What make you stay in HK?

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bighead_cat

Registered User
If you are not originally from HK, what make you stay in HK?

Sand storm and pollution in HK hits the headline this week. We are planning to move to HK with two young kids in June. We found that the pollution, the accommodation space (apartment living), lack of primary school places .. put a question mark on the move.

I want to know what make you stay? Any positive side of living in HK?

Thanks!
 
The city is full of energy, the differences in such a little place between the city and the different parts of the island (in 20 mn you can be in Central or on the beach !), the good restaurants, the culture, all the things you can do with some kids, the friends you can make, the temperatures, the exotic places all around, the cheap transportation, the view on the harbour at night...
 
there was a related thread a couple of weeks ago... you may find it if you do a search.

there is nothing to say you HAVE to live in a small space. if you are willing to live out of the urban areas, it is quite possible to get a great deal on a 2100' house (i know, we have one)!
 
So many positives... I love the UK where I spent the last 13 years and my home country of NZ, but HK is where I see myself for some time to come.

Major downsides: rent, pollution, no grass, no cheap European flights, lack of diversity (lost of people in financial services - not being rude, this includes me!)

Upsides:

having my children cared for in my own home - in the UK they would be in daycare

fantastic helpers taking care of all the 'logistics', allowing me to maximise my time with my kids

built in evening baby-sitters allowing my husband and I to spend precious 'couple' time together

15 minute commute to work in a very cheap taxi, again meaning my time with the kids is maximised

a vibrant, bustling city but but with nature so close. my husband mountain bikes, we can take the dog and kids to the beach in under 15 mins, great hiking. Most people don't think of HK as being green, but nature is more easily accessible here than in most capital cities

Friendly people: everyone is in the same boat without family, it's easy to make friends in particualr if you have kids

Convenience: most things WORK here... you want something delivered, it is - and to your door.

Public transport is super cheap and works really well

I'm not sure where you are moving from so not sure what else to highlight.

All these things suit us as family, life here is not for everyone and you may feel quite differently. there are other annoying aspects, like life anywhere.
 
and i would say to leahH, the diversity i've experienced here is unbelievable. after 15 years, i count the following among friends:
bankers
lawyers
entrepreneurs
beauty therapists
SAHM
doctors
police officers
fire fighters
office workers
cleaning ladies
tunnel diggers (don't know the technical name)
journalists
teachers

just to name a few.

there are ONLY a couple of things that make me really miss home:
pollution
family
&
great supermarkets

other than that, hk is home.
 
Low Tax => Higher disposable income is huge if you come from the UK.

Affordable help is huge!!

The city is efficient, convenient and awesome for work. I love the buzz!
 
I just want to add that life appears a lot `better`, at least more easygoing and EASY the more disposable income you have.This can help you with the size of your place, whether or not you have a helper (or 2), if you take taxis as your normal transportation, if you do actually live 15 minutes from Central or from the beach, if you can enjoy leisure time, if you can put your kids in activities, etc etc etc.
It all boils down to money here. As everywhere, but moreso in Hong Kong.
 
Some may consider this a plus, but I feel HK is a bit clausterphobic. There is nowhere to go except here. You have to fly out of here if you want to go somewhere. There are not too many places to go within 1-2 hours flight. I`m from a big country - I appreciate space.
 
- it never gets boring, there is always something new to do and see
- ability to get good help with looking after children and home
- feel safer when going out at night
- convenient to get around
- shops close later, so it is easy to pick up things you need after work
- customer service is generally excellent
- plenty of good food at reasonable prices
- so many things work efficiently
- low tax rate

Several of the above factors allow you to maximise the quality time you spend with your family
 
This is an awesome thread! I just came from viewing a thread about missing home straight to this one which highlights all the positive things about HK. I will visit this one more often when I am feeling particularly homesick :)
 
Oh and the things I like about this place are:
* beautiful friends
* awesome harbour (starbucks with the best view)
* convenience
* cheap taxi's
* LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION - we live a short walk from everywhere I need to be at the moment (including my favourite starbucks on the harbour)
* my church here
* great nightlife!
* cool markets to buy cheap presents for ppl back home
That's my starting list for my first 1.5 years here. I'm sure it will grow with time. :)
 
howabout-
-very foreigner friendly (road signs, notices, shop names, 'some' cab drivers..) i.e. can get by well with no local language
-relatively cheap internet/telecom (super cheap IDD)
-good health/medical care (paid and unpaid for)
-ATMs everywhere (well, depends on your bank)
-low(ish) level of corruption (compared to other Asian cities anyway)
-low level of petty crime like burglaries/pickpocketing/car theft etc
 
Great thread! For me it is lifestyle! All of what everyone said about being able to work and have the help you need so you can spend quality time with your kids.

I don't see myself as 'living in HK' (and some would agree as we live on one of the islands), I live in a great little community of about 17,000 and can pop in and out of the hussle and bussle of Hong Kong Island or Kowloon as I please.

carang - i think they are tunnellers or tunnel engineers (hehehe).
 
In fact, for many I know, it's very hard to go back 'home' after having been in HK for a while. The change in lifestyle back home is a big adjustment, most go back only because of the need to be closer to family.
 
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