Hong Kong, Ireland to double annual working holiday scheme quota

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Friday that it has agreed with the Government of Ireland to double the reciprocal annual quota under the Hong Kong/Ireland Working Holiday Scheme ( WHS) from 100 to 200 with effect from March 1, 2016.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin- chung welcomed the expansion of the annual quota.

"We are encouraged by the positive response to the Hong Kong/ Ireland WHS, which provides an excellent opportunity for youths from both economies to enrich their global exposure and broaden their horizons, through living and working temporarily in a foreign culture while holidaymaking," Cheung said.

Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, who is visiting Hong Kong, also welcomed the increase of the reciprocal quota, saying that the WHS provides a great opportunity for young people to gain valuable cultural and work experience during their travels.

Hong Kong youths aged 18 to 30 holding a valid HKSAR passport or a British National (Overseas) passport and who have not benefited from this WHS before may apply for a Working Holiday visa under the Hong Kong/Ireland WHS.

Successful applicants may stay in Ireland for up to 12 months, during which they can take up short-term employment of not more than three months with the same employer. Similarly, Irish passport holders who meet these conditions can apply to stay in Hong Kong for the same duration.

Since 2001, the HKSAR government has established bilateral WHS arrangements with 10 economies. Apart from Ireland, Hong Kong has also partnered with New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea, France, Britain and Austria. So far, more than 60,000 Hong Kong youths have joined various WHSs. Endi