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Hong Kong public holidays to look forward to in 2017 and beyond

With the Dragon Boat Festival behind us, Hongkongers are not going to be able to enjoy another public holiday until October 2, the day after National Day.

April and May were the best months for local workers to take a break, with three four-day working weeks in April and two in May. But the "honeymoon" is over, as the next public holiday is now four months away.

But don't despair, as there is always hope for a better tomorrow and always another holiday to look forward to. Here are the tactics to create extended breaks for 2017 and beyond.

October 2017With 2 October, the day after National Day, and 5 October, Mid-Autumn Festival, being public holidays, you can enjoy nine days off by taking only three days of leave (3, 4 and 6 October).

December 2017Taking advantage of the Christmas holidays on 25 and 26 December and on New Year's Day, one can get 10 days off by taking three days of leave (27,28 and 29 December).

April 2018Next April, one can get 10 consecutive days off by taking three days of leave. The Easter holidays on 30 March and 2 April, coupled with Ching Ming Festival on 5 April , mean one can take 3, 4 and 6 April off for a 10 day break.

May 2018Take Monday 30 April off and you get four consecutive days off along with the Labour Day holiday on 1 May. 22 May is Buddha's Birthday, so one can also take Monday 21 May  off to enjoy a four day break.

September 2018The Mid-Autumn festival on 25 September and the National Day holiday on 1 October mean workers are able to take four days of leave (24, 26, 27 and 28 September) in exchange for a 10 day break.

December 2018Take December 21, 24, 27 and 28 off and you've got yourself an 11-day break along with Christmas and New Year's Day.

Feeling excited about the future? Not so fast. Knowing what days you can take to create long breaks doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be able to outbid your colleagues and boss for those days off.

A post by Heawork highlighted the power struggle at the workplace with regard to taking leave. A person's job title might not always reflect his or her status but the pattern of how an employee takes leaves is certainly a key factor indicating where he or she stands in the corporate ladder.

Low-level employees: They are able to to get designated days off, but not necessarily on a Saturday or a Sunday. But at least they can make holiday plans.

Middle-level employees: They must act according to the schedule of the boss. They are never allowed to take days off when the boss is on leave because they have to hold down the fort when he or she is away.

Senior employees: They are guaranteed to get Saturdays and Sundays off and are free to choose the days they want to take their annual leave.

ALSO READ: Asia Pacific’s top holiday destinations

Photo/ 123RF

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