How court deadlines are counted
- Set start/end inclusion to match the governing rule wording (for example: after/from, before, or clear days).
- 7 days or less: count working days (exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays) per RHC Order 3 rule 2(5).
- More than 7 days: count calendar days.
- If the resulting date falls on a non-court day, check whether roll-forward applies to your specific step and filing method.
Public Holidays
Hong Kong Public Holidays Overview
Last reviewed: February 2026
At-a-Glance
- •17 General Holidays each year under the General Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149)
- •Fixed-date holidays: New Year's Day, Labour Day, HKSAR Establishment Day, National Day, Christmas Day, Day after Christmas
- •Variable holidays: Chinese New Year (3 days), Ching Ming, Easter (3 days), Buddha's Birthday, Tuen Ng, Mid-Autumn, Chung Yeung
- •Sunday substitution: if a General Holiday falls on a Sunday, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare gazettes the next weekday as a replacement
Hong Kong observes 17 General Holidays each year under the General Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149). Banks, schools, and government offices close on these days. The confirmed dates are gazetted annually by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare. For 2026, the Government-published list includes all substitution dates.
Fixed-Date Holidays
- New Year's Day - 1 January
- Labour Day - 1 May
- HKSAR Establishment Day - 1 July
- National Day - 1 October
- Christmas Day - 25 December
- Day after Christmas - 26 December
Variable-Date Holidays
- Chinese New Year (three days)
- Ching Ming Festival
- Good Friday
- Day after Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- The Birthday of the Buddha
- Tuen Ng Festival
- Day after Mid-Autumn Festival
- Chung Yeung Festival
Sunday Substitution Rule
When a General Holiday falls on a Sunday, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare gazettes the next weekday as a replacement holiday. If that day is itself a General Holiday, the substitute cascades to the following available weekday (e.g. in 2026, Ching Ming falls on Easter Sunday so the substitute shifts to the Tuesday after Easter).
General Holidays vs Statutory Holidays
All 17 General Holidays apply to banks, schools, and government offices. For employment purposes, the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) separately defines Statutory Holidays. Under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, the number of Statutory Holidays is being phased up from 13 to 17 between 2022 and 2030, progressively aligning with General Holidays.
For a deeper dive, see Hong Kong holiday planning guides or the Court Filing scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hong Kong has 17 General Holidays each year under the General Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149). These are the days on which banks, schools, and government offices close.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare gazettes the next weekday as a replacement holiday. If that weekday is itself a General Holiday, the substitute cascades to the following available weekday. For example, in 2026 Ching Ming falls on Easter Sunday, so the substitute shifts to the Tuesday after Easter.
General Holidays are all 17 holidays under Cap. 149 — banks, schools, and government offices close on these days. Statutory Holidays are defined separately under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) for employment entitlement purposes. Under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, the number of Statutory Holidays is being phased up from 13 to 17 between 2022 and 2030.
No. Saturdays are not General Holidays in Hong Kong, although many offices and banks follow a five-day working week. Whether Saturday counts as a non-working day depends on the specific contract or rule set being applied.
Employment
Employment Notice & Working Day Rules
Last reviewed: February 2026
At-a-Glance
- •Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) is Hong Kong's baseline employment statute covering most employees
- •Notice periods are counted in calendar days — weekends and General Holidays are included
- •Default notice is one month if the contract is silent; contractual minimum is 7 days
- •First month of probation: either party may terminate without notice
The Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) is Hong Kong's baseline employment statute and covers most employees. Notice is counted in calendar days unless the contract defines the unit differently — weekends and General Holidays do not pause the clock.
Notice Period Rules
- If the employment contract specifies a notice period, that period applies (minimum 7 days).
- If the contract is silent, the default is one month's notice.
- During the first month of probation, either party may terminate without notice and without payment in lieu.
- After the first month of probation (where the contract provides for probation), the contractual notice period applies, with a minimum of 7 days.
How "Month" Is Defined
- A "month" means anniversary-based — e.g. notice given on the 10th expires on the 9th of the following month (see GovHK 1823 guidance).
- Payment in lieu of notice (PILON) is permitted under Section 7 and equals the wages the employee would have earned during the notice period. PILON is generally taxable as employment income.
Continuous Employment
An employee is under a "continuous contract" if they have worked for the same employer for 4 consecutive weeks with at least 18 hours per week. Many statutory entitlements (severance, long-service payment, sick leave) require continuous employment.
Notice Does Not Pause
Notice periods continue to run through General Holidays, weekends, typhoon signals, and the Chinese New Year period. Calendar days means every day counts.
For a worked example, see the Employment Notice scenario or browse Hong Kong employment guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57), notice periods are generally counted in calendar days. Weekends and General Holidays are included — the clock does not pause. If the contract defines the unit differently (e.g. working days), the contractual term applies subject to statutory minimums.
If the employment contract does not specify a notice period, the default is one month's notice. Where the contract does specify a period, the minimum is 7 days.
During the first month of a probationary period, either party may terminate the contract without notice and without payment in lieu of notice.
Yes. Payment in lieu of notice (PILON) is permitted under Section 7 of the Employment Ordinance. The amount equals the wages the employee would have earned during the notice period. PILON is generally taxable as employment income.
