I have found some information on this subject on websites, but I haven’t been able to get advice from real people. I know there are at least a couple of HK-based expats here, so I figured I’d give it a shot.
My position is this. I want to attempt to live in HK on a work permit and, unless I hate it for some reason, eventually get permanent residence after I’ve done my five years or whatever it is. The problem is, the typical “businessman” route doesn’t look very viable as that’s not something I have the skills or experience for. I will be graduating from college with a degree in Chinese and Political Science and a lot of Cantonese under my belt, but other than language skills (which are far from interpreter-level, especially given the number of English-speakers in the city) I don’t have much to offer the typical upper-crust, foreigner-hiring business in HK. I am thinking I will start on a student visa as that is easy to get. Unfortunately it is, at least officially, illegal to work on a student visa. I’ve done it, but obviously I’m not sure if I can put it in my resume, and VERY unsure I can use a job like that to my advantage in getting to stay.
I’m not a real go-getter with the womenfolk, so residency by marriage would be an unexpected windfall, not inevitable.
The official requirements obviously sound a little tough for somebody like me to meet, but naturally there are always ways to work the system. Does anybody here have any advice or links?