A practical business guide, from our members and partners.

Hong Kong has repeatedly been recognised as one of the world’s most competitive economies. The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitive Yearbook 2021 ranked Hong Kong 7th out of 64 economies.

The ranking reflects the consistent strides Hong Kong has made in building a favourable business environment. IMD assessed the economy across four competitiveness factors; economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. Among various sub-factors, Hong Kong is ranked top globally in “Business legislation”. Hong Kong's rankings in "International trade", "Tax policy", "Finance" and "Management practices" also remained in the top-three positions globally.

Hong Kong...

was ranked by Canada's Fraser Institute the freest economy amongst 162 economies in the world in its Economic Freedom of the World: 2022 Annual Report.

ranked third in the World Economic Forum's 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, up four places.

ranked the third easiest place to do business by the World Bank's Doing Business 2020 Report, up one place from the year before.

was recognised by the International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook 2022 as the fifth most competitive economy in the world.

ranked the sixth largest trading entity in the world in 2021, according to the World Trade Organization.

The Government of Hong Kong SAR has specific policies and legal protection in place for intellectual property rights. The city’s intellectual property laws have been developed to reach the highest international standards to create a free and fair business environment.

With the aim of attracting high potential strategic enterprises from around the globe, numerous government initiatives supporting this cause have been developed. In the October 2022 policy adress, the Chief Executive announced that OASES would be established.

OASES will:

(i) draw up a list of target enterprises and provide steer to the Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents to reach out to and carry out negotiations with the enterprises;(ii) formulate attractive special facilitation measures covering aspects such as land, tax and financing that are applicable exclusively to target enterprises, and provide them with tailor-made plans to facilitate the setting up of their operations in Hong Kong;(iii) provide the employees of these target enterprises with one-stop facilitation services in areas such as visa application and education arrangements for their children.

The Consulate General of Sweden is the official representation of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macau. The main task for the Consulate General is to promote Sweden and Swedish interests in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Consular services to the Swedish community is an important part of the work. The consulate is also engaged with a number of partners and in a wide variety of activities to promote Swedish business interests, exchanges, culture and tourism. Furthermore, the consulate provides the Swedish Government with information on political and economic developments in Hong Kong and Macau.

Business Sweden (the Swedish Trade & Invest Council) is commissioned by the Swedish Government to help Swedish companies grow global sales and international companies invest and expand in Sweden. Business Sweden offers both hands-on support, strategic and practical expertise and a unique capability to create access where access is hard to get, both in Sweden and through 44 offices across Europe, Americas, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. Business Sweden’s expertise, presence and exclusive access to networks and stakeholders in both the public and private sectors in these markets gives them a supreme ability to help clients navigate regional business structures in order to expand their business and unlock growth.

Business Sweden have been in Hong Kong since 1982 and co-founded Nordic Innovation House in 2018. Nordic Innovation House is a global initiative to support Nordic companies to enter global innovation hubs by offering a strong community, connections to the local ecosystem, and programs for acceleration.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (SwedCham) is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization with over 200 Swedish and Swedish related companies and individuals as members. SwedCham was established in 1986 with a mission to promote and advance Swedish businesses and values while providing a broad spectrum of services to its members including networking events, company visits, branding and partner opportunities. SwedCham continuously seeks to understand and channel issues in legalisation, policy, and other areas of high importance, working closely with the other members of Team Sweden in Hong Kong, as well as the European Chamber of Commerce and International Chambers of Commerce.

Swedish businesses have a long withstanding relationship with Hong Kong and the mainland. SwedCham Hong Kong is a natural hub to bring both established companies and newcomers on the market together.

To register a local limited company in Hong Kong, you need to choose a unique company name. The Hong Kong Companies Registry maintains an index of company names and you can do an online check to see whether your desired company name is already in use.

There are different company structures to suit different business requirements:

The most commonly used company structure is a private limited company. The company must be incorporated at the Companies Registry and registered with the Business Registration Office of the Inland Revenue. Processing (incorporation) time is around four working days.

