HK Public Holidays Guide 2024: 10 Days Break Using 3 Annual Leaves
Maximise Your Holidays 2024: Hong Kong Leave Strategy for Extended Breaks
The 2024 public holiday schedule is out, and it’s time to strategise for those extra-long breaks. With a dash of planning and a mere three days from your annual leave pot, you can unlock a blissful 10-day holiday stretch. Want to know how? This HK Public Holidays Guide 2024 spills the beans on the 2024 public holidays and gives you the lowdown on crafting those extended vacations with minimal leave days. Let’s make every holiday in 2024 count!
Hong Kong Public Holidays 2024 Calendar
General Public Holidays | Date |
The first day of January | 1 Jan ( Sun) |
Lunar New Year’s Day | 10 Feb ( Fri) |
The third day of Lunar New Year | 12 Feb ( Sun) |
The fourth day of Lunar New Year | 13 Feb ( Mon) |
Good Friday | 29 Mar ( Wed) |
The day following Good Friday | 30 Mar ( Thu) |
Easter Monday | 1 Apr ( Sat) |
Ching Ming Festival | 4 Apr ( Tue) |
Labour Day | 1 May ( Mon) |
The Birthday of the Buddha | 15 May ( Mon) |
Dragon Boat Festival | 10 Jun ( Sat) |
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day | 1 Jul ( Sat) |
The day following the Mid-Autumn Festival | 18 Sep ( Mon) |
National Day | 1 Oct ( Sun) |
Double Ninth Festival | 11 Oct ( Wed) |
Christmas Day | 25 Dec ( Mon) |
The first weekday after Christmas Day | 26 Dec ( Tue) |
1. First of January
In 2023, 31st December falls on a Sunday, followed by New Year’s Day on Monday. With 6th -7th January being the subsequent weekend, workers can enjoy a 9-day vacation by taking only 2nd & 5th January off.
- Public holiday: 1 Jan,2024
- Days to take annual leave: 2-5 Jan
- Days of holidays: 9 Days
2. Chinese New Year
The Lunar New Year in 2024 falls on 10th February (Sat), followed by Sunday. This extends the planned three-day holiday to four days. Tuesday,13th February , serves as a replacement holiday for the second day of the new year. Workers only need to take leave from 14th-16th February , providing them with 9 consecutive days off.
- Public holiday: 10-13 Feb (Lunar New Year, Day 1 to Day 4.)
- Days to take annual leave: 14-16 Feb
- Days of holidays: 9 Days
3. Ching Ming Festival & Easter
The Ching Ming Festival and Easter in 2024 are relatively close, with a difference of 2 days. 1st April (Mon) is Easter, while Ching Ming Festival falls on 4 April (Thur). Workers can take 2nd-5th April off to have a continuous holiday of 10 days!
- Public holiday: 29 Mar- 1 April (Easter) and 4 April (Ching Ming)
- Days to take annual leave: 2-5 April (Tue to Fri)
- Days of holidays: 10 Days
4. Labour Day
Labour Day in 2024 falls on 1st May (Wed), so by taking off only 2nd May (Thur) and3rd May (Friday), you can have a 5-day vacation.
- Public holiday: 1 May (Labour Day)
- Days to take annual leave: 2-3 May (Thur-Fri)
- Days of holidays: 5 Days
5. Buddha’s Birthday
The Buddha’s birthday in 2024 falls on 15th May (Wed). To create a 5-day holiday, you can take 16th May (Thur), and 7th May (Fri) off.
- Public holiday: 10 May (Buddha’s birthday)
- Days to take annual leave: 11-12 May (Thur-Fri)
- Days of holidays: 5 Days
6. Mid-Autumn Festival
The day after the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024 is 18th September (Wed). To enjoy a self-made 5-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival, workers can take Thursday and Friday off, starting from 19th September (Thur) to 20th September (Fri).
- Public holiday: 18 Sept (Mid-Autumn Festival)
- Days to take annual leave: 19-20 Sept (Thur-Fri)
- Days of holidays: 5 Days
7. National Day
The National Day of 2024 falls on 1st October (Tue). Workers can take a day off on 30th September (Mon) and enjoy a consecutive 4-day holiday.
- Public holiday: 1 Oct (National Day)
- Days to take annual leave: 30 Sept (Mon)
- Days of holidays: 4 Days
8. Double Ninth Festival
If you want to create a 4-day holiday, you can choose the days before or after the Double Ninth Festival.
- Public holiday: 11 Oct (National Day)
- Days to take annual leave: 10 Oct (Thur) or 14 Oct (Mon)
- Days of holidays: 4 Days
9. Christmas
Christmas in 2024 falls on 25th December (Wed). Workers can take 23rd December (Mon), 24th December(Tue), and 27th December (Fri) off, allowing for a consecutive 9-day holiday.
- Public holiday: 25-26 Dec (Christmas)
- Days to take annual leave: 23-24 Dec (Mon-Tue) & 27 Dec (Fri)
- Days of holidays: 9 Days
FAQ of Hong Kong Public Holidays
1.What are the main differences between general public holidays and statutory holidays in Hong Kong?
General public holidays are days recognized and celebrated across Hong Kong, and they total 17 days. Statutory holidays, mandated by the Employment Ordinance, are a subset of these, totaling 13 days. All employees are entitled to statutory holidays, and employers must provide these days off irrespective of the employee’s contract type or length of service.
2. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, how is it observed in Hong Kong?
When a designated public holiday falls on a Sunday, the immediate following weekday becomes a public holiday. However, this does not apply to Saturdays. If a non-statutory public holiday falls on a Saturday, it is not observed, and the holiday is essentially lost for those who do not work on Saturdays.
3. How to maximise holidays in Hong Kong?
- Combine holidays with weekends
- Use annual leave with existing holidays
- Consider less popular holiday to avoid peak times
How can I maximize my holidays in Hong Kong for 2024?
To maximize holidays in Hong Kong for 2024, strategically use your annual leave days around public holidays. For instance, around Easter or the Chinese New Year, taking just a few days off can extend your break significantly. Planning around weekends and public holidays can turn a few days of annual leave into a much longer vacation…Click for more
What are some tips for planning extended breaks using the 2024 public holiday calendar in Hong Kong?
To plan extended breaks using the 2024 public holiday calendar in Hong Kong, you should:
Combine public holidays with adjacent weekends.
Use a minimal amount of annual leave days around these public holidays to create longer vacations.
Consider planning your holidays during less popular times to avoid peak travel periods and enjoy a more relaxed break….Click for more