Moving to HK in summer. Help me make sense of it all!

I am so thankful for all of you who seem so committed to this wonderful website! I am moving to HK this summer with three children (age 9, 5 and 2) I want to start with searching for schools. We live in London, my kids attend the American School (which is amazing!). Where did you start looking? How can I get a clearer picture of the geography/demographics/transportation/etc of HK before I actually visit to look for housing? Can one enjoy a life outside of the city but still benefit from all it offers? Is there great yoga? Can I find work as a garden designer? Is it child friendly? Can we walk everywhere or do we need a car?

Any and all information will be welcomed.

Thank you.

Feel free to contact "sales@santafe.com.hk" for relocation assistance, ie. school search, city orientation, home search and so on.

Contrary to what many people think, there are thousands of expats that do not live on the Island. There is a huge expat community out in Clearwater bay and Sai Kung, would definately recommend it as a place to live. But if you want your kids to attend an American school your choice would be Repulse Bay, Tai Tam, for Hong Kong International school. Although Clearwater Bay is commutable to The American International school in Kowloon Tong. Hong Kong is not that big a place so nowhere's that far. And whilst its not necessary to have a car, with 3 kids I would recommend having one, its so much easier than taking public everywhere. It costs around $4-5k a month to run a medium sized car, including petrol, insurance, road tax, servicing etc. I drive 250 miles a week normally, which would cost me an awful lot in taxi's, even buses and trains add up when you have to times each journey by 5 or 6 for each of the family.

Be aware the American International School in Kowloon Tong will be different to what you have experienced in the UK.

Hi KForer,

As someone here said, most posts are opinions but they are also real experiences. I am not a local but joined a multinational on "local package" so I have gone through the grind myself (without company support) and had all kinds of encounters - Excellent to very bad.

Where did you start looking?

- Start with the right school for your children as most schools give admissions to children staying in "catchment areas". The area that the school is supposed to cater to! If you want to continue with the American School, Hong Kong International School is in Tai Tam area. All International schools have school buses. Then there are very good schools that are run by ESF(English Schools Foundation)all over Hong Kong.


How can I get a clearer picture of the geography/demographics/transportation/etc of HK before I actually visit to look for housing?

www.centamap.com apart from the website recommended by other posts here.

For housing - www.hongkonghomes.com

You can get unfurnished, semi-furnished and fully furnished flats.

Can one enjoy a life outside of the city but still benefit from all it offers?

- This is definetly an opinion cum experience. South side is in Hong Kong but not in Hong Kong!

If you are a rich expat coming on an expat package then, Tai Tam, Redhills, Stanley, The Peak are areas that you would like to look at. If you believe in living simply and not spending ostentatiously for housing, then Pokfulam (Bel-Air, Scenic Villas), Ap Lei Chau (Sham Wan Towers, South Horizons)are good properties.


Is there great yoga?

You Bet! Most of the offers are packaged so well that you almost believe them and pay astronomical charges. It's a pity that there are hundreds of suckers in HK who fall for it. But then how many peaople outside India know what Yoga really is?


Can I find work as a garden designer?

On this I will refrain from answering as I have no clue. But HK is a place of High Rise apartments. However, there are places in New Territories where a lot of people own large houses with surrounding property. There could be a chance!


Is it child friendly?

- Hong Kong is safe, Schools are good, Most apartment complexes/Condominiums have large play areas for children and good domestic help is available. Well maintained public parks, beaches (not so great), super library for children. A lot of noise is made about pollution. Yes, it is there as the population is dense and it is believed that "bad air" comes from Mainland's factories etc.


Can we walk everywhere or do we need a car?


Again a matter of opinion. I could not think of life without a car before I came here. But I do not own one and never felt the need for one. Like someone has said, world's best public transport, taxis are reasonable (cheap, if you are coming from London). Parking is expensive and also a pain. Bumpkin says weather is not good. Maybe in summer, it is hot and humid, but in winter it is very pleasant and walking is comfortable. But with the kind of public transport, you don't have to walk.


Wish you good luck! Hope this information is useful!

Hi ashongkong


find your reply very realistic and grounded.


would appreciate if you could reply to a couple of questions i have. we are moving to HKG in the last week of June from Dubai. have a 3 and half year old daughter.


ESF schools- i understand they are very well run and are all over the place. are all of them of the same standard? what is the mix of nationality in the school? i dont think my daughter will qualify till next year (though she is in preschool level in a british curriculum primary school currently), but i do want to have some feel of the school, before we decide on where we stay. are there good kindergartens around which are affiliated to the ESF schools?


will i be able to find a 1000 sq ft 2 BR apt for 20K, in a decent locality. i have been told to look at options in PokFulam and Ap Lei Chau. what do you think? can you shed some light on kowloon side, particularly tsim sha tsui. is discovery bay realisitc- my husband will be working in central. i have got a lot of mixed opinion about it. i hear it is great place for families with small children- but i dont want to spend the next couple of years ferrying up and down for every little thing.


part time options- any idea about such options for freelance Training and Development consultant?


