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How to Open a Company in Hong Kong as a Foreigner in 2020

November 28, 2019 - Written by SDC

register a company in hong kong

This article is a step-by-step guide on opening a company in Hong Kong.

All the information that you’ll find on this page comes from our personal experience.

Open a company in Hong Kong – Index

  1. The pros and cons of registering a limited company in Hong Kong
  2. How to open a company in Hong Kong without living or even going there
  3. All the documents you need to open a company in Hong Kong
  4. The total cost of registering and maintaining a company in Hong Kong
  5. How to open a multi-currency business bank account in Hong Kong (if you need it)
  6. How to get a government grant for your small business in Hong Kong
  7. How to spot an honest agency and avoid scammers while opening your company
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Get a free quotation from a reliable agency

If you want to know the name of an honest and capable licensed agency that can help you register your company, you can contact us via this contact form
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business with China Tagged With: Company in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Best Tailors in Hong Kong – Our Top 7 Picks

November 21, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Best Tailors in Hong Kong

Best Tailors in Hong Kong – Index

  1. Punjab House (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
  2. Raja Fashions (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
  3. Empire Tailors (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
  4. Sam’s Tailor (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)
  5. Jim’s Tailor Workshop (Admiralty, Hong Kong Island)
  6. A-Man Tailors (Central, Hong Kong Island)
  7. Manhattan Tailors (Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui)

Are you looking for a tailor in Hong Kong? Keep reading to discover 7 among the best tailors in the city. For each of them, we provide a short description, link to their website, address and opening time.

Punjab House (Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)

Punjab House was founded in 1889 and is located on Nathan Road (Tsim Sha Tsui), Kowloon. It’s one of the oldest and most bespoke tailors in Hong Kong. They are a partner of Apsley Tailors in London and you can see that the Hong Kong store is now branded as Apsley Tailors as well.

Over the years, or should I say decades, Punjab House has catered to the British Army, Royal Navy, and primarily the business class of Hong Kong. They have sponsorships with British football clubs such as Fulham and West Ham United, but also with the Qatar World Cup. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

How to Get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong

November 20, 2019 - Written by SDC 843 Comments

chinese visa in hong kong

Need help to get your Chinese visa?
Click here to find out more!

How to get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong – Index

  1. Do I need a Visa to visit Hong Kong?
  2. Where can I get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong and how much does it cost?
  3. How to travel from China to Hong Kong (the cheapest way)?
  4. Frequently asked questions

Before you begin

If you can’t apply for a visa in your country of residence because you already live in Asia or you’re traveling, Hong Kong is still the best place to get one.

In the first part of this article, we’ll explain where you can apply for a visa in Hong Kong (you can use an agency or go directly to the CVASC), and which documents are necessary for getting a visa.

In the second part of this article, we’ll explain how to travel from China to Hong Kong in the quickest and cheapest way in order to get a visa.

Note that all the information that you’ll find in this article is the result of our own personal experience since we’ve applied for many visas in Hong Kong, starting way back in 2012.

For more general information on Chinese Visa, I suggest you read Chinese Visa application: A complete guide.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips, Travel around Asia, Work in China Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

Travel to Hong Kong: The Complete Guide

November 15, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Travel to Hong Kong

Travel to Hong Kong – Index

  1. Getting a visa to travel to Hong Kong
  2. Travel Insurance for Hong Kong
  3. Hotels and hostels in Hong Kong
  4. Vaccines and medicine for a trip to Hong Kong
  5. Flying to Hong Kong
  6. Internet and phone cards
  7. Money, ATMs and credit cards
  8. The MTR system in Hong Kong
  9. What to bring to Hong Kong?
  10. When to travel to Hong Kong?
  11. Common sense and cultural issues in Hong Kong
  12. Food and drinks in Hong Kong
  13. Nightlife in Hong Kong
  14. Shopping and bargaining

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

International Moving Companies for Hong Kong

November 7, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

International Moving Companies for Hong Kong

Moving Companies for Hong Kong – Index

  1. Get up to 5 free quotes from trusted moving companies
  2. How much does it cost moving to Hong Kong?
  3. List of moving companies in Hong Kong

In this article, we will list several moving companies for sending your goods to Hong Kong (if you are moving there) or from Hong Kong (if you are planning to leave the country).

Also, via the form below you will be able to get up to 5 free quotes from trusted moving companies chosen by our moving service partner.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

Travel Insurance in Hong Kong for Travelers

November 1, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Health Insurance in Hong Kong for Travelers

Note: If you are only interested on getting a free quotation for a travel insurance, then we recommend World Nomads (click here to get your free quotation).