A branch of a foreign company: if a company incorporated outside Hong Kong establishes a place of business in Hong Kong, it is required to register with the Companies Registry within one month of the establishment of the place of business as an overseas company (under Part XI of the Companies Ordinance). It is not a separate legal entity from the parent. Processing time is generally from three to four weeks, but can vary.

Another type of business is the Representative Office. Such an office is useful if a company wishes to explore the Hong Kong market before making a larger investment, or indeed if it is never intended to derive sales, e.g. if it is intended to be a marketing office only. It would typically fulfill functions such as promotion and liaison work. If a company needs to enter into a transaction that creates a legal obligation, its business structure will need to be changed to either a limited company or a branch office of a parent company.

All processing times are subject to completion of Client Due Diligence (CDD).

Most of the limited companies incorporated in Hong Kong are private companies limited by shares. Incorporation can also be done online by approved service providers.

A private limited company in Hong Kong requires at least one director and one secretary. If a company has only one director, the director cannot be the secretary of the company at the same time. A non-Hong Kong resident, whether an individual or a corporate, can be appointed as a director. A company secretary is required by law and this must be (with very limited exceptions) a licensed Trust and Company Service Provider (TCSP).

All new Hong Kong private companies will have to have at least one natural person as a director. This does not need to be a Hong Kong resident, although there is a requirement for each company to have a Designated Representative, who must be a Hong Kong resident, or a TCSP.

The registered office of a limited company must be situated in Hong Kong. There is no requirement for shareholders to be Hong Kong residents. A shareholder can be a director of the company.

The processing time for bank account opening can vary greatly, but for the better-known traditional banks in Hong Kong 3 weeks upwards should be allowed for.

The traditional banks’ processing charges are from HK$1,200 upwards for a locally owned entity, but can range to HK$10,000+ for companies with an overseas ownership structure. Charges vary according to the number of overseas registers which have to be checked. Offshore or digital banks will typically be significantly faster and cheaper for bank account set-up.

Required documents for bank account opening include but are not limited to:

Company documents: Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate, Incorporation Form/ Annual Return, official documents for the recent changes of the company

Certified true copies of the identification documents and the proof of address of all the directors, shareholders with 10% of issued shares or above and beneficial owners

Ownership structure chart showing the company name, ownership percentage and the information of all the layers until the beneficial owner of the company structure.

Business proof such as confirmed order contract / agreement / business plan / communication with the business partners or clients, invoices, packing list, lease of office, company website, annual report and incorporation documents of parent or related company, latest financial information / source of wealth of the Beneficial Owners, etc.

Hong Kong has a wide variety of business premises even within a close distance from its central business district (CBD). While property prices in the premium “Central” location can be very high, Hong Kong’s compactness and excellent transport system mean that good-value sites can be found within a short travelling distance of the CBD. The central corridor on Hong Kong Island extends from Sheung Wan in the west to Quarry Bay in the east, whilst accommodation is generally cheaper in Kowloon (across the harbour).

Office searches are normally arranged through an agent and procedures are straightforward. Renovations and refurbishment can be carried out quickly and economically.

Please refer to the chapter Hiring in Hong Kong for details.

Please refer to the chapter Visa and Immigration for details.

Some businesses will require licenses or registration to conduct a specific activity. These include, among others: restaurants, travel agencies, employment agencies, banks, fund managers, insurance brokers and lawyers.

The Hong Kong company’s fiscal year begins on the day of the company’s incorporation. The first year-end must be no later than 18 months after the incorporation date of the company, and should be decided by the directors before the first anniversary of the company. Succeeding accounting periods should be of 12 months.

All Hong Kong companies are required to maintain proper records and accounts to comply with the regulations on an annual basis. The records should be available for inspection at the registered office, or other designated address, and should be sufficient to give an up-to-date picture of the state of affairs of the company. They should include bank statements, sales invoices and expense receipts.

Bookkeeping ensures that all records of financial transactions are complete, correct and up to date. Income statements and balance sheets can be prepared once the bookkeeping is complete.

All companies in Hong Kong must prepare annual financial statements, including a profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement and statement of changes in equity. Private companies are not required to file annual financial statements with the Companies Registry, but public companies must do so.

