NATS Fragrant Harbour Contract
 

Now that NATS has won a HK contract, are we going to see a NATS version of FILTH ?

Fed up In London/LACC Try Hong Kong

Care to expound on that UNIFO?

If you make life decisions solely based on this forum, not sure I'd want you on the other end of the Mike!!

UNIFO - thanks for your input. act700 - appreciate your opinion as well; no worries there mate.

Google is amazing.

Can you divulge the ATC salaries in HK?

That's what it is all about... I suppose NATS is factoring all the expenses if they want to attract internationals...
On a sidenote, according to some "rumours", most of the places recruiting seem so inhospitable these times... (HK, Sandpit, Oz...).

I have heard, rumour of course, that salary for Atco at old Kai Tak APP, was around 40 000 DEM/ montly.( 90's)

Last time HK took on expats was over 20 years ago.
But based on previous experience they will likely offer salary at the top of ATCO II rank for 20 years experience, which is point 44B on the civil service pay scale.
Civil Service Bureau - Master Pay Scale

Possible gratuity would likely be 15% (not 25% as per 20 years ago) which just offsets the flat tax rate.

The $64,000 question will be accomodation allowance, if any.
HKG is now recognised as the most expensive city in the world in terms of living cost. Rental costs are exhorbitant unless you are prepared to live in a shoebox. (Correction; even if you live in a shoebox)

If you have kids of schooling age, forget it. As UNIFO says, debenture and term fees for ESF schooling is prohibitive.

Be careful who you are actually dealing with here.

You are not working for NATS.
This is a sleight of hand by the HK Civil Aviation Department (who is under the most dysfunctional Bureau in the HK Govt- the Transport and Housing Bureau THB ; otherwise known as SADIM. The opposite of MIDAS- everything they touch turns to Sh1t. Google HK housing, High Speed Train etc...).
Despite the Govt just posted a budget surplus of almost HKD 100 billion, they can’t find the funds to properly let the CAD to employ additional staff.
So they instead tell the Airport Authority to fund the extra controllers.
The AA is not stupid and can see the legal wrangle they can end up with so Farm it out to a third party NATS.
Despite the government wants to distance itself from all this, make no mistake, it will be the CAD who is calling the shots on what your roster will be, when you can have leave and who you will answer to.

They’re a crafty lot.
You have been warned.

As Lap Sap says above, be aware that renting accommodation in Hong Kong is on a completely different scale to many other countries i.e. It is very expensive and you will be in a small flat, possibly in a high rise apartment block. To give you some idea of the likely housing costs, 20 years ago the accommodation allowance was £37,000 per annum.

The salary on the Civil Service Master Pay Scale is virtually the same as it was 20 years ago i.e. £107,000, so don't expect an annual increase, however there was a 25% gratuity plus air fares, medical and education expenses for children. So, the total package 20 years ago was close to £180,000. Tax is 15%, so a lot lower than many countries.

If I was contemplating a move back to HK, which I'm not, I would be looking for a package north of £200,000.

I've yet to see any adverts for HK, but I assume that the package that will be offered would be of this order.

The work is not for the faint-hearted. Traffic levels are almost on a par with Heathrow but with airspace constraints that severely limit vectoring in the APP/DEP environment.

On the en-route side, again very busy and a challenging environment, 24 hours a day, and growing at an alarming pace.

Bear all this in mind if you are considering applying to HK.

However, the work, although challenging, can be extremely satisfying and outside of work HK certainly has a lifestyle that is out of the ordinary.

I look forward to seeing an advert.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/m.scmp...y-life%3famp=1

Read the other imbedded stories as well, including the price for a car parking space.
Of course you could always go the Discovery Bay option- and buy a golf cart. Mind you it will cost you more than a new DB11.
I’m not kidding.

Can you please elaborate?