Russell arrived in the UK in mid October with his wife and their 6-year-old daughter on leave outside the rules (LOTR). Like many Hong Kongers, Russell wanted to get a job as soon as possible and sent out nearly 100 job applications. He thought he hit rock bottom when McDonald’s refused to offer him a job interview. But, life works in mysterious ways and within two weeks of moving to Manchester, he found a job through other Hong Kongers they met in Whatsapp groups.

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What was your job in Hong Kong? ⦁ 你喺香港做乜嘢工作

I started off as a photographer working for a theme park in Hong Kong. Over the years I moved up the ladder and became a general manager. I was earning decent enough money of around $40,000/month (£3,800/month before tax).

With COVID-19 and the recent lockdown in England, it is clear I should not be picky and just get on with finding a job.

How did you get your current job as a warehouse worker?  ⦁ 你點搵而家貨倉呢份工

My wife has met many Hong Kongers who moved here via social media. She learnt that one person left his job as a warehouse worker and that’s how I got to know about the job vacancy and went for an interview through the person who resigned.

It is a basic job at the warehouse. We receive orders and process them, pack the items and get them ready for courier to pick up.

It is a Chinese company, but we have many staff from Europe. The person who works closest with me is from Guangdong, so I am speaking Cantonese all the time at work.

I tried to apply for jobs via websites such as Indeed. I sent out about 100 applications and either I did not hear back from them, or I was told my application was unsuccessful. When McDonald’s would not even interview me, I felt a bit hurt.

You are still able to work without a National Insurance number? ⦁ 你冇 NI 都可以做嘢喎！

Yes! The UK government did say we can start work without an NI number if we can prove we can work in the UK.

Most of the Jobcentres in England are closed for COVID-19, meaning both locals and Hong Kongers are unable to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number.

My boss, who is Chinese, is understanding because he only came to the UK a few years ago and had issues with NI at the start as well. I did ask whether working without an NI would affect my salary, he said it would not.

Is your salary enough to raise your family here? ⦁ 而家嘅人工夠唔夠養屋企

I am earning around £10 per hour, which is just above the national minimum wage of nearly £9 an hour. I work five days a week, totalling around 39 hours a week. I get paid once a month.

With my current earnings, it is enough to cover our rent and utility bills. But it is not enough to cover our food, so we are literally eating our savings. It is ok though, because we worked out our financial situation before moving here, and our savings would be enough to keep us going even if I was out of a job for 1 to 2 years.

Depending on where you live, a basic job like mine can potentially cover a big chuck of your living expenses.

Your daughter just started school, how did it go? ⦁ 你個囡剛開始返學，適應嗎？

She was nervous before arriving school, but that was more to do with her separation anxiety. At the end of her first school day, she was so happy and said to her mum, “Why are you picking me up so early?” When we asked if she wanted to go back to her school in Hong Kong, she simply said: “No.”

She did say she’s not used to the English yet but we are confident this is temporary.

Her school was closed for two weeks when one of her classmates had COVID-19. She’s now back to school again.

Her enjoying school here is our biggest relief – she means the world to us and she is reason we moved.