The Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate has increased to HKD 43.1 per hour effective from 1 May 2026. Correspondingly, the monthly monetary cap on the total hours that employers are required to record has been raised to HKD 17,600 in line with the new SMW rate.

For the latest updates, please refer to the Labour Department website HERE.

1. “Student Interns” Waiver Form

A student intern refers to a student whose internship:

• forms a compulsory or elective component of their programme, e.g. a credit-bearing internship course;
• has no age restriction; and
• has no restriction on the duration of the internship.

Further Action Required: Students should contact the respective course/ internship coordinator or programme administrator HERE to endorse the exemption form for Student Interns.

Please refer to the full list of HKUArts credit-bearing internship courses HERE.

2. “Work Experience Students” * Waiver Form

A work experience student refers to a student whose internship or work experience:

• is not necessarily curriculum-related;
• is undertaken by a student who is under the age of 26 at the beginning of the employment; and
• is for a continuous period of up to 59 days as exempt student employment.
• The student employee is required to make a statutory declaration to verify the above and provide the declaration, or a copy of it, to the employer.

Further Action Required: Please visit Form Request System - SMW Work Experience Student Waiver Form HERE to submit your request for the SMW Exemption Form (Work Experience Students) endorsed by the HKU Arts Career Development Team.

For students not enrolled in a credit-bearing internship course and whose internship duration is less than 59 days, the Work Experience Student Waiver Form must be completed. Students are required to make a statutory declaration following the current instructions.

Steps to Confirm Student Status:

1. Complete and submit the e-request form via the HKUArts system HERE for the Career Development Team (CDT)’s endorsement, confirming the status of"work experience student" under the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Cap. 608)
2. After receiving the signed “Work Experience Student” waiver from CDT, schedule an appointment at a local Home Affairs Enquiry Centre for the statutory declaration.
3. To make the statutory declaration, visit a designated Home Affairs Enquiry Centre with your HKID or valid passport, and sign the declaration in front of an official officer. The declaration form, including the specimen text, can be downloadedhere.
4. If the internship exceeds 59 consecutive days, the internship organization must pay the student intern at no less than the SMW rate starting from the 60th day onward.

Statutory Declaration - Requirements and Procedure

• Student Status: Obtain confirmation of your student or work experience student status from your university or faculty.
• Prepare Declaration: Download or draft the specific statutory declaration wording for exempt student employment.
• Visit Centre: Attend a designated Home Affairs Enquiry Centre during scheduled declaration times.
• Bring ID: Carry your HKID card or valid passport.
• Sign in Person: Read and sign the declaration in front of an official officer, then provide the signed copy to your employer.

Additional Resources and Contacts

Before making any decisions, students are advised to review the detailed information on the Minimum Wage Ordinance at the following links. 

• Statutory Minimum Wage: Notes for Student Employees and Employers
• Other Information: Statutory Minimum Wage Exemption for Student Interns and Work Experience Students
• SMW Work Experience Students Declaration Sample

For questions regarding exemption arrangements for student interns and work experience students, please contact the Labour Department’s 24-hour enquiry hotline at +852 2717 1771 (handled via “1823”) or email smw@labour.gov.hk.

Enquiries: artssge@hku.hk

Career Development Team, HKUArts