Job Discussion Forums

[msjayne]

I'll be applying for a PNET position in Hong Kong soon, and I'm very interested to know if I'd qualify for the NET housing allowance. I'm from Canada and graduated from a university there, and moved to Hong Kong about 3 years ago. I have a TESOL and a PGDE from HKU. My parents and siblings live in Hong Kong, and I recently got married here too. I don't have any property nor even a bank account in Canada anymore. I was wondering what are my chances for getting the NET housing allowance, and how to increase my chances if there is a way. Hope someone out there can share some advice and/ or experience on this matter. Thanks!

[Honky Nick]

When you fill out all your forms, you will need to justify why you think your normal place of residence is outside of Hong Kong. I suppose your best bet would be to say that since you went to school in Canada, it's where all your friends are. You grew up there and plan to settle down there with your family - something like that.

Any other ideas?

[Serious_Fun]

[Jason Goren]

I have to agree with Serious Fun. I would certainly not get my hopes up too high on securing the allowance. As Serious Fun points out there is no 'housing allowance'. That term is certainly bandied around a lot but is a real misnomer. The EDB pays a 'special allowance', which of course most use for their rent (and typically a maid), but this is only given to those whose normal place of residence is outside of Hong Kong. From what you tell us it would seem that it is going to be a bit of a challenge for you to convince them of this.

They used to be quite blas� about who they gave the allowance to � they were exceedingly laissez faire about it indeed � but that all changed a few years ago. There was a time when a married couple who were both NETs could both receive the allowance (!), but they changed the rules so that only one could receive it. It used to be the case that if one partner in a marriage was a NET and the other wasn't then the NET would receive the allowance without the EDB even checking to see if the non-NET was also receiving an allowance from his or her employer. They changed that rule a while ago, too.

There was an interesting story in the SCMP about a month ago about the special NET allowance, at least for those of us with access through their subscription firewall. Dated October 11, 2008, it stated that "Negotiations between the Education Bureau and native-speaking teachers over an increase in their special allowance have been held up because of staff changes". By all accounts there was something of a mass walkout/cull (depending on one's point of view) from/at the EDB at the end of the last academic year. There is more to the story here and I think we all need to know more about it. Many of those top dogs at the EDB were on mythical salaries (sometimes upwards of $100,000 a month plus benefits galore) and I find it unlikely that they would resign or be booted out for anything other than serious misconduct.

Regarding recent rent increases, the report quotes David Stead (chairman of NESTA) as saying that "Some NETs who were living in Central and the Mid-Levels have been priced out." Ah, didums, they can no longer afford to live in the Mid-Levels without dipping into their own pocket. Life is just so cruel, right? It is also interesting that, according to Stead, 470 out of 922 NETs had signed a petition for more special allowance (NESATA demand that it be increased to $17,000 HK a month). I found it interesting that only 470 out of 922 NETs signed the petition!

[Marcoregano]

I wonder how many NESTA members there are? About 470 perhaps? I know my wife never saw the petition - she dropped her NESTA membership a few years ago. To be realistic, I doubt there was ever much chance of getting 17K - and certainly not now! Re. the OP, I must agree with Jason and SF - I don't think you have much chance, going by what you've told us.

[once again]

One of the qualifications for the special allowance is that your social ties are outside Hong Kong. As you have only been here three years, it doesn't seem much of a stretch to say that you are planning on going back to Canada. From my recent research it seems that the real stumbling blocks are if you own a property in Hong Kong and are a permanent resident. I know several NETs who are married to locals and have children born locally that get the allowance. I suggest you contact NESTA and find out what they have to say.

[YellowHair]

here's a question for the forum

I am already on the NET Scheme and my wife is a local. Let's say that her parents decide to "buy a property" and let us live there on the condition that we give them money to pay off the mortgage. The property would legally be in the name of my in-laws and therefore would be just like renting form a landlord. Also, my in-laws would not live at the property as their permanent address, so that would not be noted down on the special allowance application. Would I still qualify for the special allowance?

I think I would still qualify and here is why...In order to receive the benefit, I would have to fulfill two of the three requirements on Form A of Circular 197/2004.

I would fulfill the first requirement in that I am a permanent resident of another country (I do not have a permanent HK ID Card.)

I would fulfill the second requirement in that I have resided continuosly for at least 5 years outside of Hong Kong before taking up my appointment in a public school under the NET Scheme (also qualify under Detail 5 of page 2 of the same circular in that once my place of residence has been certified outside of Hong Kong, I am still eligible for the benefits "when re-appointed to the same school or another public sector school without break of service..."

I would fulfill the third requirement in that my social ties are outside of Hong Kong. My parents and siblings are not in Hong Kong. I was born, raised and went to school outside of Hong Kong. The only social ties that can be linked directly to me here are my wife and child. They are only here in Hong Kong because I am working here.

So, with all that said, do you think that I would still qualify?

[Marcoregano]

[dandan]

Yellowhair:

Whether you qualify for the allowance and whether you can use the allowance to buy a property (which is basically what you're asking) are two separate questions.

I think you'll find that as the allowance is a 'special allowance' rather than a 'rental allowance' then you can do anything you like with it, including buying property, so I don't think there is any need for the subterfuge of your wife's parents 'buying' the property on your behalf then charging the mortgage as 'rent'. Most NETs don't spend more than about half the allowance on rent and nobody asks whether they're spending the other half on beer, property, gambling, a collection of rare cheeses for whatever else they like.

If there are rules against using the allowance to buy property then presumably there would also be anti-corruption rules to prevent the rather obvious scam you're suggesting but if (as I think is the case) you can do anything you like with your money then there's no need for such a convoluted subterfuge at all. You may wish to check with someone more knowledgeable than a bunch of wiseacres like us on the internet though.

[msjayne]

Thanks for all the replies, it's definitely given me some more information to go on. I think I'll contact NESTA next as "once more" has suggested to see what they think my chances are. And regardless, I'll still apply...it doesn't hurt to try I guess.