Clearwater Bay / Sai Kung Vs Southside

C

collsi

Registered User
Hi

We are a family of 4 currently living on the southside (Stanley-Tai Tam area). Our lease will be up for renewal in a few months and we are considering whether a move towards the Clearwater Bay / Sai Kung area would be beneficial for the children (almost 3 and 5 months). Has anyone made a similar move recently? or can anyone comment on living in this area with two young children (english speaking family)?

I have searched the threads already but the posts are dated. Would appreciate any comments.

Thanks :)
 
what would you like to know?

(haven't made a move as could never afford southside, but have lived in both Clearwater Bay & Sai Kung).
 
Hi Collsi, Do not have children yet (trying), but moved from the south side to Saikung about a year ago. The main difference is of course the space. Initially I really wanted to stay south side but you can get something 3 or 4x the size for the same budget in Saikung - that was more important to me in the end. It also means that my family can come and stay for long periods of time without us all getting on top of each other. It isn't too long a journey into Hong Kong, and it is really nice to be out in the countryside. There are quite a few families with kids in our village and all seem very happy....
 
at least (space wise)...
$16.8k rent got us:
2100'
5 bed
4 bath
2 balconies
rooftop
1000'+ garden
2 carparks


BUT we are in sai kung country park, where rent is even cheaper than CWB or Sai Kung.
 
I've a feeling you struck that deal a while ago carang. Rents are up a lot a and are more likely to be at least $30k, and around $45 in Clearwater Bay. But I guess Southside is up too so it is all relative. One thing we have noticed in CWB this year is the humidity.Much higher than Southside. Would you agree?
 
nope, as i said we are in sai kung country park... which is why it's cheaper (much) than CWB...

we signed our second lease last august and it was our second one.

the humidity this year has been REALLY bad... but i think that is because of all the drizzle...which would pretty much affect all areas of hk.
 
Thanks carang, Liquorice, and sunrays for your replies.

The main reason we are considering moving is for space, outdoor space in particular, so that the children could play outside without it requiring a trip.
We are happy with the facilities and like where we are currently living but all else being equal useable outdoor space would swing it.
Our concern is that we don't want to make the move and loose a lot of the benefits we currently have just for some additional space.
Some specific questions
- are there many english speaking schools and do they have waiting lists like elsewhere in HK? (trying to gauge how far would need to travel daily)
- are there complex's / areas with lots of younger children and stay at home mums? or would we be likely to feel a bit isolated?
- are there a lot of facilities for young children in these areas? are there lots of things to do with young children for a couple of hours as well as a day?
- is it easy to get taxi's?
- is it easy to commute to central?
- are there many places to eat out with young children?

Re the humidity - its been really bad here this year, it feels like we have been living in a cloud for the past number of months - It can't go away quick enough :)

Sorry for the long post :)
 
it would completely depend upon where you choose to live. i find sai kung much easier with kids as you are near a "town centre". there is a large-ish supermarket, restaurants (lots are kid-friendly), playgroups, music centres, playgrounds (i can think of 3 or 4 right in sai kung town), a public swimming pool, a library a waterfront (my kids love running along the waterfront) etc.

if you live in a complex, there will be a small playground/possible communal pool etc. if you live in a village house, that is not necessarily the case.

taxis are abundant, but morning rush hour can be a pain in the neck (no moreso than elsewhere, though)

lots of english speaking schools? there's Clearwater Bay School, Renaissance College, Good Hope School (local curriculum EMI with an excellent reputation), Adventist College....but as with all schools, there will most likely be waiting lists.

there are LOADS of kids around, maybe not all are expats, but that's a GOOD thing! my son goes to a local kindergarten and LOVES it! so much so, we have decided to try him in a local cantonese primary! in his current kindie class, probably 1/4 of the kids are western/mixed and they are all learning cantonese!

places to eat:
anthony's ranch (kids LOVE it! provide crayons for colouring)
Sawadee Thai (beside mcd's... provide crayons~they know my kids by name and always say hi, even if we are just walking past)
many chinese restaurants
pepperoni's pizza
jaspa's
cru
ali oli bakery
paisano's pizza (best in sai kung, probably all of hk!)
japanese restaurants
indian
sri lankan
malaysian
vietnamese (more fast food than restaurant, but YUMMY!)
anthony's catch (seafood~ western style)
3 or 4 pubs etc...
all of what i've described is for sai kung town only (except the schools as they serve the entire area).
 
moving from Chicago to hk - locations and local school suggestions? (sai kung/ cwb

Hi,

I am moving to hk with my family of four. I have a 2 & 4 year old. I would love if anyone can give me insights and name to local schools in Sai Kung and cwb. These are the two most affordable areas for the space and setting we wanted. Any other recommendation and advice would be great. We have a budget of 65k for housing.

Thankfully yours
 
local kindergarten (chinese language, but with A LOT of expat kids): Sai kung lok yuk kindergarten (when you have a HKID card, you can apply for the pre-primary voucher and then school fees for 1/2 day are close to nothing... this year it was free. full day this year is $669 (?)HKD.)

local primary school (both english and chinese stream): Lee Siu Yam Memorial Primary School, fees are free

international kindergartens:
SKIP
Leapfrog
Abacus
Garden House
New Song
Woodlands

International/English primary schools:
Renaissance College
Clearwater Bay Primary School
and any of the other international schools (they all have school buses)
 
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