Job Discussion Forums

[Norman Bethune]

I can enter Hong Kong and stay for six months on a tourist visa issued at the border.

Will any school hire me without papers to work legally and having no desire to get them?

[Joachim]

Yeah, you'll find plenty of language centres willing to offer you illegal employment. Just don't expect any rights, any say or much money.

[ChrisRose]

The shame of Hong Kong.

[ChrisRose]

Also, if caught.....

I think you have to spend some time in Stanly prison prior to your deportation.

Watch out in the shower room!

[Norman Bethune]

Yeah Yeah Yeah...it's illegal, there are penalties...blah blah blah...



What are the REALITIES?

[herman]

I personally don't know what the reality is but Chris's "If caught..." and Joachim's "just don't expect any rights, any say or much money" tells a lot. You are not an (illegal) Filipino or mainland Chinese working for (sub)minimal wage, so how's that? Moreover, HK faces no real "dilemma" or shortage of English teachers like other Asian countries do. I have never taught in Hong Kong but that is just my guess as someone who has lived there.

Private tutoring can be quite lucrative. But that would most likely require you establishing yourself first at some school or other to meet and establish your clientele, or already having some connections (i.e. a network of friends and/or family/relatives who can advertise and refer students to you). Maybe you can pull that off in six months? I don't know.

[ChrisRose]

Norman, I just love your attitude, the care you put into your responces.

Tell me have you ever attended anger managment classes?

[Roger]

You get no 6-month visa at the border - you merely get an entry stamp in your passport, and an expiry date plus a copy of the entry form on which is clearly printed that you must under no circumstances try to find work in HK. The penalty is, I don't know how high, plus deportation.
They are netting mainlanders doing this every day; why shouldn't they catch white II's?

Besides, if you really want to stay for 6 months, expect the Immigration at the border to ask you some rather pertinent questions. Why are you spending so much time here?How are you funding your lifestyle? Can you support your claims?

Do the cops check on you? You must - at least in theory - carry ID at all times while in HK, and if you are found without proper documents you are likely to find yourself in hot water. More substantial people than yourself have found themselves taken to a police station overnight and held incommuncado until their claims had been established.

The cops also raid places known to them to hold long-term foreign residents. They came two times in one year to where I lived, which was a fairly nice, uncroweded neighbourhood in Causeway Bay.

[Norman Bethune]

[Norman Bethune]

[lagerlout2006]

I;m surprised at the (snarky) replies here.

Is Hong Kong the most intrusive Police state in Asia? It must be. People (myself included---long story) have done what he is talking about all over Asia. Is it an ideal situation? No way. You lose a lot of rights and benefits.

It happens. In my case I was misled by a school and ended up employed illegally. I even got caught. And it was not a "Midnight Express" situation. In fact I didn't even have to leave...

He's not saying he wants to deal drugs out of HK. Working at an unregistered language mill is not the same as sneaking into the country or overstaying a visa. For God's sake lighten up!

[Susie]

It could be that the authorities in Hong Kong in association with the Mainland Chinese authorities could be setting traps for white English teachers who earn illegally in the Special Administrative Region.

Think about your students, they could be the sons or daughters of cops, immigration officials, education officials. When you become rich and famous they could come and bribe you!!

Don't forget that illegal earnings are not taxed so one could really find himself in trouble for defrauding the Goverment out of tax earnings.

It is even illegal to do any voluntary work in HK!

Ask yourself do you want to stay out of Stanley Prison more than you want to earn a few dollars?

[ChrisRose]

I really can't comment on how fairly the law is applied.

But as far as construction workers, illigal cleaners and shop staff, they advertise a penalty of upto 6 months in jail and a $200,000 fine for employers of illgal aliens.

As for how much under the table work is around, I wouldn't know. The only comment I can make, is would it be enough to cover the cost of living in HK?

If the idea of living hand to mouth appeals, well I knwo that many of the private centres hire illigals. Usually uder the pretest they will apply for thier working visa which will take some time. The illigal empoyee waits but usually decides to leave not being able to survive comfortably on the wage (if it is paid).

Why don't you just seek sponsership and get a real position?

[Joachim]

The chances of being found out, Norman, are slim to none. Provided you look presentable every time you enter or exit the territory, don't do anything stupid that would draw attention to yourself and remember to be polite. In the year that I've been in hong Kong I have never seen an immigration official anywhere other than the airport/border.

Finbding work shouldn't be too hard, but the interview process will take weeks at least. Youi can't expect to walk into a full time job and begin immediately. Employers are cautious and can afford to be choosy as there are a large number of nmative speakers here legally.

That is something you should bear in mind, HK is expensive (compared to the mainland), can you afford to support yourself until your first pay day?

[Joachim]

Thats interesting, Weakest Link. I have always been able to use my passport as ID when renting apartments. Also for opening a bank account prior to my ID card arriving....

As for the tourist fare on an octopus card......hardly going to break the bank!