Good spots to live in HK
Most people living in the Pearl River Delta region actually heat and cook their dwellings with coal fired heaters and stoves.
Back on topic, if you don't have to get to the airport every day I would go for Sai Kung.
etrang
Yes we were but I was replying to your quote:
If you honestly think factories aren't one of the main causes of air pollution in China then you are kidding yourself.
Environment of China
Chinese Air Pollution Deadliest in World
AIR POLLUTION IN CHINA
But we were talking about the factories
The dormitories i've seen are not squalid, and if necessary heated by electric fan heaters.
Environment of China
Chinese Air Pollution Deadliest in World
AIR POLLUTION IN CHINA
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Most of the pollution comes from the coal power plants and the vehicle emissions (due to the exploding number of cars in China). Factory emission is relatively less or actually declined. However, as the no. power plant and vehicle emission (i.e. carbon monoxide) are on the increae and those catalylic converters in Mainland cars are either non-existent or malfunctioning, leading to incomplete combustion, the total volume of pollution is increasing.
As for the factory condition, it depends. My bro works at a multinational company with factories in the PRD. The larger firms tend to offer better working conditions then the smaller firms, as the big companies do not want to be critcized for sweat shop labour conditions. So most of the big firm's factories have fairly reasonable working conditions. Foxconn, the Taiwan firm responsible for making Apple's ipod and ipads, has 300,000+ employees, so an occassional suicide cannot be ruled out due to the sheer size of the company. However, the smaller local firms with tight budgets and profit margins are another story, they are willing to cut cost and corners in areas you don't want to know...
All in all, if it weren't for the pollution, Hong Kong is actually not a bad place to live, the public transportation is clean and efficient, crime rate is low and there is wide usage of English. The ever worsening pollution from the north however is a serious problem.
As for the factory condition, it depends. My bro works at a multinational company with factories in the PRD. The larger firms tend to offer better working conditions then the smaller firms, as the big companies do not want to be critcized for sweat shop labour conditions. So most of the big firm's factories have fairly reasonable working conditions. Foxconn, the Taiwan firm responsible for making Apple's ipod and ipads, has 300,000+ employees, so an occassional suicide cannot be ruled out due to the sheer size of the company. However, the smaller local firms with tight budgets and profit margins are another story, they are willing to cut cost and corners in areas you don't want to know...
All in all, if it weren't for the pollution, Hong Kong is actually not a bad place to live, the public transportation is clean and efficient, crime rate is low and there is wide usage of English. The ever worsening pollution from the north however is a serious problem.
Get-a-raise
Actually 70% of all electricity produced in China in 2009 was consumed by the manufactoring and industrial sector and it is getting worse.
Factory emission is relatively less or actually declined.
Chinese industry scores very poorly in energy efficiency. Chinese steel factories use one-fifth more energy per ton than the international average. Cement needs 45 percent more power, and ethylene needs 70 percent more than average, the World Bank says[2]. A lot of the pollution in China nowadays is generated for producing the cheap products that fill stores in the United States and Europe.
Damaging air pollutants include sulfur dioxide, particulate matter—a mixture of extremely small particles and water droplets—ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. China accounts for roughly one-third of the global total for these pollutants, according to Krzyzanowski.
The combustion of fossil fuels—whether to power China's many automobiles, its burgeoning factories, or its expanding megacities—is a primary source of outdoor air pollutants.
The combustion of fossil fuels—whether to power China's many automobiles, its burgeoning factories, or its expanding megacities—is a primary source of outdoor air pollutants.
Coal is the number once source of air pollution in China. China gets 80 percent of electricity and 70 percent its total energy from coal, much of it polluting high-sulphur coal. Around six million tons of coal is burned everyday to power factories, heat homes and cook meals. Expanding car ownership, heavy traffic and low-grade gasoline have made cars a leading contributor to the air pollution problem in Chinese cities.
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The factories consumed, not emit the pollutants. But that's just a matter of semantics, either way the factories are indirectly responsible because of it's reliance on the coal plants and the vehicles that transport it's goods. So the pollution is getting worse and worse I totally agree, even if the exact % of the pollution source varies.
However, if one think about it, we are also indirectly reliant on those same pollution-spewing factories. I forgot the exact figure, but CX, KA and HX relies on a big chunk of it's business on those amoral businessmen with interest (and factories) on the mainland. We fly them here and they take ferries from the skypier and go on the various points on the PRD, be it Dongguan, Guangzhou or Zhuhai. Now if we removed those factories, those businessmen will not have a need to fly to PRD or take CX, KA or HX. Pax. traffic will suffer and our jobs won't be so secured then.