An annual third-party audit is required for all companies. The auditor must be licensed by the HKICPA. The annual Profits Tax Return (PTR) must be supported by audited accounts, so the time for completing the audit must be allowed for in order to meet the tax submission deadline.

The auditor’s opinion in the Audit Report will state whether the company’s financial reports reflect an accurate, complete and fair representation of the company’s state of financial affairs.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) will be eligible for a reporting exemption if the company meets certain criteria as to its ownership structure or size (the accounts still need to be audited but do not need to be filed with the Companies Registry).

Under the Hong Kong territorial tax system, persons or companies carrying out any trade, profession or business in Hong Kong are taxable on all profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong from such trade, profession or business. Consequently, income which does not have a Hong Kong source is not subject to profits tax.

The profits tax rates for companies are 8.25% for taxable profits up to HK$2 million and 16.5 percent thereafter. In addition, dividends received are not taxable in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, interest income derived from deposits placed in Hong Kong and qualifying debt instruments may, under certain specific conditions, be exempted from profits tax.

Apart from the below case, no withholding tax is imposed in Hong Kong (e.g. on dividend distributions or interest payments).

The sole exception is that royalty payments to persons not carrying out business in Hong Kong are subjected to a 4.95 percent withholding tax. As an anti-avoidance provision, a 16.5 percent withholding tax applies if the recipient of the royalty payments is a company associated with a Hong Kong taxpayer and the intellectual property rights were previously owned by a Hong Kong taxpayer.

According to the Hong Kong territorial tax system, all income arising in or derived from Hong Kong from any office, employment or pension is taxable in Hong Kong. In deciding whether income arises in or is derived from Hong Kong, it is necessary to establish where the source of income is located. Consequently, a person is exempted from salaries tax on his/her income which has not been derived from Hong Kong.

“Income from any office and employment” may include different forms of advantages and allowances in monetary and non-monetary terms from the employer or any associated company of the employer.

A husband and wife who are not living apart may elect to be jointly assessed for salaries tax on their aggregated income.

Salaries tax is charged on net taxable income at the lower of the standard rate of 15 percent or at progressive rates as follows (2022/23):

HK$0 - HK$50,000 2%

HK$50,001 - HK$100,000 6%

HK$100001 - HK$150,000 10%

HK$150,001 - HK$200,000 14%

Above HK$200,000 17%

Personal allowances for the year of assessment 2022/2023 can be claimed by taxpayers before determining the salary tax to be paid according to progressive rates.

Allowances applicable to progressive rate taxpayers are as follows:

► Single 132,000 HKD

► Married 264,000 HKD

► Single parent allowance 132,000 HKD

Owners of land and/or buildings in Hong Kong are subject to a property tax computed at the standard rate on the net assessable value.

Companies carrying out business in Hong Kong are exempt from property tax but subject to profits tax.

The standard tax rate for 2022/2023 is 15 percent.

According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong courts enjoy independence. Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal has final adjudication in Hong Kong cases. Judges from other common law jurisdictions like England and Australia serve as non-permanent judges on the Court of Final Appeal.

Business disputes are frequently referred to the courts of Hong Kong for resolution, and the courts are widely respected for the integrity and expertise with which they handle commercial matters. Common law injunctions, like the Mareva injunction (interim freezing order), are available in Hong Kong. This means that an aggrieved party may be able to safeguard his or her commercial interests at the outset of a dispute.

Commercial arbitration is also widely available in Hong Kong. Parties tend to refer disputes to established arbitration institutes, like the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, rather than relying on ad hoc arbitration. The 1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (also known as the New York Convention) applies to Hong Kong arbitral awards. This means that a Hong Kong arbitration award is enforceable in a large number of countries around the world.

Arrangements are in place for the mutual recognition of arbitral awards between Hong Kong and mainland China. In addition, the two jurisdictions are in the process of enacting a framework for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters.

The freedom of contract is held in high regard in Hong Kong. This means that courts will generally enforce contracts that have been validly entered. There is no general doctrine of voidance of commercial contracts due to inequality of bargaining power, nor is there a separate requirement of good faith. This means that absent a vitiating factor like misrepresentation or mistake, a contract is usually enforceable as written.

