Commencement of Hong Kong/Netherlands Working Holiday Scheme

     Applications under the Hong Kong/Netherlands bilateral Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) will be accepted from January 1, 2019 (Tuesday).
      
     Welcoming the commencement of the Scheme, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong said, "We are delighted to see that the WHS has been well-received by youths, enabling them to broaden their horizons and to gain living and working experience in a foreign culture. I believe that youth exchanges would further reinforce bilateral ties between Hong Kong and the Netherlands."
      
     The Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Ms Annemieke Ruigrok, said, "I welcome all young people in Hong Kong to grasp this new and unique opportunity to come and experience the Netherlands. And I hope that young Dutch people will do the same in Hong Kong. I hope this will lead to stronger ties between us."
      
     Hong Kong and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme in April. The working holiday visa will allow young people from Hong Kong and the Netherlands to stay in the host economy for up to 12 months. During the period, they may work to finance their stay and/or take up short-term study courses.
      
     Details of visa application procedures for applicants from Hong Kong can be found on the website of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong at www.netherlandsandyou.nl/your-country-and-the-netherlands/hongkong/travel-and-residence/working-holiday-programme-with-the-netherlands. Applicants from the Netherlands may contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department by telephone on 2824 6111 or obtain the necessary information from the Department's website at www.immd.gov.hk.
      
     Working holidaymakers are reminded to research thoroughly on the employment, accommodation and living conditions as well as relevant statutory requirements of the host economy before departure.
      
     Since 2001, Hong Kong has established WHS with New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Canada, Korea, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Hungary, Sweden and the Netherlands. So far, some 88 000 Hong Kong youths have participated in these schemes. Details relating to WHS are available at the dedicated website of the Labour Department at www.whs.gov.hk.