Maids- any indian cooks around? are part time maids reliable? what is risk invloved?


thanks in advance.


singhs

Rossbear


Sorry, i dont mean to be sound rude. But i didnt quite understand which part of my question you've responded to.


singhs

Hi Singhs!

Greetings from Hong Kong!


Here are my replies to your queries:

ESF Schools are good. There are a lot of controversies about ESF, but the schools are good. You have a very young child and there are ESF and other international kinder garden schools.


Pokfulam and ap lei Chau are peaceful areas to stay. But 1000 Sq Ft for 20K is not very easy. Please note that the area quoted is superbuilt-up (in Indian parlance) and the net area you will get is only about 75-80%. I am vacating a nice flat in the last week of June 1260 sq Ft (net approx 1000 sq ft).I pay 24K. If interested let me know as it is being shown to prospects already.


Pokfulam or Ap lei Chau to Central is about 15 to 20 mins by taxi and about 25 to 40 mins by bus. This depends on the route that you take. I also work in Central and it takes me 25 mins to reach my office from home (Ap Lei Chau).


I have not stayed on the Kowloon ot TST side so I would not like to comment on how it is to stay there. But these places are like Old Delhi or Grant Road/Lamington Road/Girgaon in Bombay. I think you will understand.


DB is a great place...but as an Indian you may feel out of place. Again I hope you understand. Moreover, I would not want to take a ferry to & fro to HK Island everyday to work. I do not know how it is to stay there. Westerners are very impressed and happy with DB.


Part-time maids are illegal. If, caught there is trouble. But, honestly, there are hundreds of them. One has to be careful. You can get Indian, Srilankan, Phillipina, Indonesian maids. Work this out when you come here, through friends. Yes there are Indian ladies who come and do your cooking.


If you come here as a dependant you cannot work. Now the hard truth. If you do not know Chinese you will not get a job. If you are not a native English speaker, you cannot get an English teaching job. PERIOD. EVEN IF YOU HOLD A MASTERS DEGREE IN ENGLISH! As a Training and Development consultant you stand no chance if you cannot speak fluent Cantonese and/or Mandarin. I have been brutally frank. Personal experience. Not hearsay.


Wish you good luck.


Hong Kong is a great place, I have been here for three years. I have been happy. But remember you are a foreigner always! Be prepared to enjoy the good and take the bad in your stride.

Thanks for your reply, Rossbear, Bumpkin, Ashongkong. really appreciate it- though its got me quite worried.


Ashongkong- i am not 100% sure if we will definitely be in HKG by June end. we may be delayed by a week or two. but let me check and get back to you about your flat. thanks for the offer.


singhs

Hi Singhs,


Sorry you got worried. There is nothing to be worried about. Hong Kong is a great place but it helps to know certain realities.

Aap ko aagar aur idhaar ki khabar chaahiye to "Aat Paanch Do - Do Paanch Teen Saath Shoonya Nau Ek Nau" par baat kar lijiye.

I only scanned some of the replies. However, one thing that seems totally wrong are the answers regarding dependent visas. Immigration has once again changed their policies and trailing spouses will again be able to work on a dependent visa. Not sure if this has already gone into effect or if it is soon going to happen. But it is changing.


If you're interested in HKIS, contact Vicky Seehafer, the Head of Admissions. She is a great lady and very helpful. The HKIS website is: www.hkis.edu.hk

Kar,

It is still in the consideration stages. No one is sure yet. There is also a major change proposed wherein, one need not have a work visa before he/she lands here but can come here and look for a job. But there are some rules and regulations. Would not be able to comment very positively as it is all second-hand information.

If you have the opportunity, it would be best to come to HK for a look-see. While the posters here have given factual info, you might have a different opinion once you get to see things for yourself.


Living standards vary for each individual/family, and had we taken the opportunity to do a look-see, we would have saved time, effort and money when we arrived.

Annebin, I would have loved to check out the place before moving. Unfortunately, my husband does not have the time, and to travel by myself for almost 10 hours with a 3 year old just doesnt seem to make sense. However, any advice from someone has been a part of this song and dance would be most welcome.


Kar, I understand the law allowing dependents to work was announced this Monday.


And ashongkong, aap bahut hee 'brave' hai. bahut acchcaa lagta agar apse milne ka mauka bhi milta, par baat zaroor karenge. number note kar liya hai.


Thanks everyone........singhs

Singhs..


You have a lot of options in schools. Since your daughter is three and half I would wait until you get here so you can tour some of the schools and weigh out your options and do what you see fit for her for her kinder year and on. In the mean time you have plenty of pre-schools for her such as Woodland Pre-Schools which are throughout the island and some local pre-school depending on where you decide to live.


Housing wise, Mid-Level West is a good spot for your budget also. Check out www.hongkonghomes.com it'll give you and idea of what you can get for your money.


Maid -- Many Sri Lankan helpers here. Most work with Indian families and can cook Indian food. When you get here send me message and I may be able to help you in that department as my helper is Sri Lankan and she has many friends.


Best of Luck to you!! Don't worry, Honk Kong is a great expat place to be.

To Expat222, it takes the same time to drive to Central from Clearwater Bay as from Tai Tam, if not less.

Dependants can now work again.