Certain types of contract are subject to formal requirements. For example contracts for the assignment of real property or company shares have to be made in writing, and require stamping (i.e. the payment of stamp duty). Most other contract types can be entered at the discretion of the parties. Oral agreements are enforceable, however a written contract is recommended in matters of any significance.

The Companies Ordinance (Cap 622) of 2014 governs the establishment, management and winding-up of companies. The Companies Ordinance revised the legislation previously in force by, among other things, codifying a director’s duty to exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence.

Employment law in Hong Kong is mainly governed by the Employment Ordinance (Cap 57) and related statutes. The Employment Ordinance offers employees limited employment protection. The legislation sets out requirements with regard to matters like minimum wage, pensions (including the so called Mandatory Provident Fund), holidays, sickness allowance, and severance pay.

The Competition Ordinance (Cap 619) of 2012 is the first piece of legislation of its kind in Hong Kong. It introduces three main prohibitions, i.e. restrictive agreements and concerted practices, abuse of a substantial degree of market power, and mergers and acquisitions that substantially lessen competition in Hong Kong (the M&A ban is limited in scope to the telecommunications sector).

Hong Kong provides intellectual property rights owners a comprehensive framework of legislation that provides protection for trademarks (the Trade Marks Ordinance (Cap 559)), copyright (the Copyright Ordinance (Cap 528)), and patents (the Patents Ordinance (Cap 514)) in line with international standards.

On the back of the Sale of Goods (United Nations Convention) Ordinance (Cap 641) of 2021, the 1980 United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods (“CISG”) is being implemented in Hong Kong. This brings benefits to the business community as CISG is viewed as the most successful, substantive and widely-used commercial law treaty in the global marketplace.

Many companies operating in Hong Kong and mainland China are involved in trading physical goods, either by sourcing in the region and/or importing goods for their business.Shipment can be made in many ways like:

Parcel shipments for handling of smaller size goods,

Road transport by truck,

Rail freight,

Air Freight

Ocean Freight either by full container (FCL) and/or by part container load (LCL).

In general, air freight is the fastest service while the ocean freight is the most economical mode of transportation for overseas shipping of bigger cargo. Normally consolidation solutions are available to all types of cargo and provide a cost-effective solution for cargoes not big enough to fill a whole container. This is convenient if, for example, your order is not big enough to load a full container, or you want to ship more frequently with lower inventory costs.

The easiest solution to provide for logistics service, transportation of goods, and required paperwork for shipping and customs handling is to appoint and cooperate with one of Hong Kong´s freight forwarding companies. Freight forwarding is used by most importers and exporters to arrange the handling and freight of their shipments. Most freight forwarders can offer guidance and service for various transportation modes required ensuring the best options for your needs.

Shipping goods internationally requires correct documentation, or you run the risk of delays and extra costs or even preventing a shipment from being completed. Documentation has, whether you’re importing or exporting, an essential role and it is critical to know what paperwork is required and to ensure that the right documentation is available.

Standard shipping documents include:

Commercial invoice (shall be provided by the shipper)

Packing list (shall be provided by the shipper)

Bill of Lading / Airwaybill / Railbill (will be provided by your carrier/freight forwarder)

Based on your cargo and location, further documents may be required as:

Certificate of origin

Letter of credit

Export Permits / Licenses

Phytosanitary certificate

A professional freight forwarder can respond to questions regarding documentation and guide you through needed procedures as well as draw up necessary documents.

While all carriers handle shipment with the utmost care and attention there are, despite all precautions, inherent risks during transportation, handling, and storage. All carriers and other supply chain participants will typically have their liability limited by law, which means that any compensation you receive is likely to be considerably lower than your actual loss if any accident happens.

Always check and ensure that your goods in transit are covered to their full value. If you are not certain of your coverage, check with your insurance company or your freight forwarder for their assistance.

With global trading and increased requirements for flexibility from clients, the demand for warehousing and transit storage keeps increasing. Most freight forwarders can provide service to hold stock and service for consolidation or order picking.