Health Insurance in Hong Kong – Index

  1. Why do I need health insurance when traveling to Hong Kong?
  2. The healthcare system in Hong Kong
  3. Hospitals in Hong Kong
  4. What insurance do we recommend?
  5. What should a good health insurance policy cover?
  6. What to do if you need medical attention?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

Living and working in Hong Kong: The Complete Guide

August 30, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Living and working in Hong Kong

Living and working in Hong Kong – Index

  1. Transportation system in Hong Kong
  2. Weather in Hong Kong
  3. Where to live in Hong Kong
  4. Tourism in Hong Kong
  5. Hospitals and clinics in Hong Kong
  6. Schools and universities in Hong Kong
  7. Shopping in Hong Kong
  8. Addresses and useful numbers in Hong Kong
  9. Forums and directories of Hong Kong

This guide is a collection of resources and practical advice for living in Hong Kong.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips, Work in China Tagged With: Hong Kong, Work in China

How to open a Multi-currency Business Account in Hong Kong

August 28, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

How to open a business bank account in Hong Kong

Business Bank Account in Hong Kong – Index

  1. Introduction: Your options
  2. How to open a Neat business account in Hong Kong
  3. How to open a “traditional” business account
  4. How to open an off-shore business account
  5. Frequently asked questions

Introduction: Your options

If you’re reading this article then perhaps you already know that in recent years, opening a business bank account in Hong Kong for your company has become complicated.

The time has passed when you could just show up at any branch and open a business bank account in one day.

But all is not lost. These days there are three ways for handling payments for your company in Hong Kong:

  • Open a “traditional” bank account in Hong Kong (this as I already mentioned has become complicated, as I will explain in detail later in this article);
  • Open an off-shore bank account: this could be simpler but is more expensive, and would also make it very hard to accept payments through Paypal or credit cards via Stripe or Braintree (the companies used by the majority);
  • Open an “alternative” account with Neat, one of the first startups to offer business bank accounts in Hong Kong that can be opened for free, giving you access to international payments, allows you to accept payments through Paypal or credit cards, and even gives you the right to a prepaid MasterCard.

In this article, I will describe these three options. I’ll start with Neat, since it’s the simplest. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business with China Tagged With: Company in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

How to Get a Visa for Hong Kong: The Ultimate Guide

August 2, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Hong Kong visa

How to Get a Visa for Hong Kong – Index

  1. Do I need a Hong Kong Visa?
  2. How long does it take to process a Hong Kong Visa?
  3. How much does a Hong Kong Visa cost?
  4. What are the different types of Hong Kong Visas?
  5. Where can I get a Hong Kong Visa?
  6. What are the documents required for a Hong Kong Visa?
  7. Frequently asked questions

Hong Kong is a melting pot of different cultures and has one of the most business friendly climates in the world. With skyscrapers standing tall, islands, low taxes and a well-functioning system, it’s not strange why many professionals and travelers go here.

Yet, before you embark on your journey to Hong Kong, it’s important that you know if and what type of visa you need. This article covers most of the information you need to know when applying for different visas in Hong Kong.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

Coliving spaces in Hong Kong: A Complete Guide

July 12, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Coliving space in Hong Kong

Coliving space in Hong Kong – Index

  1. What is a coliving space?
  2. For how long time do I need to sign up?
  3. Best coliving spaces in Hong Kong
  4. How much does it cost to rent or share a regular apartment in Hong Kong?
  5. Should I choose coliving or a regular apartment?

Hong Kong has the most expensive real estate market in the world and the young generation is mainly to suffer. However, as property prices reach all time highs, we’ve seen a new industry and trend popping up, namely “coliving”.

In this article, you’ll learn what coliving really means (in modern terms), which companies that offer this kind of service in Hong Kong, how much it costs, and more.

Let’s start and have a look what the definition of coliving is.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips Tagged With: Hong Kong, Work in China

The Love for Dogs in Hong Kong

June 28, 2019 - Written by Ginevra Niccolini Serragli Leave a Comment

Dogs in Hong Kong

How many times have you heard it asked “do they eat dogs in China”?

It’s absolutely true but take note of this important distinction: it’s not as widespread as believed in the West and the dog meat festival in Yulin, in Guangxi province, is at the center of controversy and contention.

Despite attempts to block it by various animal rights groups (and not just them!) even this year, in the early days of May, when the arrival of Spring is generally celebrated and life renews, in Chinese cities they are restaurants and consumers, giving life to a horrible slaughter, consuming between 10.000 and 15.000 specimens in the ten days of the festival; the poor creatures are perhaps glad to end up cooked rather than to stay in le povere bestiole sono forse perfino grate di finire cucinate invece che rimanere in macabre cages.

