of Hong Kong is gradually recovering. Foreseeably, the GDP of Hong Kong will continue to increase steadily in the following 4 years. As a result, Hong Kong can still utilize its advantages to attract non-local young professionals. Thus, we will delve into the 5 advantages of working in Hong Kong as a young professional in this article.
High average salary
In Hong Kong, full-time workers were averagely getting $439,000 HKD per year. This amount was equivalent to more than $36,000 HKD per month. In 2022, the average salary in Hong Kong ranked 12th among the world. This showed a comparatively high average salary earned by Hong Kong employees. As for young professionals, especially those who work in the business and finance sectors, they can possibly get higher pay.
Good career outlook
As we have just mentioned, Hong Kong is still standing strong with its unique status as Asia’s financial center as the economy recovers. Industries like banking and finance, technology, and sustainability tend to have a better career outlook. Moreover, big data, digital transformation, and ESG are also some prevailing trends to watch out for.
Low salary taxes
Besides the banking and finance industries, Hong Kong is also a famous tax heaven. Hong Kong’s highest salary tax rate band is only 17%, while the standard tax rate remains low at 15%. These tax rates are much more affordable compared to other similar cities like New York, London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, etc. Apart from the low tax rates, employees in Hong Kong can also use financial tools to reduce the amount of tax to be paid. These include:
- Tax-Deductible Voluntary Contributions in the Mandatory Provident Fund (TVC)
- Qualifying Deferred Annuity Policy (QDAP)
- Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VIHS)
- Combining QDAP and TVC, employees can possibly reach a maximum of $60,000 in tax reduction per year.
- For VIHS, employees can possibly reach a minimum of the $8000 limit of tax reduction per year.
A wide spectrum of visa schemes
There are generally a few schemes that are popular in Hong Kong. Firstly, the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) target worldwide high-quality talents. Besides, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) targets mainland professionals. Apparently, seizing these opportunities and grasping chances to work in this vibrant city as a young professional is not as hard as people think.
Convenience
Highly accessible transportation allows commutes between offices and living places to become more convenient and faster. MTR, buses, trams, and minibuses are the most used public transports by workers in Hong Kong, and their densities are surprisingly high. Besides transportation, Hong Kong has more than 800 supermarkets, 1,300 convenience stores, and over 100 traditional markets. Purchasing necessities like food is no longer time-consuming, even if you live outside the city centre.
How can FastLane HR offer help?
We believe that you have acquired a brief understanding of the 5 advantages of working in Hong Kong as a young professional. Fastlane HR has extensive experience in a full spectrum of work visa and work permit services. We have proven track records of facilitating successful applications for work visas, work permits, residency, and migration. Aiming to maximize the success rate of your applications, you can immensely save energy and time with our professional help. Should you have any inquiries, please contact us via WhatsApp, WeChat, or phone calls. You can also schedule a meeting with us for further information. We look forward to seeing you.