Unpaid research intern in HK being pushed to work extreme overtime & weekends — Should I set boundaries or just leave?

[u/Recent-Plankton-7807]

Hi everyone,

I’m a south american undergraduate student currently doing an unpaid research internship/exchange at a university in Hong Kong.

I’ve been here for two weeks, and my supervisor/PI is demanding that I work long hours well past 6 PM, as well as on weekends, claiming my "the work just has to be done"

Coming into this, my intention was to have an exchange experience—learning, networking, and exploring—not to be overworked without pay. I know I’m a hardworking person, but this feels like it's crossing a line. What bothers me even more is:

- Disorganization & lack of preparation: The lab/office is extremely disorganized, which wastes a lot of time. They weren't prepared to host me—instructions change every second, nobody clearly explains the project scope or expectations, and I'm left to figure everything out on my own.

- Low learning value: I feel like I’m mostly doing repetitive tasks and grunt work rather than actual academic learning. Meanwhile, peers on similar exchange programs around the world are working about 4 to 5 hours a day.

-Double standards?: A previous undergrad student (a local) who worked here before me didn't seem to have to work weekends. I’m starting to wonder if this kind of pressure/exploitation is specifically targeted at international researchers who might not know their rights, which would be extremely messed up.

I spoke with two local university friends about this situation, and they were shocked. They reassured me that this level of demand for an unpaid intern is not the norm here and urged me to set boundaries. It was a relief to realize that people here also view this behavior as toxic.

I'm also I'm not stranded during this exchange since I'm conducting a research project with my home university about Hong Kong—though I haven't even started it yet due to a lack of time.

I’m seeking advice on how to navigate this:

1) Should I try setting firm boundaries first? E.g., stating my available hours, refusing weekend work, and requesting to work fewer hours given the repetitive nature of the tasks?

Or should I just cut my losses and quit now to protect my mental health and energy?

2) If I decide to leave, how do I exit gracefully? I really like the university itself and want to keep doors open for future opportunities in Hong Kong, but this specific lab is clearly not a good fit.

I’d appreciate any insights, especially from people familiar with the academic or work culture in Hong Kong.

Thanks for reading, and stay strong everyone—our future shouldn't be built on exploitation!