MOVING TO HONG KONG IN SEPTEMBER - HELP PLEASE

[Queijada]

Hello all,

Im 29 years old and im from Portugal, im a graphic designer and illustrator.
Im going to Hong Kong on a Touristic Visa, trying to find a job until visa ends...(3 months)
I would be extremly thankfull if anyone could give me some insights on getting a job or about any job oportunities that could suit me.
Im whilling to work in any area but i guess some job that would request speaking Portuguese fluently would be my best shot.
I have a girlfriend from Hong Kong so eventually i always have the choice to get married with her to stay in Hong Kong.

Thank you in advance for any help and see you in September!!

[chingleutsch]

It is totally illegal to work here while on a tourist visa / tourist entry stamp in your passport.
Unless you marry your girlfriend and can qualify for a dependent's visa, you can only gain an employment visa if the company that wants to hire you can prove to the satisfaction of the Immigration Department that the cannot find any local person with the qualifications and experience to do your job.

[Queijada]

Thank you for your reply.

Im already aware of the legal procedures, off course i will do everything by the book.
I was just hopping someone could help me with a contact for a job oportunity between the lines that im a portuguese speaker and that im a illustrator (im already aware also that Hong Kong is full of Graphic Designers), to get a working visa.

[MovingIn07]

Well technically even looking for a job on a tourist visa is illegal - but many people do it. Why not marry your girlfriend sooner rather than later? On a dependent visa you have a much better chance of getting a job because you will not need an employer to sponsor you. Also, have you thought about looking at macau - much more Portuguese spoken over there; but it does mean it's not hard to find one close by here if necessary.

[TheBrit]

There is absoutely no problem to look for work whilst here on a visitor visa (no such thing a a tourist visa). I don't know why people perpetuate this complete myth.

[stuff4expats]

There is absoutely no problem to look for work whilst here on a visitor visa (no such thing a a tourist visa). I don't know why people perpetuate this complete myth.

I know some people who are here on work visas who aren't doing any work either! Just words really, tourist/work.....!

[Queijada]

Thank you for the reply

Yes, seems marrying is the easiest way, and im also aware in Macau there would be more options for me, but living in Hong Kong and working in Macau i think its not possible.
But first stage its getting whatever i can.

[Michael Tsang]

If you can marry your girlfriend in Hong Kong and get a visa to live here, it's absolutely no problem to live in Hong Kong and work in Macau. A trip to Macau is only less than one hour by ferry.

[virago]

Can you cook well? Portuguese food is quite tasty!

[chingleutsch]

If you can marry your girlfriend in Hong Kong and get a visa to live here, it's absolutely no problem to live in Hong Kong and work in Macau. A trip to Macau is only less than one hour by ferry.

I do know people who do this, but as well as the ferry trip, you need to allow time for immigration and internal travel at each end. And unless OP marries his girlfriend and gets HKID as her dependent as well as Macau ID for his job, he would be using up his passport at a great rate. And of course without HKID he would have to spend plenty of time explaining daily commutes to the immigration officials ...
But Macau is a nice place to work I can't speak for all the new American places, but in the local-run companies it's a lot less manic than in Hong Kong.