Hong Kong: Contracts of employment

Original and updating author: Nicholas Chan, Squire Patton Boggs

See the legal services provided by the author of International > Hong Kong, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Note: Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It has a high degree of autonomy and its own legal system, including in the area of employment law.

Summary

• A contract of employment is defined by statute as an agreement on employment conditions made between an employer and an employee. (See General)
• The existence and duration of a probationary period must be expressly stipulated in the employment contract. (See Probationary periods)
• The main distinction in employment contracts is between "continuous" contracts and other contracts. (See Types of contract)
• Before employment commences, the employer must inform the employee clearly about the conditions of employment regarding specified matters. (See Statement of terms of employment)
• An employer cannot unilaterally vary the terms of an employment contract without the employee's prior consent, unless the contract clearly provides for such unilateral variation. (See Variation of contract)