Just in case the English teaching don't bring home the moola, is it doable to work in the service industry in HK? I am a MALE expat, of course, with decent looks and customer service experience. I also have a bartender's resume ready to distribute.

The question is how good of a Tipping culture do Hong Kongers enjoy? I mean back in North America, a waiter can make 20US+/hour working weekends at the best bars and most expensive restaurants in the the better parts of town, but what is the similar situation like in HK?

Do you know any expats doing well working in the basic service industries here?

How much do average (and top end) bartenders/servers make per hour during peak (and non-peak) periods?

If nobody tips, I guess there really isn't any point in working these fast-paced, hi-stress jobs, right?

I'm a little green on this, so expats with experience, I call to you for advice. Thanks!

Your problem will be that it is well-nigh impossible to get an employment visa for bartending work. So unless you have the right to work in Hong Kong by some other route then forget it - there is basically no illegal employment in this field.

And no, there is very little tipping - most bars include a 10% service charge in the bill and that is what people tend to pay, perhaps plus a few coins. Whether that reaches the staff varies from bar to bar.

Basic salary for bar staff is around HK$7-8000 per month.

Hi,

First of all you're not going to be able to find work - teaching, bartending or otherwise - if you dont have a valid work permit or have a HK ID Card.

Hong Kong can be a very expensive place, and if you think that you can earn some serious cash here in a month or two - its going to be difficult so think carefully about this.

You may find some small bar or dodgy little english school that may want to hire you - but you'll find that since you have no papers they won't be paying you anything close to what you expect. Also the immigration department here does do sweeps regularly to pick up illegal workers such as yourself....what this could mean for you is a nice 6th month stay at the Stanley Hotel...erm...Prison....

What English teaching qualifications do you have?

If you're legit and any good at it, your best chance would be moonlighting privately for about $200 an hour.

If you're one of those who think they can teach because they speak it natively, then as Slick said, you should take a government vacation for misleading and preying on those who put their trust in you.

If, however, you're a Tom Cuise bartender, with all the juggling bottles and shakers, then you missed the boat by about 12 years.

where's this guy gone?

Hey come back....

I agree that the OP is going to be hard pressed to find a work visa that allows moonlighting as a bartender. On the other hand, I thought bartenders did OK wrt tips, especially in the tourist/expat ghetto areas (or have I been overtipping?).

what have you been tipping?

If it's more than coins on a beer or 10% on the total bill then it's too much.

establishments with the 10% service charge NEVER go to the staff. Perhaps 5% after that would be OK.