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Start with what needs doing first
Choosing a school, getting a SIM, checking a tenancy, finding work, seeing a doctor or getting around: browse a guide for the task you need to tackle.
Complete guides and resources
22 guides · Page 2. Open an article for the full text, steps, checklists and official sources.
MPF when starting work: enrolment, contributions and account checks
Check coverage or exemption first, then verify employer enrolment, deductions, actual contributions and account arrangements after leaving a job.
- Non-exempt regular employees generally aged 18 to 64 and employed for at least 60 continuous days are covered.
- Check full-time, part-time, probation and specified-industry casual employment rules separately.
- A payslip deduction does not prove receipt: check the MPF account.
Opening a bank account: documents, checks and security
Choose an account around your everyday needs, prepare the evidence your bank actually requests, and check payments and security once it opens.
- Requirements differ by bank and customer; no universal checklist guarantees approval.
- Explain real needs such as salary, daily payments or savings using accurate information.
- After opening, maintain contacts, alerts, limits and security settings.
Reading a residential tenancy: term, repairs, deposits and notice
Check the parties, payments and early termination alongside handover and deposit return, using a practical agreement review list.
- A provisional tenancy can be binding: read key terms before signing or paying.
- A fixed term, a break period and notice are separate issues governed by the actual wording.
- Stamping, Form CR109 and contract terms serve different purposes and do not replace one another.
Rental handover and move-in: inspections, readings and address changes
Check equipment, utility readings, account transfers and keys before furniture arrives, keeping clear evidence for the eventual end of the tenancy.
- Receiving keys does not settle every delivery issue; check against the tenancy inventory.
- Photograph meter readings, existing damage and the agreed handover record on move-in day.
- Handle utilities, internet, bank and government address changes separately.
Settling into a neighbourhood: public services and everyday routines
Start by finding the places you need each day, then look into libraries, recreation and family support. Getting to know local routes and building rules makes everyday arrangements easier.
- A district name cannot replace checking the street and building in daylight, evening and rain.
- Use libraries, recreation venues and district services to build regular activities.
- Services have their own eligibility and bookings; check official channels before preparing documents.
SIM real-name registration: documents, activation and fraud prevention
Check official registration channels, identity requirements and number management before buying prepaid or monthly service, especially for bank and government accounts.
- Local Hong Kong SIM services require completed real-name registration before activation.
- Use the operator's official process and do not give identity documents to unverified intermediaries.
- A long-term number connects to banks and verification codes: remove those links before cancellation or replacement.
Stamping a tenancy: the 30-day deadline and electronic process
Check the signing date, amount, application information and stamp certificate, without treating stamping as certification of ownership or contract terms.
- Stamp within 30 days of signing, using the signature date rather than only the move-in date.
- Agree clearly who submits the application and how the parties share payment.
- Keep the stamp certificate with the signed tenancy and payment records.
Starting work: contracts, hours, wages and leaving a job
Check permission and employment terms before signing, understand the revised continuous-contract test and keep records of pay, rosters and leave.
- Confirm your immigration conditions permit the work; an HKID is not permission for every activity.
- New continuous-contract hours requirements apply from 18 January 2026, so the old 418 test alone is outdated.
- Separate legal entitlements from extra company benefits; a contract cannot reduce applicable statutory protection.