Hong Kong: Recruitment and selection

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

• Direct and indirect discrimination in recruitment and selection for employment is prohibited on various grounds. (See Discrimination)
• The inclusion of certain information and provisions in job advertisements is prohibited. (See Advertising vacancies)
• There are various rules relating to the collection and use of information from job applicants. (See Selection)
• A job offer constitutes a contract of employment once it has been accepted by the applicant. (See Job offers)
• There are various rules regarding work carried out by children and young people. (See Young people and children)
• All people without a right of abode in Hong Kong require an employment visa to work there, which must be obtained before they start employment. (See Foreign nationals)
• Employers must keep a record of the pay and employment history of each employee, covering the period of their employment during the preceding 12 months. (See Record keeping)