Common services provided in connection to warehousing in the region are:

Secure and flexible storage solutions

Support holding stock in China or Hong Kong

Arrange order assembly and picking

Repacking

Provide bonded and non-bonded services

Delay Duty and VAT payments in China or overseas

Allow partial shipping

The rapid growth of cross border and global e-commerce has developed the Hong Kong logistics sector to a world-leading hub for supply chain services in warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment facilities.

Hong Kong has a crucial role in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and continuously integrates its logistics network for transportation. The GBA is a fast-growing region, including Hong Kong and Macao SAR, and the nine cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province. The total population in the Greater Bay Area is over 86 million and a GDP of USD 1,668.8 billion in 2020, creating a huge and very potential market.

Hong Kong is generally considered a hands-off location when it comes to regulation and laws in the corporate space. That doesn’t mean that companies can sit back and relax as long as they keep their basic business license in order and annual audit reports are filed. Standards set by stakeholders such as investors, customers, and banks also need to be considered. In particular, a high standard should be applied when it comes to screening partners, customers, and third parties.

What do you know about your customers, and what do you need to know? The answer is very different if you sell in the retail sector, or if you supply complex consulting solution to industrial actors. If you are in sector considered sensitive, such as crypto, pharma, or casinos, the landscape changes again.

The basic principle here is that every business should be able show a policy on who they will and will not do business with. This policy needs to be functional, and the business should be able to demonstrate how it’s executed. Most small businesses build this policy into their CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems, whereas larger businesses employ entire compliance teams to handle KYC (Know Your Customer).

Demonstrating control over who funds your operation is a requirement from all major banks. It can also be a requirement from investors, and falling afoul of clauses relating to anti-money laundering (AML) can have a big impact on your business. Consider turning to your local accountant and your local corporate secretary for support. The Big Four accounting firms can all offer basic AML programs, as can risk management companies.

Politics in Hong Kong should be considered the same as politics in mainland China, in the sense that laws of mainland China also should be seen as the bar for companies in Hong Kong. This means that political sensitivities are also transferred to Hong Kong, and the topics considered politically sensitive in China should be viewed the same way in Hong Kong.

When doing business with mainland companies you need to make sure you know who the other party is. One reason for this is to determine if you are doing business with affiliates of the Chinese government, or with parties receiving funding from the government. That’s not to say one can’t or shouldn’t do business with governments, but it’s always best to be aware. One risk to look out for is sanctions for parties and products. The responsibility of complying with global sanctions falls squarely on the party doing business with the sanctioned party.

There are several ways of screening the shareholders of a Chinese entity. The starting point is always asking the questions, and ask for documentation to back up the answers you get. Request disclosures from your suppliers, but also consider having a third party available to handle more important screenings.

Security from an operational perspective is about protecting assets. Assets entails physical property (such as machinery), intellectual property (drawings / designs), processes and people. The safety of so-called keymen (critical decision makers with top access to company accounts), should be considered extra carefully, and big firms often take care to not let key executives fly on the same flight, just in case there’s an accident. Here are some points all companies should consider in their day to day:

Do we know what our mission critical assets are? Make a list with the other stakeholders in the business. Ask all top functions to prepare a list of what they consider critical assets.

How are we protecting our assets? The answer will to a large extent depend on what these assets are. This should be clearly stated and easy to follow.

How are we managing safety of employees and executives?

If your company has a global security function, having a discussion with them about these topics is strongly suggested. Locally, several specialized firms offer support within these areas.

Following the discussion about operational security, all companies sooner or later can come across a crisis. By the nature of a crisis, they’re hard to predict. There are however some steps that can be taken to mitigate even unknown factors.

The most important part of preparing for a crisis is thinking through assets and having a basic plan of action ready for the scenarios you are able to foresee. Your plan should be concise and practical and should include contact details of companies and people you may want to be able to reach quickly. Examples of useful contacts to add to your call list are the Consulate General, the local police, a security specialist and a law firm of choice.

