How to Organise a Leaving Gift for a Colleague in Hong Kong
Someone in the office is leaving Hong Kong, the card is going round, and you've ended up organising the present. Here is how to do it without a last-minute scramble, from people who pack a lot of these gifts.
1. Start three weeks before the last day
A print on its own leaves us within two working days and reaches a Hong Kong office about three working days later. A framed print takes longer: allow about four weeks. If you only have a few days, see point 5.
2. Set one amount per person
Ask everyone for the same amount by FPS or PayMe and give a deadline. It saves people guessing and makes the budget easy to count. Then pick the size the total pays for:
| Budget | What it buys |
|---|---|
| HK$490 | 20 × 30 cm print |
| HK$790 | 30 × 45 cm print |
| HK$1,990 | 30 × 45 cm in a black wooden frame with white mat |
| HK$2,400 | 40 × 60 cm print |
| HK$3,690 | 60 × 90 cm print |
Shipping is free, in Hong Kong and abroad. If the team wants to give three smaller prints, three or more prints get 10% off automatically at checkout.
3. Choose the place they'll miss, not the most famous view
The best leaving gifts are specific. Ask yourselves where this person actually spent their Hong Kong years:
- They took the ferry to work: The Star Ferry or Hong Kong Ferry.
- They lived on Hong Kong Island and rode the tram: Hong Kong Tram.
- They hailed a red cab after every late night: Hong Kong Taxi.
- Weekends in the New Territories: Sai Kung.
- The view from the office: Hong Kong Skyline.
Every photograph is by a photographer who works in Hong Kong, printed in a numbered edition of 50, so the print they get is one of 50 and it says so.
4. Think about the move
People leaving Hong Kong are usually packing a container or a few suitcases. Two easy options:
- Print only is light and easy to carry in a suitcase.
- Ship it to the new address. Shipping is free worldwide, so you can hand over a card on the last day and send the print once they have an address in London, Sydney or Toronto.
5. Out of time, or not sure which photograph?
Send a gift card for the size you can afford. It arrives by email, on the date you choose, with your message. They pick the photograph themselves once they know which wall it is for. It works on the last day itself, even if they've already flown.
6. The card
Keep it short and specific. "For the Star Ferry mornings" says more than "Good luck". Ordering online? You can write your message in the cart note.
Checklist
- Three weeks out: collect the money, agree the size.
- Choose the photograph that matches their Hong Kong.
- Decide: give it on the day, or ship it to the new address.
- Last minute: email a gift card instead.
Ordering for a whole team or several leavers? Tell us the numbers and we'll reply within 48 hours with a selection.
