Living in Hong Kong
The first-time visitor to Hong Kong is always struck with the dramatic skylines, skyscrapers, great shopping and the visual reminders of it's colonial past. Only in Hong Kong can you find the Star Ferry, trams and Peak Tram amongst stunning contemporary architecture such as the Exhibition Centre and IFC1 (see the views).
These visual stereotypes are certainly representative of part of Hong Kong, but it is by no means the only part of Hong Kong. There are a lot of contrasting lifestyles and standards of living (see our accommodation page). There are the Country Parks with their hiking trails and BBQ areas, which provide a pleasant week-end distraction. Outlying islands like Lamma and Lantau have a different pace of life and their own characters. Kowloon provides a 24-hour shopping and dining experience, whilst some of the villages in the New Territories don't seem to have changed in decades. With beaches to match anything available in other Asian tourist destinations and pleasure junks providing waterborne tours, there are many parts of Hong Kong that most tourists never experience.
As a resident, the lifestyle may therefore be very much more diverse that you expect. Hong Kong will be different for the family too. The kids will be in a fee-paying school (see kids), probably learning Mandarin in class and Cantonese from their friends. You will have a lot of new social activities available (see our leisure page) and places to go. There will be challenges in the workplace and at home (see our expat page). You may have a live-in helper (see our domestic helper page) for the first time.
Whilst here you might see your first Typhoon. Typhoon Warnings are graded on a numeric scale and Rainstorm warnings are graded on a colour scale. When we get a Typhoon Number 8 warning, businesses, public transport and schools close. Schools close when a Red Rainstorm warning is announced and everyone has to stay inside during a Black Rainstorm.
What to bring to Hong Kong
- Ladies over size 12, bring clothing. There is restricted choice in Western size clothing.
- You'll need an industrial drill and concrete drill bits, unless you are prepared to hire a workman every time you fix something to the walls.
- Western Greeting cards, which are expensive and of limited choice and availability.
- DON'T BRING old furniture, old electrical goods (or anything not compatible with 240v) as it's expensive to ship and relatively cheap to replace from new or from an ex-pat leaving sale.
- Bed linen, which is of limited choice in Western styles.
Hong Kong Orientation
When you first arrive in Hong Kong, it can be very destabilizing for you and your family. Not only have you left your home behind, but you've also left your family, friends and most of your physical possessions. Obviously you will be reunited with your personal effects if you are arranging a shipment, but to all intents and purposes you are starting again.
The CAB publishes a free booklet called 'Settling into Hong Kong' which is a great starting point (available for download on our sitemap page). Most families will need more than some guide books and internet research if they are going to make a rapid transition to life in Hong Kong. Professional orientation services will give you the personal assistance of someone who has been through similar personal experiences and can help you quickly and expertly navigate the logistics of setting up a new home. See the contact us page for more information.
How does living in Hong Kong measure up?
Unless you live on Vanuatu, no where in the world is perfect. Hong Kong came 88th in the Global 'Happy Planet Index' of 178 countries. That put Hong Kong ahead of Japan (95), Britain (108), Canada (111), France (129) and the United States (150).
The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) 2001-2005
Global Business Environment
Index ranked Hong Kong 8th behind Singapore (3rd), NZ (12th) and Australia (13th). The 2007
World Competitiveness Yearbook
put Hong Kong 3rd, behind the US and Singapore. The Chinese Academy of Social Science's Chinese Urban Competitiveness Index of 2005 put Hong Kong
at the top of the league of Chinese cities.
The EIU's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2006 ranked Hong Kong 11th behind three Asian cities. They were Tokyo (2nd), Osaka (4th) and Seoul (8th). The UBS Prices & Earnings Index (excluding rents) ranked Hong Kong 27th out of 71 cities. Hong Kong fell from first place in 2003 largely because of deflation and currency depreciation. In 2006 Hong Kong ranked 3rd with regards to housing. Mercer's worldwide Cost of Living City Index ranked Hong Kong the 4th most expensive city in the sample.
Further comparative statistics can be found in the July 2007 edition of the Amcham monthly magazine.
So what are the issues that concern the expatriate community? The biggest concern is pollution, not the one most people expect....Bird Flu. Hong Kong survived SARS and consequently has a high level of preparedness for Avian Flu.
On a day-to-day level, you'll find that living in a crowded city has meant many locals don't have the same concept of 'personal space' or politeness that Westerners have come to expect. Pushing on the MTR, barging to the front of queues, letting doors swing back on whoever is following are all examples of how this will manifest itself.
Useful Links
- Playgroups
- Schools list
- Powervantage - HSBC can instantly set you up with a current account, complete with cheque book and ATM card if you present yourself in a branch with your passport or ID card.
- HK ID card - Everyone who enters and is permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days, who are aged 11 and above, are required to register for a card within 30 days of arrival unless they are exempt or excluded under local ordinance. You will need to present a valid visa sticker pasted into your passport which has subsequently been endorsed with a Hong Kong entry stamp.
- Phones/ISP/Internet TV/Directory Enquiries
The book Expat
Language
Hong Kong S.A.R. (Special Administrative Region) is part of The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the resident population is Hong Kong Chinese. The two official languages are English and Cantonese, the local Chinese dialect which is written in traditional form. Spoken English is generally good at in a work/professional environment and all street signs are in both languages. Many street names continue to commemorate colonial officials and Governors.
The principal language in China is Mandarin (or 'Putonghua') which is written in simplified form. With the two written forms of Chinese the same characters are spoken entirely differently.