Court Rules
Court Filing Deadlines & Non-Court Days
Last reviewed: February 2026
At-a-Glance
- •Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A) Order 3 governs time computation
- •Periods of 7 days or less: exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays
- •Periods of more than 7 days: count calendar days
- •Set start/end inclusion and non-court-day handling to match the specific rule/order wording
Time computation for High Court proceedings is governed by Order 3 of the Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A). The key distinction is the 7-day threshold: short periods use working days, while longer periods use calendar days. Always check the specific court rule for your proceeding, as it can adopt or vary the general reckoning approach.
Day-Counting Method (RHC Order 3 Rule 2)
- Boundary setup: Start/end date inclusion depends on wording such as "after/from", "before", or "clear days".
- 7 days or less: Count working days — exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays.
- More than 7 days: Count calendar days (every day is included).
- Non-court-day handling: If a calculated date falls on a non-court day, confirm whether your step requires roll-forward based on the applicable rule and filing method.
Common Filing Timelines
- Acknowledgment of Service: 14 days from service of Writ
- Defence: 28 days from Acknowledgment of Service
- Summons for Directions: within 1 month of close of pleadings
Typhoon Signal 8 / Black Rainstorm
- Signal lowered at or before 6:00 am: morning session proceeds as normal.
- Signal lowered between 6:00 am and 11:00 am: morning hearings adjourned, afternoon session resumes at 2:30 pm.
- Signal lowered after 11:00 am: hearings adjourned for the whole day; court resumes at 9:30 am the next working day.
The same rules apply to the Black Rainstorm Warning and Extreme Conditions announcements. See the Judiciary's typhoon and rainstorm arrangements for full details.
Court Vacations and Registry Closures
Court vacations do not automatically extend filing deadlines — time continues to run. However, the court registry is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays, which can affect the practical ability to file. Plan around holiday clusters (e.g. Chinese New Year, Easter) where multiple non-court days fall consecutively.
For a walkthrough, see the Court Filing scenario or the article on court counting guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Non-court days include Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays. Days when a gale warning (Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above) or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force may also affect court operations. The court registry is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays.
Under RHC Order 3 rule 2(5), periods of 7 days or less are counted in working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and General Holidays). Periods of more than 7 days are counted in calendar days. Start/end date inclusion and roll-forward handling should be set according to the wording of the applicable rule or order.
Under Judiciary arrangements: if Typhoon Signal No. 8 (or above), Black Rainstorm Warning, or Extreme Conditions is lowered at or before 6:00 am, the morning session proceeds normally. If lowered between 6:00 am and 11:00 am, the afternoon session resumes at 2:30 pm. If lowered after 11:00 am, hearings are adjourned for the whole day and resume at 9:30 am the next working day.
No. Filing deadlines continue to run during court vacations. The registry is only closed on General Holidays and weekends, not during vacation periods.
Conveyancing
Property & Conveyancing Deadlines
Last reviewed: February 2026
At-a-Glance
- •Law Society Conditions of Sale 2012 govern most private residential transactions
- •PASP to ASP: 5 working days (first-hand) or ~14 days (secondary market convention)
- •Stamp duty deadline: 30 calendar days from the earliest agreement (Cap. 117)
- •Completion: typically ~60 days from formal ASP
Most private residential property transactions in Hong Kong follow the Law Society Conditions of Sale 2012. Key deadlines are a mix of working-day and calendar-day requirements.
PASP to ASP Timelines
- First-hand (new developments): Purchaser must execute the ASP within 5 working days of the PASP; vendor must execute within 8 working days. Failure to execute forfeits the preliminary deposit (Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance).
- Secondary market: Typically ~14 days from PASP to formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase (ASP) by market convention (not statutory).
Stamp Duty
- Stamp duty must be paid within 30 calendar days from the earliest agreement (usually the PASP) under Cap. 117.
- Late stamping incurs penalty tiers: 2x duty (up to 1 month late), 4x (1–2 months), 10x (over 2 months).
- For residential property instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024, Ad Valorem Stamp Duty is charged at Scale 2 rates. See the current rate table.
Completion and Registration
- Requisitions on title: typically 7 working days.
- Completion: ~60 days from ASP under the Conditions of Sale 2012. Late completion attracts interest at the contractual default rate.
- Land Registry registration pledge: 15 working days.
Holiday Proximity Check
Chinese New Year and Easter clusters can create consecutive non-Business Days. When a deadline falls near these periods, check for overlap — working-day deadlines may extend significantly while calendar-day deadlines (like stamp duty) continue to run through holidays.
For examples, use the conveyancing use case and the main calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Law Society Conditions of Sale 2012, a Business Day is defined as any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a General Holiday. Always check your specific sale and purchase agreement, as contracts can adopt a different definition.
Stamp duty must be paid within 30 calendar days from the earliest agreement (usually the PASP). Weekends and General Holidays are included in the count.
Under the Law Society Conditions of Sale 2012, the completion date rolls to the next Business Day.
Under the Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance, the purchaser must execute the ASP within 5 working days of the PASP, and the vendor must execute within 8 working days. Failure to execute within these periods forfeits the preliminary deposit.