How to Maximise Your Leave in 2025 Hong Kong

Strategic leave planning is key to achieving a healthy work-life balance. With 2025 offering 17 public holidays, including 10 long weekends, there are plenty of chances to maximise your annual leave. But navigating your time off alongside work and personal commitments can be tricky. In this guide, we'll show you how to plan smarter so you can enjoy extended breaks without exhausting your leave balance. 

Overview of Public Holidays in Hong Kong for 2025 

Here’s the list of public holidays in Hong Kong for 2025: 

• New Year’s Day - Wednesday January 1  

• Lunar New Year’s Day - Wednesday January 29 

• The second day of Lunar New Year - Thursday January 30 

• The third day of Lunar New Year - Friday January 31 

• Ching Ming Festival - Friday April 4 

• Good Friday - Friday April 18 

• The day following Good Friday - Saturday April 19 

• Easter Monday - Monday April 21 

• Labour Day - Thursday May 1 

• The Birthday of the Buddha - Monday May 5 

• Tuen Ng Festival - Saturday May 31 

• HKSAR Establishment Day - Tuesday July 1 

• National Day - Wednesday October 1 

• The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival - Tuesday October 7 

• Chung Yung Festival - Wednesday October 29 

• Christmas Day - Thursday December 25 

• The first weekday after Christmas Day - Friday December 26 

Highlights: 

• 10 long weekends (New Year, Lunar New Year, Ching Ming Festival, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, The Birthday of Buddha, HKSAR Establishment Day, the day following the Chinese Mid – Autumn Festival and Christmas Day). 

• Multiple chances to bridge public holidays with annual leave, creating long, restful breaks. 

  
  
  
  

Examples of Optimised Leave Plans for 2025 

Let’s look at some practical leave-planning scenarios for 2025: 

1. Start the Year Right: New Year’s Day (5 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: New Year’s Day (1 January, Wednesday) 

Leave Days Taken: 2 days (2-3 January, Thursday and Friday) 

Vacation Period: 1 January (Wednesday) to 5 January (Sunday) 

Kick off 2025 with a refreshing break by taking just two leave days after New Year’s Day to enjoy a 5-day holiday. 

2. Celebrate in Style: Lunar New Year (5 Days Off) 

Public Holidays: 29 January (Wednesday), 30 January (Thursday) & 31 January (Friday) 

Vacation Period: 29 January (Wednesday) to 2 February (Sunday) 

Celebrate the festivities with a 5-day holiday without taking any leave from your leave balance. Perfect for a family gathering or a short getaway. 

3. Fascinating April: Ching Ming Festival (4 Days Off) 

Public Holidays: April 4 (Friday) 

Leave Days Taken: 1 day (3 April, Thursday) 

Vacation Period: 3 April (Thursday) to 6 April (Sunday) 

Start your fascinating month of April by taking 1 day leave on 3rd April to enjoy the 4 days long weekend vacation with your loved ones. 

4. Easter Escape: Good Friday (3 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: 18 April (Friday) 

Vacation Period: 18 April (Friday) to 20 April (Sunday) 

Take advantage of another long weekend without needing to dip into your annual leave. 

5. April Long Weekend: Easter Monday (3 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: April 21, Monday 

Vacation Period: 19 April (Saturday) to 21 April (Monday) 

Enjoy a relaxing 3-day weekend as the Easter Monday falls on a Monday. No leave required for this long weekend! 

6. Labour Day Break: (4 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: 1 May (Thursday) Leave Day Taken: 1 day (2 May, Friday) Vacation Period: 1 May (Thursday) to 4 May (Sunday) 

Extend your Labour Day celebrations into a 4-day holiday by taking just one leave day. 

7. Mid-May Retreat: The Birthday of the Buddha (3 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: 5 May (Monday) 

Vacation Period: 3 May (Saturday) to 5 May (Monday) 

Another chance to enjoy a long weekend without using any leave. 

8. July Rejuvenation: HKSAR Establishment Day (3 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: 1 July (Tuesday) 

Leave Day Taken: 1 day (30 June, Monday) 

Vacation Period: 28 June (Saturday) to 1 July (Tuesday) 

Take one day leave on 30 June to celebrate HKSAR Establishment Day with a well-deserved 4-day weekend. 

9. Refreshing October: The Day following the Chinese Mid – Autumn Festival  

Public Holiday: 7 October (Tuesday)  

Leave Day Taken: 1 day (6 October, Monday) 

Vacation Period: 4 October (Saturday) to 7 October (Tuesday) 

Start your October with refreshing mind by taking one day leave on 6 October to celebrate the following day of Chinese Mid – Autumn Festival with a well-deserved 4-day weekend. 

10. Festive Finale: Christmas (4 Days Off) 

Public Holiday: 25 December (Thursday) 

Leave Day Taken: 1 day (26 December, Friday) 

Vacation Period: 25 December (Thursday) to 28 December (Sunday) 

Wrap up the year with a festive 4-day holiday by taking just one leave day after Christmas. 

Bonus: Customising Your Leave for Personal Goals 

1. Combine Annual Leave and Work-from-Home Days: If your employer offers hybrid working, use it to your advantage by planning remote work before or after your leave. 

2. Unpaid Leave Options: If your annual leave is running low, consider applying for unpaid leave to extend your time off during significant events. 

3. Weekend Additions: Remember to factor weekends into your leave planning for maximum efficiency. 

Tips for Discussing Leave with Employers 

• Plan Early: The earlier you request leave, the better. Early planning gives you a higher chance of securing your preferred dates, especially during busy periods like holidays. 

• Communicate Clearly: When submitting your leave request, clearly outline the dates you’ll be away and explain how your work will be managed during your absence. Reassure your employer that you’ve planned well to ensure minimal disruption. 

• Be Flexible: If you're requesting extended leave, be prepared to adjust or compromise. You might need to reschedule to a quieter period, work remotely part-time, or even take on extra work before or after your break to balance the workload. 

Tools and Resources to Help Plan Leave 

• JustLogin Leave Management Tool 

With JustLogin’s Leave Management feature, planning your leave is seamless. You can sync public holidays, plan bridging days, and track your leave requests—all in one place. Plus, the tool offers real-time tracking of leave balances, automatic approval workflows, and reminders, ensuring you avoid scheduling conflicts and can plan your holidays well in advance. 

• Digital Calendars and Apps 

Using digital tools like Google Calendar or specialised leave apps makes planning leave a breeze. You can colour-code public holidays, weekends, and your leave days to get a clear visual of when you're off. Some apps even suggest optimal leave combinations, so you never miss out on a potential extended break. 

How JustLogin Helps You Plan Smarter 

Planning leave isn’t just about securing your time off—it’s about collaboration and avoiding workplace conflicts. Here’s how JustLogin’s Leave Management feature makes it easier: 

• Team Visibility: Check who else is on leave during your preferred dates to avoid overlap and ensure smooth office operations. 

• Leave Tracking: Stay informed about your leave balance and plan accordingly. 

• Seamless Approvals: Use our feature’s automated workflows to submit, review, and approve leave requests efficiently. 

• Employer Insights: For employers, JustLogin Leave management dashboard provides an overview of who will be in the office during peak periods, helping with resource planning. 

  
  
  
  

Make 2025 your year of balance with JustLogin’s Leave Management tool. With its user-friendly interface, planning and tracking your leave has never been easier. From syncing public holidays to managing leave requests, it helps you take full control of your time off—so you can focus on what matters most. 

Ready to make the most of your holidays in 2025? Start planning now with JustLogin!