Mold in a $1000 room and five-year plans. How a Belarusian woman builds a career in Hong Kong

Tatsiana Beidzina. Photo: myfin.by

Regulated workday and no work to exhaustion

Tatsiana Beidzina fell in love with the Chinese language after an internship in Dalian during her third year of studying at the Faculty of International Relations (FIR) of BSU. In 2013, after working a year under a state assignment in Minsk, she still dreamed of the Celestial Empire. The chance came unexpectedly: during a translation for a delegation from Beijing, the girl was noticed and invited to join the staff.

Thus, in 2015, she found herself in a giant state corporation that dealt with "smart city" systems. The job was prestigious, with excellent social benefits, but had a significant drawback — the pay was low.

“Contrary to myths about Chinese workaholism, the work there was relaxed: a regulated workday, tea, and minimal workload. In such stable state-owned companies, which always have government support, no one works to exhaustion. I quickly realized that there was no future for me in such a job, so when an opportunity arose two years later to get a job at a Hong Kong securities firm, I seized it with both hands and feet.”

Tatsiana worked at that firm for two years until her boss came under investigation in China. In the course of the "palace intrigues" that followed, all employees close to him were asked to leave, ostensibly due to restructuring. Tatsiana was also dismissed, but they did her a favor by extending her visa and giving her time to find a new place.

“In Hong Kong, the visa regime for specialists is strict: it is very difficult to get the first visa; you need to prove that you are a rare specialist and no Hong Konger can perform your job. Usually, the first and second visas are granted for two years, the third for three, and after 7 years, you can apply for permanent residency. The first company met me halfway and extended my documents so I wouldn’t have to leave the country. I searched for a job for quite a long time, worked a bit at the reception in a Chinese firm, and then got a job at a small investment company. The manager called it a 'financial management boutique'."

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Hong Kong. Photo: myfin.by

Working at the "boutique" became the worst experience for the Belarusian woman. It was a real viper's nest of humiliations and infighting. The company simply ate up old investments, creating nothing new. Over three years, Tatsiana burned out and became disillusioned, but COVID prevented her from changing jobs. Finally, she moved to Hong Kong Huawei as an application tester, and two years later, returned to finance.

The management style in Chinese firms, Tatsiana says, often resembles post-Soviet style, but with "Chinese specifics".

“Management can hire people without precise tasks (in the hope that the employee will come up with and prove their usefulness themselves). Instructions are often vague, and assignments can be reduced to primitive service — for example, delivering alcohol for the boss's dinner. Many managers act like 'emperors,' expecting initiatives from employees, which they will graciously evaluate. At the same time, strict formalism is maintained: what matters is not the result, but adhering to the 9 AM to 6 PM schedule and timely responses in work chats.”

“The worse you know the language, the fewer problems”

Niches for foreigners in China are currently changing. It has become more difficult for English teachers due to state policy: children are being relieved of language studies in favor of patriotic education. Yet, paradoxically: Tatsiana, with her fluent Chinese, earned less for years than an ordinary English teacher.

“The most promising remains music teaching, especially piano — our classical school is incredibly highly valued in China. Other traditional areas — translation or export-import — require enormous autonomy, a life 'on wheels,' and are associated with significant financial risks.”

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Hong Kong. Photo: myfin.by

You can either hit the jackpot or lose everything. Previously, foreigners successfully earned money from streams for Chinese audiences, but now accounts must be linked to a local ID, essentially falling under the control of a Chinese guarantor.

At the same time, finding a high-paying job without knowing the language in China is entirely possible, especially for technical specialists and scientists. Innovations and scientific grants do not require knowledge of Chinese. It will only add everyday comfort, but not zeros to your salary. Therefore, relying solely on language knowledge is not advisable — in import-export, many have managed for decades with translators or software, without spending years on hieroglyphs.

Paradoxically, the worse you know the language, the fewer problems you have: colleagues are more willing to help with administrative matters, and management doesn't burden you with complex tasks, protecting you like a child. Knowledge of Chinese, on the contrary, becomes a trap. They start demanding as much from you as from locals, forgetting about cultural differences. In Tatsiana's experience, this reached absurdity: because of her good language skills, she, a newcomer, was entrusted with writing part of the company's plan for the 14th five-year period.

