Hong Kong Public Holidays 2027

Quick Answer: Hong Kong has 17 general holidays in 2027 and 15 statutory holidays that employees are legally entitled to. Lunar New Year holidays fall on 6, 8 and 9 February, with 9 February replacing the second day of Lunar New Year because it falls on a Sunday. Good Friday and the day following Good Friday are general holidays, but are not statutory holidays in 2027.

Full list of Hong Kong public holidays 2027

Every Sunday is also a general holiday. Sources: GovHK, General holidays for 2027; Labour Department, Statutory Holidays for 2027.

Special arrangements in 2027

• Lunar New Year substitution: The second day of Lunar New Year (7 February) falls on a Sunday, so the fourth day (Tuesday 9 February) is a holiday instead. The result is a four-day break from Saturday 6 to Tuesday 9 February.
• Three holidays fall on a Saturday: Lunar New Year's Day, the day following Good Friday and Labour Day. General holidays that fall on a Saturday are not moved to a weekday, so office workers on a Monday to Friday week effectively lose them.
• Christmas on a Saturday: Christmas Day is Saturday 25 December, and the first weekday after Christmas is Monday 27 December, giving a three-day weekend.
• Winter Solstice option: For statutory holidays only, employers can choose either the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival (Wednesday 22 December) or Christmas Day. Some employers, particularly local firms, choose the Winter Solstice, so check your contract.

General holidays vs statutory holidays: what is the difference?

Hong Kong has two holiday lists, and which one applies to you depends on your employer. General holidays (17 in 2027, plus every Sunday) are the days banks, schools, government offices and most corporate employers close. Statutory holidays (15 in 2027) are the legal minimum every employee must receive under the Employment Ordinance, including shop staff, restaurant workers and domestic helpers.

If you work in an office in Central or at a bank, you will almost certainly get all 17 general holidays. If you work in retail, hospitality, healthcare or for a smaller local firm, your contract may give only the 15 statutory holidays. Check your employment contract; offers from international companies usually say "all public holidays" or "general holidays".

Your rights on statutory holidays

These rules come from the Labour Department and apply to everyone covered by the Employment Ordinance. (Labour Department)

• Everyone gets the day off, regardless of length of service or hours worked.
• Holiday pay applies once you have been employed under a continuous contract for at least three months immediately before the holiday. It equals your average daily wage over the previous 12 months.
• No cash instead of the holiday. Your employer cannot pay you in lieu of giving you a statutory holiday, even if you agree.
• If a statutory holiday falls on your rest day, you get the next day off that is not already a statutory holiday, an alternative holiday, a substituted holiday or a rest day.
• If you are asked to work on a statutory holiday, your employer must give you an alternative day off within 60 days before or after the holiday, with at least 48 hours' notice.

New in your job? Our Hong Kong probation period guide explains how the three-month rule for holiday pay works while you are on probation.

Planning a move to Hong Kong in 2027? Browse English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong on ExpatJobBoard. Every listing is checked so you only see roles that do not require Cantonese or Mandarin.

Long weekends in 2027

Hong Kong has seven long weekends in 2027 for anyone on a Monday to Friday week, before you use a single day of annual leave.

2027 leave planner: how to maximise your annual leave

The best value in 2027 comes from bridging holidays that fall close together. Eighteen days of annual leave, used as below, give you 51 days off. These plans assume a Monday to Friday week and all 17 general holidays.

The standout break is Easter and Ching Ming. Four days of leave turn into 11 days off, from Good Friday on 26 March to Ching Ming on 5 April. It is the best ratio of the year, so book flights early: Hong Kong's outbound travel peaks around Easter, and fares to Japan, Thailand and Taiwan rise sharply.

The October double is the second best. National Day and Chung Yeung both fall on Fridays a week apart, so four days of leave give you 10 days off. The weather in October is also among the best of the year, with lower humidity and typhoon season winding down.

Three one-day bridges. Buddha's Birthday, HKSAR Establishment Day and the day following the Mid-Autumn Festival all fall on a Thursday. Take the Friday off to make a four-day weekend each time.

Note on the Christmas break: New Year's Day 2028 falls on a Saturday. Whether a substitute weekday is given depends on the 2028 gazette, expected around May 2027.

Annual leave in Hong Kong

On top of public holidays, employees under a continuous contract earn paid annual leave after every 12 months of service. The legal minimum starts at 7 days and rises to 14 days after nine years.

In practice, most professional and corporate roles offer more than the minimum, commonly 12 to 20 working days, and senior roles often 20 to 25. Leave allowance is worth negotiating when you receive an offer. See our Hong Kong job interview questions guide for how to raise it.

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays does Hong Kong have in 2027?

Hong Kong has 17 general (public) holidays in 2027, plus every Sunday. Of these, 15 are statutory holidays that all employees are legally entitled to. Good Friday (26 March) and the day following Good Friday (27 March) are general holidays but not statutory holidays in 2027.

When is Chinese New Year 2027 in Hong Kong?

Lunar New Year's Day 2027 is Saturday 6 February. Because the second day falls on a Sunday, the public holidays are Saturday 6, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February, giving a four-day break from 6 to 9 February. It is the Year of the Sheep.

When is Easter 2027 in Hong Kong?

The Easter holidays in 2027 are Good Friday on 26 March, the day following Good Friday on Saturday 27 March, and Easter Monday on 29 March. Ching Ming Festival follows on Monday 5 April, so taking four days of leave from 30 March to 2 April gives an 11-day break.

What is the difference between general holidays and statutory holidays?

General holidays are gazetted each year and observed by banks, schools, government and most offices. Statutory holidays are the legal minimum under the Employment Ordinance that every employee must receive, including domestic helpers and shift workers. In 2027 there are 17 general holidays and 15 statutory holidays.

Are domestic helpers entitled to public holidays in 2027?

Domestic helpers are entitled to all 15 statutory holidays in 2027, in addition to their weekly rest day. Employers cannot pay cash instead of granting the holiday. Many employers also give the two extra general holidays at Easter, but this is not a legal requirement until those days become statutory in 2028 and 2030.

Do I get a day off if a public holiday falls on a Saturday?

Not for general holidays: there is no substitute weekday when a general holiday falls on a Saturday, so office workers on a five-day week do not get an extra day. For statutory holidays, if the holiday falls on your rest day, the law gives you the next day that is not a rest day or holiday.

Are typhoon and black rainstorm days public holidays?

No. When a Typhoon Signal No. 8 or higher, or a Black Rainstorm Warning, is in force, many offices close and staff are told not to travel, but these are not public holidays. Employers are expected to follow the Labour Department's code of practice for work arrangements during typhoons and rainstorms, so check your company policy.

When will the 2028 Hong Kong public holidays be announced?

The government usually gazettes the following year's general holidays around May. The 2027 list was gazetted on 15 May 2026, so the 2028 list is expected around May 2027. From 2028, Good Friday becomes a statutory holiday, taking the total to 16.

Key takeaways

• Hong Kong has 17 general holidays and 15 statutory holidays in 2027.
• Lunar New Year runs from Saturday 6 to Tuesday 9 February, with the fourth day substituting for Sunday 7 February.
• Three holidays fall on a Saturday, and there is no weekday substitute for general holidays.
• The best leave deal of 2027 is Easter and Ching Ming: 4 days of leave for 11 days off.
• Statutory holiday pay applies after three months of continuous employment, and employers cannot pay cash instead of the holiday.
• Good Friday becomes a statutory holiday from 2028, and the day following Good Friday from 2030.