The Government announced today that from November 1, full-time non-local postgraduate students will be temporarily exempted from the restrictions on working part-time jobs. This arrangement will run on a trial basis for two years.

Currently, eligible students who have been approved to come to Hong Kong to study in full-time locally accredited local programmes at the postgraduate level will be issued a letter of no objection by the Immigration Department, allowing them to take up part-time employment on campus for no more than 20 hours per week, curriculum-related internships during semesters, or summer jobs.

As a Policy Address initiative, lifting the restrictions will allow more room for such students to look for jobs during their studies to enhance their experience and understanding of working in Hong Kong, and further increase their incentive to stay in the city after graduation, the Government explained.

The Immigration Department said it will hold briefing sessions for schools within this week to elaborate on the arrangement, and subsequently send the updated letters of no objection setting out the new suspension to eligible students via their schools. As such, those students are not required to submit applications separately.

Students approved of visas or entry permits on or after November 1 will also receive such letters, the department added.

For enquiries, call 2824 6111, or send questions via the department’s fax at 2877 7711 or by email enquiry@immd.gov.hk.