Understanding Hong Kong Leave Entitlements: A Comprehensive Guide

Hong Kong's employment landscape offers workers various types of statutory leave, balancing employee well-being with business operational needs. As an HR professional operating in international markets, understanding these regulations is crucial for compliance and effective workforce management.

Annual Leave Provisions in Hong Kong

Employees who have completed 12 months of continuous service are entitled to 7 days of paid annual leave. This entitlement increases progressively by one day each year, reaching a maximum of 14 days after nine years of service.

Pro-rated Leave: Employees with 3-12 months of service receive proportional annual leave based on their employment duration
Scheduling Authority: Employers retain the right to determine annual leave timing, provided they give at least 14 days' written notice
Carry-over Policy: Unused leave can be carried forward for 12 months following the leave year
Payment in Lieu: Employees receive payment for untaken leave upon employment termination
Calculation Method: Leave pay equals the average daily wage earned during the preceding 12-month period

Maternity Leave Regulations

Eligible employees with at least 40 weeks of continuous service receive 14 weeks of maternity leave, extendable to 18 weeks for multiple births. Leave typically begins 2-4 weeks before the expected delivery date, with extensions possible for late deliveries.

Maternity pay is calculated at 80% of average daily wages from the 12 months preceding leave commencement, subject to a maximum of HK$80,000 for 11-14 weeks. Employers can seek government reimbursement for 4 weeks of this payment. Even employees with less than 40 weeks' service retain the right to 14 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.

Paternity Leave Framework

Male employees meeting the 40-week service requirement qualify for 5 days of paternity leave, available between 4 weeks before the expected birth date and 14 weeks after actual birth. Leave can be taken continuously or separately.

Paternity pay mirrors maternity pay calculations at 80% of average daily wages. Notice requirements vary: 3 months' advance notice allows immediate leave-taking, while shorter notice requires at least 5 days' notification.

Sick Leave Provisions

Employees on continuous contracts accumulating 4 or more consecutive sick days with medical certification receive sick leave allowance. Accumulation rates start at 2 days monthly during the first year, increasing to 4 days monthly thereafter, capped at 120 days.

Sick pay equals 80% of average daily wages. Pregnancy-related illnesses qualify for up to 4 weeks of sick leave, and employees cannot be dismissed during sick leave except for serious misconduct.

Additional Leave Types

Marriage Leave: Industry practice grants 3 days of paid leave for employees' own weddings, requiring advance notification.

Bereavement Leave: Employees receive 3 days of paid leave for immediate family members' funerals, with appropriate documentation.

Public Holidays in Hong Kong

Hong Kong distinguishes between statutory holidays ("labor holidays") and public holidays ("bank holidays"). Statutory holidays mandate time off or compensatory leave, while public holidays follow British banking traditions.

Holiday	2025 Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Lunar New Year (3 days)	January 29-31
Ching Ming Festival	April 4
Easter Holidays (4 days)	April 18-21
Labour Day	May 1
Buddha's Birthday	May 5
Dragon Boat Festival	May 31
HKSAR Establishment Day	July 1
National Day	October 1
Mid-Autumn Festival	October 7
Chung Yeung Festival	October 29
Christmas Holidays (2 days)	December 25-26

All employees under the Employment Ordinance qualify for statutory holidays, with strict regulations against cash substitution ("buying holidays"). When holidays coincide with rest days, employers must provide compensatory leave within specified timeframes.

Practical Implementation Considerations

Companies like SailGlobal often encounter challenges implementing these policies across multinational teams. Best practices include maintaining detailed leave records, providing clear policy documentation, and training managers on compliance requirements. Regular audits help ensure adherence to evolving regulations while supporting employee well-being.

Hong Kong Leave Policy Guide 2025: Annual, Maternity & Public Holidays