Living and working in Hong Kong – Index
This guide is a collection of resources and practical advice for living in Hong Kong.
How to open a Multi-currency Business Account in Hong Kong
Business Bank Account in Hong Kong – Index
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…]
How to Get a Visa for Hong Kong: The Ultimate Guide
How to Get a Visa for Hong Kong – Index
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.
Coliving spaces in Hong Kong: A Complete Guide
Coliving space in Hong Kong – Index
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.
The Love for 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…]
Coworking Space in Hong Kong: The Ultimate Guide
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
How to Get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong
Click here to find out more!
How to get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong – Index
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.
How to Obtain the 5-Days Visa (VOA) for 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
- Why visit Shenzhen?
- Who can get a temporary visa for Shenzhen?
- Where can I get a temporary visa for Shenzhen?
- What are the requirements for obtaining a temporary visa and how much does it cost?
- How long does the temporary visa last and how many entries does it allow?
- What are the steps for requesting a visa?
- With this temporary visa, can I visit other Chinese cities in addition to Shenzhen?
- Can I get this visa at my embassy or consulate?
- Does this visa allow me to work in China?
- Can I get a similar visa at the border between Macao and Zhuhai?
How to Open a Company in Hong Kong as a Foreigner in 2019
This article is a step-by-step guide on opening a company in Hong Kong.
I’m a foreigner (i.e. I’m not a Hong Kong citizen or even a Hong Kong resident) that founded a company here in 2013 (and still manage it, as I am the sole Director).
I also co-founded a second Hong Kong company in 2017 (although I’m not the Director).
Thus, all the information that you’ll find on this page comes from personal experience (and is up to date).
Here what you’ll learn on this page (you can click on any link to jump directly to the section that interests you the most):
Open a company in Hong Kong – Index
- The pros and cons of registering a limited company in Hong Kong
- How to open a company in Hong Kong without living or even going there
- All the documents you need to open a company in Hong Kong
- The total cost of registering and maintaining a company in Hong Kong
- How to open a multi-currency business bank account in Hong Kong (if you need it)
- How to spot an honest agency and avoid scammers while opening your company
- Frequently asked questions
- Get a free quotation from a reliable agency
Chinese Fashion: Why it’s a Trend in Itself and not Simply Imitation
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…]
How to get a 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
Feng Shui in 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…]
The top 20 tourist attractions of Hong Kong
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…]
Living in Shanghai, Beijing or Hong Kong? Pros and Cons
Shanghai’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…]
The Best Hotels in Hong Kong, the Fragrant Harbour
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.
Bordering on Hong Kong: The easiest routes in and out of Shenzhen
Shekou 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…]
Tai-O: The fishermen’s village of stilt houses in Hong Kong
What’s so special about Tai-O?
As far as I know Tai-O is the only fishermen village in Hong Kong S.A.R. where there are still neighborhoods entirely composed by stilt houses. If you’re in Hong Kong for at least a couple of days I suggest you to come here and visit this beautiful village to see the stilt houses and the fish market.
Also, you shall take one of the boat that departs from the main bridge (close to the bus terminus). The ticket costs only 20 HKD and you’ll have the possibility to see the village from a very different perspective. The boat drivers claim that you’ll also spot the Chinese white dolphins but I went to Tai-O twice and never saw a dolphin. So I’m not sure they exist.
Anyway, I hope you’ll enjoy this photo gallery even if there are no dolphins! [Read more…]
The best cheap hostels in Hong Kong: Causeway Bay and Chung King Mansion
Today I want to introduce my favorite cheap hostels in Hong Kong. Why I emphasize the word “cheap”? Because Hong Kong is bloody expensive, especially when it comes down to accommodation. Thus find a decent cheap room may represent a challenge.
If can afford an expensive hotel you can head to Agoda.com and book the room you like more instead of keep reading this article.
By the way, if you are interested on the topic here you find our guide to find an hotel in Mainland China. [Read more…]
SF Express: How to send a document in China
This story tells about my first experience with SF Express (Shun Feng), which delivers documents and goods within one day everywhere in China and Hong Kong.
Before I used to go to a Chinese post office and utilize the EMS service, but with SF Express you only need to call the 4008 111 111 and tell them where to go in order to get your documents and send them overnight. The operators speak English and the delivery boy will usually find you within one hour.
He will take your order and let you a receipt with a track number. For tracking your documents, just go to S.F. Express website and insert the track number. It is that simple!
OK, here my story.
Every time I change country, I crash against local bureaucracy. So far, the Chinese one is the most difficult I found. I guess my approximate knowledge of the language doesn’t help, but there are so may law that vary from a province to another and so many offices you have to pass through, that gets to a point where nobody knows what to do is quite common.
Further, if the documents you are looking for need some [Read more…]