Housing Allowance in Hong Kong

Hi Guys,

I recently received an offer for a first-year associate position from a japanese IB, based in HK. I thought that all the IBs in HK offer housing allowances as their standard compensation packages.
However, the HR at the company told me they do not offer housing allowances to their new employees any more, and that most of IBs in HK this year won't offer as well.

The offer I received is global standard without a housing allowance.

Everyone I talked to, who currently works in hong kong told me that I need to get a housing allowance and companies still offer housing allowances to them...

Do you have any information regarding housing allowance (especially to new employees in 2010) in HK?

Thanks

37 Comments
 

Housing allowance over the past few years has slowly been eradicated from a number of firms in HK, including MS, BAML, GS. I am starting as an analyst at a BB there next fall, and my BB has been including the housing bonus so far up until this year, HR informed me that the it is currently "under review by management". Not really sure what's going to happen to it - they could follow suit and take it out of our compensation like the other banks there, but since the housing allowance is given to all levels (Analyst thru MD), there is a chance of it staying.

Anxiously awaiting to hear of the outcome, since having it taken away would mean USD24k (in cash) less in annual comp - a decent chunk of a 1st yr analyst's pay.

 

I'm pretty positive what dunston said is correct. I worked at a BB in HK over the summertime and heard many of the analysts complain about the housing allowance being taken away. The hope is that with the housing allowance taken away, the bonuses would increase to compensate, but who know...

 

Some banks give housing some don't. It's not $24k out of your pocket - it's just $24k less you'll get up front

All housing bonuses are given as a "total compensation" pacakge

meaning if an analyst standard package is $130k and you get 70k base and 24k housing you're gonan get only 36k in bonus

GS/MS/JPM do not give housing stipends but they just adjust up their bonus ... its the same thing

 

Hey folks,

Any updates on this housing allowance issue? I heard my friends who are relocating to Hong kong for FO positions in RBS and HSBC are not getting any housing allowances. My friend from DB seems to have no idea whether he is getting any allowances, but it is definitely not mentioned in the contract....

Anyone got updates on it? HK housing is really expensive, and easily eat away 20% of your compensation man!

 

i don't think all FO positions get housing allowance even before.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.——William Shakespeare
 

Can't really say since I dont even know the details/amounts of the stipend. Do you have any bank-specific info you could share for top BBs in general (i.e. which banks do or don't subtract from bonus)?

 

Yea as if I were gonna call up HR and ask them about compensation package for FT before I even start my SA you dumb fuck. STFU if you have nothing to contribute.

 

Dude....you should really call and ask about the full-time packages. Ultimately you are doing the SUmmer Analyst role to get a full-time job. This is even more the case where HK rental is pretty high, and easily 20% of your basic salary at barcaps (im assuming you are in a FO position)

I know HSBC and RBS are not getting it...but they are tier2.

Let me know if you are getting it? For the purpose of statistics colleciton...hehe

 

If it is true, it's fucking ridiculous.

- Bulls make money. Bears make money. Pigs get slaughtered. - The harder you work, the luckier you become. - I believe in the "Golden Rule": the man with the gold rules.
 

most ppl should stil be getting housing allowance over there. however, some banks have tried/in the process of phasing it out with new hires. its unfair but thats the only way to do it. i think GS actually have some classes that didnt get housing allowance (came in during downturn etc.)

 

housing allowance are all back - at the analyst level they range from 15k - 20k (HKD) per month. For associates, it should be 25k/month = additional ~300k/year HKD

 

housing allowance are all back - at the analyst level they range from 15k - 20k (HKD) per month. For associates, it should be 25k/month = additional ~300k/year HKD

 

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