The organizers insist that there’s no difference between eating the meat of pigs, poultry and dogs, arguing in favor of health benefits. Chinese newspapers speak of the event in purely cultural terms, not at all giving poor Rex, Lilly, Argo or Luna special status and branding like an obsession the criticism of Western public opinion. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Society, Survival Tips Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

Coworking Space in Hong Kong: The Ultimate Guide

June 21, 2019 - Written by SDC Leave a Comment

Coworking Space in Hong Kong

Coworking spaces become increasingly popular in many Asian countries including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Before the rise of coworking spaces, both digital nomads and startups had to rent expensive office spaces, work from home, or work from cafes. Coworking spaces, on the other hand, are convenient, more social, and often cheaper.

Thanks to my positive experiences of using coworking spaces around Asia and in Hong Kong, I decided to write this article.

Coworking Space in Hong Kong – Index

  1. How many coworking spaces are there in Hong Kong and how’s the market?
  2. What are the benefits of using a coworking space?
  3. What are the differences between a hot desk, a dedicated desk and a private office?
  4. How much does it cost with a coworking space in Hong Kong?
  5. Best coworking spaces in Hong Kong

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business with China Tagged With: Hong Kong, Work in China

How to Obtain the 5-Days Visa (VOA) for Shenzhen

January 9, 2019 - Written by Daniel De La Fuente 13 Comments

5-day visa shenzhen

Temporary visas for Shenzhen are issued for tourism purposes only. In the article below, we go into further details and update the information offered in our previous article on business visas, as well as give answers to the following questions.

How to Obtain the 5-Days Visa (VOA) for Shenzhen – Index

  1. Why visit Shenzhen?
  2. Who can get a temporary visa for Shenzhen?
  3. Where can I get a temporary visa for Shenzhen?
  4. What are the requirements for obtaining a temporary visa and how much does it cost?
  5. How long does the temporary visa last and how many entries does it allow?
  6. What are the steps for requesting a visa?
  7. With this temporary visa, can I visit other Chinese cities in addition to Shenzhen?
  8. Can I get this visa at my embassy or consulate?
  9. Does this visa allow me to work in China?
  10. Can I get a similar visa at the border between Macao and Zhuhai?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips, Travel around Asia Tagged With: Guangdong, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Travel in China

Chinese Fashion: Why it’s a Trend in Itself and not Simply Imitation

May 25, 2018 - Written by Luna Zhou Leave a Comment

Chinese fashion in Hong Kong

China is always making the news. A large number of foreign countries are turning their focus to the Asian giant in different spheres: the economy, politics, trade, tourism, new business opportunities… and fashion is not an exception to this.

For many years there have been preconceived notions around design and fashion from China, associating its designs with poor quality clothing, wholesale purchasing and sales and knockoffs.

In this article, you will discover why the world of fashion is changing in China and how the trends of Chinese consumers have changed. In addition, we will go over the most important fashion centers in Hong Kong.

How has the mentality of Chinese society changed with respect to fashion?

Chinese society is spending and investing in fashion. The purchasing power of Chinese citizens has been changing over the past years. The trend of purchasing better quality articles has also materialized in the fashion sector, in which originality, customization and looking for unique and distinct outfits are dominant. The luxury sector has exploded: it doesn’t matter how much an outfit costs; if it’s high-quality and different, people will pay the price.

In Europe, it has also been possible to see how Chinese tourism has become a key factor in the tourist industry, not only because of the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country, which is increasing every year, but also because of how much they are spending. The average purchase receipt for a Chinese tourist is approximately 1,000 Euro. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Society, Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

How to get a Business Prepaid Card for your Hong Kong Company

March 15, 2018 - Written by SDC

Business Prepaid Card for your Hong Kong Company

As you probably already know if you are reading this article, getting a business credit card from an Hong Kong bank may be difficult.

If you couldn’t find a way to get one, but your business still need a card in order to paid bills online or withdrawal cash at ATMs worldwide, then you can now get a prepaid card through an agency.

The agency fee is 5,000 HKD and here what you will get:

  • A prepaid card (Visa or MasterCard) that is reloadable and accepted world-wide for online purchase, cash withdrawal at ATMs, Points-of-Sales Terminals in over 210 countries;
  • Manage and monitor the account status and balance anywhere via ATM machine, internet, or smartphone application;
  • Maximum daily loading limit: 20,000 USD;
  • Type of card: Visa or MasterCard;
  • The card can be anonymous or with your name, and it’s not linked to a bank account (you can reload by sending money to the account connected to the card);
  • Monthly fee: 5 USD (more an initial one time fee of 15-20 USD for the card application and delivery).