So we are, indirectly, abetting and relying on the very same pollution spewing factories we complain about?!! Good grief, or am I losing my mind having worked at CX for too long?
However, if one think about it, we are also indirectly reliant on those same pollution-spewing factories. I forgot the exact figure, but CX, KA and HX relies on a big chunk of it's business on those amoral businessmen with interest (and factories) on the mainland. We fly them here and they take ferries from the skypier and go on the various points on the PRD, be it Dongguan, Guangzhou or Zhuhai. Now if we removed those factories, those businessmen will not have a need to fly to PRD or take CX, KA or HX. Pax. traffic will suffer and our jobs won't be so secured then.
So we are, indirectly, abetting and relying on the very same pollution spewing factories we complain about?!! Good grief, or am I losing my mind having worked at CX for too long?
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All in all, if it weren't for the pollution, Hong Kong is actually not a bad place to live
So the only question remaining is : What is your and your family's health worth................
From your own link Titan
Its things like steel and cement production which consume most energy and cause most pollution. NOT the sports shoe and mobile phone assembly places which are typical of Guangdong. 
Chinese steel factories use one-fifth more energy per ton than the international average. Cement needs 45 percent more power, and ethylene needs 70 percent more than average, the World Bank says[2].
etrang
Have you actually looked to see what the major industries are in the Pearl River Delta? The main industries are:
1. Shipbuilding
2. Engineering
3. Cement
4. Chemical
5. Electronic
6. Transportation
All the other are minor, including textile.
Its things like steel and cement production which consume most energy and cause most pollution.
1. Shipbuilding
2. Engineering
3. Cement
4. Chemical
5. Electronic
6. Transportation
All the other are minor, including textile.
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Funny how the discussion gets so far off topic and so irrelevent sometimes. To answer the original question, try Kennedy Town on the HK island. It's an up and coming area with a new MTR station coming in a couple of years which is sure to raise the values. And the current prices are quite reasonable for being 5 minutes away from central. It's a good livable area too. I just bought an investment property there myself so I'm not just preaching.
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Kennedy Town is a good spot, and always has been. Happy Valley is also a nice area in many parts, and has good communication links and the air pollution is not as bad as many places.
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I though the pollution was worse a few years ago, and with the world recession output may well have reduced, as well as the opening up of other areas of manufacture, away from Shenzen, etc., but I'd like to see stats on that. I remember when it was clear, and the pollution was minimal (80s and much of the 90s) and changed in the space of a few years as Zuhai SEZ and Shenzen started to boom incredibly.
The pollution varies, in the winter though the climate is them comfortable, the prevailing wind changes,and brings more pollution, and during the summer, by contrast, it is hotter though the amount of pollution coming from the north is lower, however ozone is a problem due to the heating of exhaust fumes in the inner-city areas.
The pollution varies, in the winter though the climate is them comfortable, the prevailing wind changes,and brings more pollution, and during the summer, by contrast, it is hotter though the amount of pollution coming from the north is lower, however ozone is a problem due to the heating of exhaust fumes in the inner-city areas.
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Tung Chung - Seaview Crescent
GL,
In response:
15K - 30K is a reasonable expectation for the TC area.
A Seaview Crescent G Flat: 1170 sq' is around 14K/month, 3 bedrooms (realistically 2 bedrooms and a study), 3 bathrooms (realistically 2 bathrooms and a shoebox with a sink....which makes for a good size storage area, and not a helper's quarters for which it was designed...).
Agencies: Midlands has a chap here who is very helpful...arranges internet, cable, electricity etc. as well as realistic negotiations with the Landlord.
Security deposit: negotiable, but one month was the standard....not sure if this has changed of late.
Agent Fees: are also negotiable...
Girl Friend: not sure if you meant the relationship is working (good for you...) or that she is working....sorry to digress...
Anyhow, hope the above helps. If you need further contact info pm me.
In response:
15K - 30K is a reasonable expectation for the TC area.
A Seaview Crescent G Flat: 1170 sq' is around 14K/month, 3 bedrooms (realistically 2 bedrooms and a study), 3 bathrooms (realistically 2 bathrooms and a shoebox with a sink....which makes for a good size storage area, and not a helper's quarters for which it was designed...).
Agencies: Midlands has a chap here who is very helpful...arranges internet, cable, electricity etc. as well as realistic negotiations with the Landlord.
Security deposit: negotiable, but one month was the standard....not sure if this has changed of late.
Agent Fees: are also negotiable...
Girl Friend: not sure if you meant the relationship is working (good for you...) or that she is working....sorry to digress...
Anyhow, hope the above helps. If you need further contact info pm me.
