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Closed 7 years ago .I have a little problem as I signed a contract for an internship but now I realised that I wont be able to take it due to personal circumstances. I signed it 2 days ago and the internship starts in the beginning of february. There is nothing mentioned in the contract about the termination before it actually starts. It only says that during the internship i have a termination due of 3 weeks. Now I am a little worried that there may be some legal issues if I terminate the contract.
Oliver Larysz asked Jan 10, 2017 at 12:03 Oliver Larysz Oliver Larysz 1 1 1 silver badge 2 2 bronze badgesYou need to talk to a lawyer, not the Internet: we can't advise you on the specifics of Hong Kong law.
Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 12:14 Alright. I will see what i can do, thanks anyways! Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 12:25You maybe could ask something general like "What can be the consequences of unilaterally terminating a contract in Hong Kong? on Law but I assume it mostly depends on what contract you actually signed and specific legal advice is off-topic there. There are other site or fora where you may be able to at least get an idea of your options but in the end you need legal advice which is something to consult a legal professional for.
Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 12:42 For me the obvious option would be calling the employer, explaining and asking. Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 13:15Also, if you terminated the contract today, that would be three weeks notice for the 1st of February. (IANAL)
Commented Jan 10, 2017 at 13:18Inform the employer as soon as possible. Ideally you should have never signed the contract, but that is too late for now. However, acknowledging that you made a mistake is responsible behavior, and we all mistakes.
Being an internship, it is unlikely that your job will have a significant impact to the company's business. Companies usually hire interns with a "low-cost labor with lower-than-average quality" attitude, so they don't expect much to begin with. If they expected a professional commitment, they would have offered a full-time package and possibly hired someone experienced.
Can you be held legally responsible? Technically, yes; practically, very unlikely. To sue you, the company must proof that because of your actions, the company has suffered loses and demand you to compensate. However, legal processes takes time and a lot of money; someone sensible would evaluate the cost of letting you go vs the cost of hiring a lawyer to come after you. Unless you were hired for an important or senior position and finding a replacement is costly, they're likely to just let you go.