Hong Kong Statutory Holidays 2025
In 2025 Hong Kong had 14 statutory holidays — the legal minimum under the Employment Ordinance that every employee is entitled to, regardless of length of service. Easter Monday was still general-only in 2025 (it became statutory from 2026), which is why the statutory count was 14 against 17 general holidays.
Dates in 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Wednesday | The first day of JanuaryStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| January 29, 2025 | Wednesday | Lunar New Year's DayStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| January 30, 2025 | Thursday | The second day of Lunar New YearStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| January 31, 2025 | Friday | The third day of Lunar New YearStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| April 4, 2025 | Friday | Ching Ming FestivalStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| May 1, 2025 | Thursday | Labour DayStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| May 5, 2025 | Monday | The Birthday of the BuddhaStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| May 31, 2025 | Saturday | Tuen Ng FestivalStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| July 1, 2025 | Tuesday | HKSAR Establishment DayStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| October 1, 2025 | Wednesday | National DayStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| October 7, 2025 | Tuesday | The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn FestivalStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| October 29, 2025 | Wednesday | Chung Yeung FestivalStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| December 21, 2025 | Sunday | Winter Solstice or Christmas DayDec 21 (Winter Solstice) or Dec 25 (Christmas) — at the option of the employer.Statutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
| December 26, 2025 | Friday | The first weekday after Christmas DayStatutory holiday | Statutory holiday |
Statutory holidays vs general holidays
Hong Kong runs two holiday lists. Statutory holidays are set by the Employment Ordinance and are the legal minimum every employee is entitled to. General holidays (gazetted by the Government, 17 a year) are the broader list that banks, schools and the public sector follow. The statutory list is the one that protects workers not covered by the more generous general-holiday arrangement.
The two lists are converging. Under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 the statutory holidays are being increased step by step to match the 17 general holidays by 2030. The first weekday after Christmas joined the statutory list in 2024 and Easter Monday in 2026; Good Friday follows in 2028 and the day after Good Friday in 2030, completing the alignment.
At year-end the statutory holiday is the employer’s choice between the Winter Solstice and Christmas Day — not both — whereas general-holiday observers get Christmas and the following weekday.
Foreign domestic helpers — statutory holiday compliance for employers
Foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) covered by the Employment Ordinance are entitled to every statutory holiday from the first day of employment — length of service does not matter. Holiday pay is a separate entitlement: once the helper has been employed under a continuous contract for three months preceding the holiday, the employer must pay holiday pay for that day.
An employer must not pay money instead of granting the holiday — “buying out” a statutory holiday is an offence under the Employment Ordinance, even if the helper agrees. If the helper works on a statutory holiday with consent, the employer must arrange an alternative holiday within 60 days before or after it, with at least 48 hours’ notice.
Statutory holidays are separate from the weekly rest day (usually Sunday — 24 continuous hours off work). When a statutory holiday falls on the helper’s rest day, the employer must grant the holiday on the next day that is not a rest day, another statutory holiday or an alternative holiday. At year-end the employer chooses one statutory holiday only — the Winter Solstice or Christmas Day, not both — whereas the 17 general holidays are not an automatic entitlement for helpers.
Official sources & data
- General Holidays for 2025Visit sourceGovHK
- Statutory Holidays for 2025Visit sourceLabour Department, HKSAR
- Hong Kong Public Holidays iCalVisit source1823, HKSAR Government
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory holidays did Hong Kong have in 2025?
14, against 17 general holidays. The difference came from Good Friday, the day following Good Friday and Easter Monday, which were general-only in 2025.
Is every employee in Hong Kong entitled to statutory holidays?
Yes. Statutory holidays under the Employment Ordinance apply to all employees covered by the Ordinance, whereas the more generous 17 general holidays are followed mainly by banks, schools and offices.
What is the difference between statutory holidays and general holidays in Hong Kong?
Statutory holidays are the Employment Ordinance minimum every employee is entitled to — 14 days in 2025. General holidays are the wider 17-day list gazetted by the Government and followed by banks, schools and the public sector.
Are statutory holidays increasing in Hong Kong?
Yes. Under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 the statutory list rises step by step: 14 days from 2024 (first weekday after Christmas added), 15 from 2026 (Easter Monday), 16 from 2028 (Good Friday) and 17 from 2030 (day after Good Friday), matching the 17 general holidays.
Are foreign domestic helpers entitled to statutory holidays in Hong Kong?
Yes. FDHs covered by the Employment Ordinance get every statutory holiday from day one. Holiday pay starts once the helper has been employed under a continuous contract for three months preceding the holiday.
Can an employer pay a domestic helper instead of granting a statutory holiday?
No. Paying cash in lieu of a statutory holiday (“buy-out”) is prohibited under the Employment Ordinance and is an offence, even if the helper agrees.
What if a statutory holiday falls on a domestic helper’s rest day?
The employer must grant the holiday on the next day that is not a rest day, another statutory holiday or an alternative holiday — the helper should not lose the day off. Rest days (usually Sunday) and statutory holidays are separate entitlements.
Is Christmas Day always a statutory holiday?
Not exactly. At year-end the statutory holiday is the employer’s choice between the Winter Solstice and Christmas Day — one or the other, not both.
Was Easter Monday a statutory holiday in 2025?
No. In 2025 Easter Monday was a general holiday only, which is one reason the statutory count was 14 against 17 general holidays. It became statutory from 2026.