Depending on your company needs you will have an easier or more difficult time to find the right people in Hong Kong. Several sectors such as financial and professional services, sourcing and trading, and the consumer sector, provides world-class talent, while in other sectors it is more difficult to find qualified talent, e.g. technology (with some exceptions such as fin-tech, of which there is plenty of talent in Hong Kong), engineering, and manufacturing. Many companies in these sectors therefore choose to set up an office in Hong Kong for professional staff, with a further setup across the border in the Pearl River Delta for manufacturing. Due to Hong Kong’s status as an Asia-Pacific hub there is a lot of talent with experience from the whole region and mainland China, not just from working in Hong Kong. A far higher portion of the professional population speaks English than in many other places in Asia .

Salaries in Hong Kong vary widely depending on the sector and seniority of the candidate, education level, language capabilities etc. For unqualified and entry-level staff salaries are low compared to Sweden, while for mid-to-senior level staff salaries can often be far higher, but relatively low employment costs and taxation make up for that to a degree.

The Hong Kong Employment Ordinance covers all legal aspects to keep in mind when hiring, or releasing, employees and is available in English. It is fairly straight-forward and the rules are less stringent than in EU countries, meaning it is in general an easier process to handle. There are many companies that offer help with the administrative side of hiring, payroll and pensions, employee insurances etc., making it easier for companies to setting up business in Hong Kong without having a dedicated HR professional from the start.

Short-term visitors can make the most of Hong Kong’s light-touch visa policies and are permitted to conduct business negotiations and sign contracts while on a visitor’s visa or entry permit. Hong Kong's immigration policies admits Visa-free entry for visitors from 170 countries/territories. Swedish citizens can (January 2023) enter Hong Kong for a Visa-free period of 90 days.

Foreign nationals working in Hong Kong for longer periods of time need a visa before they can live or work in Hong Kong. There are different types of Working Visas available where the most common are listed below. More detailed information is available at InvestHK's webpage.

General Employment Policy (GEP)

To employ overseas staff to come to work under the GEP you must demonstrate that a prospective employee possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply. The GEP is quota-free and non-sector specific.

Investment as Entrepreneurs

The applicant should be in a position to prove that they can make substantial contribution to the economy of the HKSAR. The startup business may be considered favourably if it is supported by a government-backed programme with a rigorous vetting and selection process.

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)

Chinese residents of the Mainland China who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to come to work under the ASMTP. The ASMTP is quota-free and non-sector specific.

Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)

TechTAS provides a fast-track arrangement for eligible companies to admit non-local technology talent to undertake research and development (R&D) work for them in Hong Kong. Eligible companies would first have to apply for a quota by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC). A company allotted with a quota can accordingly sponsor an eligible person to apply for an employment visa/entry permit within the 12-month quota validity period. The company also has to fulfil the requirement to employ new local employees in technology-related work.

Dependant VISA

People who successfully apply for a visa can bring their spouse and dependent children under the age of 18, provided they have sufficient funds and suitable accommodation. The limit on their stay is the same as the visa holder, who is officially the ‘sponsor’. A spouse holding a Dependent visa can study or undertake any type of lawful employment in Hong Kong.

General Employment Policy (GEP), Professionals: The primary employment visa category for Swedish and international professionals relocating to Hong Kong for a role with a local or multinational employer.

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS): A streamlined visa category for high earners (HK$2.5M+ annually) or degree graduates from world-top universities (including Swedish top universities like Karolinska Institute, Lund University, Uppsala University, KTH, etc.) to enter and work in Hong Kong without a prior job offer.

General Employment Policy (GEP), Entrepreneurs: Designed for founders, startup teams, and business owners looking to establish, expand, or join a business entity in Hong Kong.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS): A points-based entry visa for experienced executives and specialists wishing to settle in Hong Kong prior to securing employment.

Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG): For non-local students who have completed a full-time degree program in Hong Kong, allowing them to stay and work for up to two years.

Moving to Hong Kong, the easiest way to find accommodation is to use one of Hong Kong's real estate agents. Both the renter and the landlord pay for the agent’s services. Most leases are signed for 2 years with the right to terminate after 12 months.