Click here to send an inquiry to the agency we recommend for getting a prepaid card

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business with China Tagged With: Company in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Feng Shui in Hong Kong

May 16, 2016 - Written by Ginevra Niccolini Serragli Leave a Comment

fengshui hong kong

Five centuries have passed since Father Matteo Ricci, the only westerner together with Marco Polo depicted at the Millennium Centre of Beijing, where the story of those men who contributed to China is recalled, arrived as the first Catholic missionary to the court of Emperor Wan Li, and came into contact with the complex and ancient rules in the Taoist tradition move the universe. His role as a religious figure evidently did not allow him to this very real philosophy, that he labelled a superstition, although he remained fascinated by it.

Fēng Shuǐ (风水), born as a geomantic art that has roots in the most ancient Chinese tradition, is today a discipline that is the best union between the natural elements and man-made nature.

Literally the word means wind and water, the two elements that mold the earth in the most meaningful way. It is not by chance that in the Orient the large stones worked only by the wind and erosion by water, called gōngshí, are considered actual works of art. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Chinese History, Society Tagged With: Chinese History, Hong Kong, Travel in China

The top 20 tourist attractions of Hong Kong

May 3, 2016 - Written by SDC 2 Comments

In view of the success of our “Complete guide for traveling in China“, I thought I’d write a similar guide about traveling to Hong Kong (visas, transport, hotels, etc).

But then I thought of how, before arriving in Hong Kong for the first time, I didn’t even know what there was to see. So I decided to publish, first of all, an article introducing the main attractions of Hong Kong. Enjoy!

P.s. The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is Hong Kong’s subway system. Click here for an interactive map.

P.p.s. Click here to read the review of the best hotels in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Island

1. Watch the show “A Symphony of Lights” on the Avenue of Stars

We’re not just talking about any light show: A Symphony of Lights is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest permanent light show on the planet. In fact, 45 buildings along the Skyline of Hong Kong Island “shoot” laser lights toward Victoria Harbor in time to music. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Travel in China

Living in Shanghai, Beijing or Hong Kong? Pros and Cons

April 19, 2016 - Written by SDC 49 Comments

living in ShanghaiShanghai’s skyline

People often ask to us what is the best city to live in China, Shanghai or Beijing? And is Hong Kong an option? What about second or third tiers cities?

Obviously there isn’t a right answer: it depends on what you’re looking for. In this article we’ll focus on Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong and look at the most important factors (cost of living, carrier opportunities, quality of life and so on) in order to solve some of the most common doubts.

Before we start…

If you’re looking to move to China and you didn’t read it yet, make you a favor and get our free e-book.

Also, keep in mind that Hong Kong S.A.R. (Special Administrative Region) is a Chinese Province only since 1997 (before it was a British colony). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips, Work in China Tagged With: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Work in China

The Best Hotels in Hong Kong, the Fragrant Harbour

June 17, 2015 - Written by SDC 2 Comments

Hong Kong is divided into several islands (Hong Kong island, Landau and others) and a peninsula (Kowloon and New Territories). Beside its “complicated” geography, here you’ll find hotels of all kind of prices and quality, which makes the choice extremely difficult. This guide is a selection of the best hotels in Hong Kong, whatever your budget may be.

If your looking for general recommendations on booking hotels in China you can click here to read our guide.

Review of Reviews of Luxury Hotels (5 Star) in Hong Kong

Island Shangri-la Hotel


The Island Shangri-la Hotel is a luxury hotel in Central part of Hong Kong with 565 guestrooms. Some of the rooms offer harbor views and all of them are well-equipped with modern facilities and free Wi-Fi. It features 8 restaurants, full service spa, fitness center, business center, and an outdoor pool. Around the hotel, you will find Pacific Place, Bank of China Tower, Victoria Peak Tram, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, located within 1.7 km from the hotel. The best thing about this hotel is that the staff is extremely helpful and speaks languages like French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and English. By staying at this hotel, you get facilities like valet parking, airport transfer, currency exchange, baby sitting services to name a few.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Hotels in Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Hotels in China

Bordering on Hong Kong: The easiest routes in and out of Shenzhen

April 6, 2015 - Written by Vanessa Anderson 36 Comments

Shekou Ferry TerminalShekou Ferry Terminal, Shenzhen, China

At first glance, it’s hard to believe that the Chinese city of Shenzhen, situated directly north of Hong Kong on mainland China, was nothing more than a sleepy fishing village back in 1979. This area became China’s first, and one of its most successful, Special Economic Zones and is a thriving metropolis. In fact Shenzhen is now considered one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

The Brits may have handed Hong Kong back to China, but it still retains its status as a “Special Administrative Region of China”. So don’t expect to pop over to Shenzhen without a valid Chinese visa – all visitors to Shenzhen from Hong Kong have to pass through customs and immigration at any of the border crossings, regardless of their nationality! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Survival Tips, Travel around Asia Tagged With: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Travel in China

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