HK lifts minimum wage to $43.1 per hour from May

Hong Kong’s statutory minimum wage will rise from HK$42.1 to HK$43.1 per hour, an increase of HK$1 or 2.38 percent, the government said.

The increase follows the Chief Executive in Council’s adoption of a recommendation from the Minimum Wage Commission. The government said it will gazette the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2026 next Friday, February 20.

The bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Legislative Council on February 25. Subject to approval, the new minimum wage rate will take effect on May 1.

The adjustment is made under the commission’s new annual review mechanism for the statutory minimum wage, which applies a formula approved by the Chief Executive.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the recommended rate aligns with minimum wage policy, “striking a balance between preventing low pay and minimizing job losses” while supporting economic growth and competitiveness.

Echoing a similar sentiment, MWC Chairwoman Priscilla Wong Pui-sze said she was pleased the recommendation had been accepted, noting that the new rate was calculated using the Chief Executive–approved formula.

During the review, the commission examined the implementation of the formula, analyzed the latest data for key indicators, and assessed the potential impact of the increase, she said.