Expatriate housing in Hong Kong generally falls into one of two categories: High-rise apartment blocks and low-rise townhouses. Single-family, detached housing that is common in the US and Western Europe is scarce. Generally, expat apartments range from 80 to 260 square meters. There are as well a wide selection of Service Apartments available and many young professionals new to the city prefer flat sharing options.

While the convenience of living in a central area attracts many newly arrived residents, so does the ability to live in relaxed environments close to nature. Largely due to the efficient and modern transport infrastructure of Hong Kong, living in the city often offers the ability to balance the two, as frequent connections with Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and Bus Services allows efficient ways of commuting between different areas of the city.

When relocating to Hong Kong, a key decision to be made is whether you should transport much of your furniture and belongings to your new home or not. Moving to Hong Kong enables both options, as overseas transportation is a service commonly offered by companies specialized in international relocations for individuals and families. Meanwhile, new furniture of all price classes can also be found in any of the city’s major warehouses, as well as on both websites and social media platforms used for second-hand retailing.

Hong Kong has many world-class hospitals and medical facilities. Doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals are often trained overseas, bringing the latest techniques and treatments back with them.

In public hospitals, patients falling into the following categories are subject to charges lower than for others:

Holders of Hong Kong Identity Card issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Chapter 177)

children who are Hong Kong residents and under 11 years of age; or

other persons approved by the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority.

Health care is also offered by private hospitals and practitioners providing service in all areas of Hong Kong and the New Territories. These are (much) more expensive but can usually offer more convenient and comfortable care. A health insurance policy is usually a prerequisite for access to private healthcare.

Hong Kong has an easily accessible and well-developed local transport system that includes commuter trains, subways, buses and trams, making it quick and easy to commute across the territory. The availability of taxis is good and is easy to use as a supplement to public transport.

In order to use municipal transport, you need an Octopus card, which can also be used to pay in some shops. You buy an octopus card (and top it up) either via MTR (which owns the subway) or at the nearest convenience store.

The schools in Hong Kong, both public and private, generally maintain a high standard. The public schools are free, but most non-cantonese speaking children attend one of Hong Kong's many international schools, where fees between 130.000 - 250.000+ HKD per child per year are common. On top of that, extra payments often need to be made for debenture, computers, school uniforms and activities.Most international schools offer American or British-style curricula with English as the medium of instruction and opportunities to learn Chinese as a second language. The application pressure on the schools is usually high, and it is advised to apply well in advance, and to several schools, to be sure of getting a spot. It is quite common (unless the employer supports via a relocation agent) to take help from so-called school consultants who help with application documents, book meetings, pre-tests, references, etc.Many families await a school acceptance before deciding on where to live, but most schools offer school bus services across Hong Kong making it possible for students to communicate between different areas.

The kindergarten sector consists mainly of privately run institutions, most of them accepting children from 2 years old and upwards although a parent or guardian in attendance might be required if the child is younger than 3 years. “Local” kindergartens mostly use Cantonese as the medium of instruction while many international kindergartens offer bilingual (English/Mandarin or English/Cantonese) classes.

The Swedish School in Hong Kong offers supplementary Swedish classes for Swedish speaking children from 6 to 16 years of age. The Swedish School follows Skolverket’s “Kursplan i svenska för kompletterande undervisning för svenska elever i utlandet" and offers classes of two lesson hours a week.

Bulletinen

Bulletinen is a non-profit publication in Swedish for the Swedish speaking community in Hong Kong. Its content is a mixture of updates and event notifications, as well as features and reports on topics and happenings that are relevant to the Swedish speaking community in the region. Bulletinen is published with 6 issues per year, subscribing is free, and the publication is available both in print and digital.

Church of Sweden

The Church of Sweden currently lacks representation in Hong Kong. Until 2020, the Church of Sweden had a priest positioned in Hong Kong, decisions regarding future presence in the region are yet to be made by SKUT (Church of Sweden Abroad).

Others

Among student circles, the Swedish Culture Association is an active alumni network with Young Professionals from Hong Kong and Macau with previous educational experience in Sweden. Likewise, the Swedish Society of Hong Kong University is a local student organization aspiring to promote Swedish culture and build a local network.