Павялічыць

Tatsiana Beidzina. Photo: myfin.by

Rent, food, and everything else costs $2500

Hong Kong is a very expensive city to live in. Unlike mainland China with its "lines" of development, rental and food prices there are many times higher. The Belarusian woman's first accommodation cost her half of her salary — 8000 Hong Kong dollars (more than 1000 US dollars) went for a tiny room for three in an old high-rise building, where due to the window facing a courtyard-well, there was almost no sun, and the walls were covered with black mold.

By the way, mold is a big problem for many premises in Hong Kong. Therefore, it is impossible to survive in such a climate without a dehumidifier.

“The price gap is felt everywhere: if on the mainland you can have lunch for 20 yuan (almost 3 US dollars at the exchange rate on April 4, 2026. — Ed. note), then in Hong Kong you need to multiply that same amount by three. Even within the city, there is its own gradation: Hong Kong Island is the most expensive, Kowloon and the New Territories near the border with Shenzhen are slightly more affordable, but still significantly more expensive than neighboring China. For a long time, I lived in such rooms for approximately the same price; I also had the experience of living a bit cheaper, for 6,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 765 US dollars), but in a five-room apartment.”

Tatsiana spends about 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (1276 US dollars) per month on living expenses in Hong Kong — from food to cosmetics. Rent takes the same amount. If converted to US dollars, it comes out to a little over 2500. Of course, one could live more modestly, but the girl prefers not to deny herself anything.

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Hong Kong. Photo: myfin.by

Who do our girls meet in China?

The main disappointment for the Belarusian woman was Chinese pragmatism in romantic relationships. We are used to love "I will go with you to the ends of the earth," but in China, feelings rarely triumph over calculation. Even passionate student romances between a Chinese man and a Slavic woman often break down due to the family's verdict, which will insist on a bride from their own circle. Family is not about love, but about a social contract and co-parenting or running a business.

“Average Chinese people rarely enter serious relationships with foreigners, because a foreign woman simply does not fit into their picture of an ideal marriage and pragmatic income pooling.”

Our girls in China most often date artists or athletes — they are more liberal in their views and ready to go against the system. But there is another category — big businessmen. The myth that Slavic women are well-settled in China is fueled precisely by big businessmen: very wealthy Chinese men, thanks to their status, can afford to disregard public opinion. For them, this is both prestige and personal freedom from traditional frameworks.

“Examples of successful marriages with rich Chinese men, who solve all problems, have created a real stir. If previously my female classmates turned up their noses, dreaming of tall, brutal men of European appearance, now the reputation of Chinese men has soared: they are valued for generosity, care, and status. The trend for idols also adds fuel to the fire — girls have been in love with Asian appearance since childhood.”

But behind the facade of high status and aesthetics lies a specific underside. In China, family is still primarily an economic project, not a romantic union. When a man acquires significant wealth, the presence of mistresses is often perceived by society as an acceptable attribute of status. Sometimes it comes down to cynical arrangements.

“One company owner openly admitted to me that he had an agreement with his wife. She bears children and lives on full support, while he acquires a 'secretary' for vacation trips. Although such conditions are accepted for the sake of stability, they are rarely openly discussed — the scheme works, but it's unpleasant for everyone except the man himself.”

“Only real resources command respect: education, money, and guanxi”

Currently, the Belarusian woman works in a family office in Hong Kong. This is a specific type of company created to manage the assets and affairs of very wealthy individuals. In Asia, this format is particularly popular: when a family business expands, a separate team of professionals is hired to control investments, taxes, and inheritance. Essentially, it is a closed structure that serves the interests of one family.

In China, there is a clear link between education and success. A diploma from a prestigious university must be converted into capital. Wealthy businessmen collect MBA degrees and courses because education is the highest value and a guarantee of respect.

“Besides money and knowledge, the decisive factor is guanxi — a system of connections and personal acquaintances. Without the right contacts, even brilliant education may not work. Who you know, who you can make agreements with, what connections you can leverage, very strongly influences the overall results you will achieve in life. Only real resources command respect: education, money, and guanxi.”

The Chinese taught Tatsiana how important money and career are.

“Despite socialist slogans, at heart, this is an extremely pragmatic nation. The main wish for any holiday is wealth and prosperity. An earthly philosophy prevails here: first secure yourself materially, and only then think about the soul and high matters.”

However, from the Celestial Empire, one can adopt not only harsh pragmatism but also everyday wisdom.

“A useful habit I adopted is drinking hot water. In China, it's literally a cure for all ailments: any doctor will first advise you to drink more of it. It's a simple yet effective advice from a great thousand-year-old culture.”

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