Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in Hong Kong (2026)
Employees in Hong Kong get at least 7 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (1.4 weeks). Sick leave: paid.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
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7 days a year (56 hours)
Statutory minimum 7 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
This is the legal floor for Hong Kong; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 7 days | 1.4 weeks |
| After 3 years | 8 days | 1.6 weeks |
| After 4 years | 9 days | 1.8 weeks |
| After 5 years | 10 days | 2 weeks |
| After 6 years | 11 days | 2.2 weeks |
| After 7 years | 12 days | 2.4 weeks |
| After 8 years | 13 days | 2.6 weeks |
| After 9 years | 14 days | 2.8 weeks |
Paid annual leave after 12 months of service: 7 days for years 1 and 2, then 1 more day a year up to 14 days (Employment Ordinance).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 7 days a year; after 3 years, 8 days, rising to 14 days after 9 years.
What the rules mean in practice
In Hong Kong, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 7 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 1.4 weeks, rising…
In Hong Kong, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 7 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 1.4 weeks, rising to 14 days after 9 years of service. The legal wording: Paid annual leave after 12 months of service: 7 days for years 1 and 2, then 1 more day a year up to 14 days (Employment Ordinance).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 1, the same as 1 and lower than 35. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 7 days is about 2.7% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor seven times: 8 days after 3 years, 9 days after 4 years, 10 days after 5 years, 11 days after 6 years, 12 days after 7 years, 13 days after 8 years and 14 days after 9 years.
Statutory holidays are separate from annual leave. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for Hong Kong lists 15 holidays, 15 of them on working days. An employee who has all 15 weekday holidays off on top of the 7-day minimum is away from work on at least 22 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: Paid sickness days accumulate (2 a month in the first year, 4 a month after, up to 120) and are paid at 4/5 of wages when conditions are met. LeaveCalc rates this entry Medium confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Statutory holidays are separate from annual leave. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for Hong Kong, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in Hong Kong
The statutory minimum is 7 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (1.4 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Hong Kong?
The statutory minimum is 7 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (1.4 weeks). Paid annual leave after 12 months of service: 7 days for years 1 and 2, then 1 more day a year up to 14 days (Employment Ordinance).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in Hong Kong?
Yes. The minimum starts at 7 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 8 days after 3 years, 9 days after 4 years, 10 days after 5 years, 11 days after 6 years, 12 days after 7 years, 13 days after 8 years and 14 days after 9 years.
Is sick leave paid in Hong Kong?
Yes. Paid sickness days accumulate (2 a month in the first year, 4 a month after, up to 120) and are paid at 4/5 of wages when conditions are met.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in Hong Kong?
Statutory holidays are separate from annual leave. In 2026 the calendar for Hong Kong has 15 public holidays, 15 of them on working days.