Hong Kong - what it's really like
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Hong Kong - what it's really like
What is it like living in Hong Kong? How does the cost of living compare with Australia - ie Melbourne? Is it better for the married guys than the single guys? What sort of social life can a single pilot expect? What's the quality of life like? How do spouses and the kids cope? Could a single person expect to meet other singles? Do expats buy houses/apartments or do they rent? Has anyone taken their dog/cat with them? Does anyone commute from Australia? Has anyone left their spouse/family/partner behind?
The answer to these questions and any comments on living in Hong Kong would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
DJ
The answer to these questions and any comments on living in Hong Kong would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
DJ
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jembe56:
Many of your questions have been raised and answered recently on similar threads.
Here is some up-to-date information:
It's hard to draw a "one size fits all" comparison between HK and Melbourne, but in general, you'll find most things more expensive here except for income tax (which is 15% flat).
Living: depending on the area you elect to live in, your rent will be around HK$10 to 30 per sq. ft. (A$1 ~ HK$4.4) per month. Buying (a new property) will set you back around HK$2,500 to 4,000 per sq. ft. and remember you'll need 20% deposit at least. Buying on the secondary market is more difficult, as banks tend to provide a lower mortgage ceiling for such properties.
Schools: unless your kids speak/read/write Chinese (Cantonese), they'll need to attend a private school or an ESF (English Schools Foundation) establishment. The ESF schools are the cheapest alternative, as they are (still) subsidised by the government, but that may change soon. Private schools often demand up-front purchase of debentures on top of school fees. In short, my two sons (who attended a private school in HK up to Primary 4) are at boarding school in Melbourne because they get a far better all-round education (including sports) for much the same money we'd be spending here.
Cost of living: you'll find in general that one-off purchases, such as TV sets, cameras, DVD players, mobile phones, etc. are cheaper in HK, but many of the daily necessities are more expensive. Here are some prices for you:
- Milk, long-life, one litre HK$12
- Potatoes, one lb: HK$3.60
- Beer (Carlsberg), one can in supermarket: HK$6.00
- Detergent, major brand, 2.5 kg: HK$50
- Breakfast cereal, one box: HK$28
- Unleaded petrol, one litre: HK$11
- Pint of beer at a pub/bar: HK$ 40
- Big Mac Meal: ~HK$20
- Newspaper: HK$7
We've taken pets (cats) from HK to Australia, but not vice-versa. However, it's possible - you'll need a heap of documentation, though. Please keep in mind that Hong Kong apartments/houses are smaller than what you would have in Oz and in most cases do not have any yard worth speaking of. The HK SPCA is always happy to find a good home for a dog or cat.
Social life: good for both singles and couples; for kids, the lack of open both spaces and a sports culture can be frustrating, though.
Many of your questions have been raised and answered recently on similar threads.
Here is some up-to-date information:
It's hard to draw a "one size fits all" comparison between HK and Melbourne, but in general, you'll find most things more expensive here except for income tax (which is 15% flat).
Living: depending on the area you elect to live in, your rent will be around HK$10 to 30 per sq. ft. (A$1 ~ HK$4.4) per month. Buying (a new property) will set you back around HK$2,500 to 4,000 per sq. ft. and remember you'll need 20% deposit at least. Buying on the secondary market is more difficult, as banks tend to provide a lower mortgage ceiling for such properties.
Schools: unless your kids speak/read/write Chinese (Cantonese), they'll need to attend a private school or an ESF (English Schools Foundation) establishment. The ESF schools are the cheapest alternative, as they are (still) subsidised by the government, but that may change soon. Private schools often demand up-front purchase of debentures on top of school fees. In short, my two sons (who attended a private school in HK up to Primary 4) are at boarding school in Melbourne because they get a far better all-round education (including sports) for much the same money we'd be spending here.
Cost of living: you'll find in general that one-off purchases, such as TV sets, cameras, DVD players, mobile phones, etc. are cheaper in HK, but many of the daily necessities are more expensive. Here are some prices for you:
- Milk, long-life, one litre HK$12
- Potatoes, one lb: HK$3.60
- Beer (Carlsberg), one can in supermarket: HK$6.00
- Detergent, major brand, 2.5 kg: HK$50
- Breakfast cereal, one box: HK$28
- Unleaded petrol, one litre: HK$11
- Pint of beer at a pub/bar: HK$ 40
- Big Mac Meal: ~HK$20
- Newspaper: HK$7
We've taken pets (cats) from HK to Australia, but not vice-versa. However, it's possible - you'll need a heap of documentation, though. Please keep in mind that Hong Kong apartments/houses are smaller than what you would have in Oz and in most cases do not have any yard worth speaking of. The HK SPCA is always happy to find a good home for a dog or cat.
Social life: good for both singles and couples; for kids, the lack of open both spaces and a sports culture can be frustrating, though.
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Good summary Alpha and very relevant. A lot of families get involved in sailing as an activity to do together and there are lots of reasonably priced places to learn/do this. Hong Kong is what you make it, I would bet if you are happy where you live now as a family you will also be happy in Hong Kong. There is also lots of scope for mama san to get involved in extra curricular activities if she wants to get out of the house. We got involved in providing help for orphanages - great fun and very rewarding. Hong Kong can be very expensive if you want the jet set life style but for the 'average' family an occasional dinner out at the best restaurants is most affordable. I and my family love it here, pollution, crowded shopping on the weekends and all.
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C'mon Hymie play fair!
That is three out of how many? Divorce and moving on are no foreigners to the aviation world and I doubt if the incidence in CX is any more, (or less), than the industry world wide, it is just that within an expatriate community everybody knows, unlike the UK, for example?
That is three out of how many? Divorce and moving on are no foreigners to the aviation world and I doubt if the incidence in CX is any more, (or less), than the industry world wide, it is just that within an expatriate community everybody knows, unlike the UK, for example?
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Sorry BE, can't give you the exact %, but it is three out of the 50 or so people I know/have known well enough in CX, to have stated plainly that they were leaving because the wife/family wasn't handling HK/CX.
I am not including anyone who has not said it to me firsthand.
If it's such a hoot up here, then why are a lot of the guys who are returning to HK after the post 23AG ATO screw up, finding themselves commuting?
In fact why are there so many commuters in the first place????
Yes there are lots who are happy up here, but it's not all fluffy white clouds and harp music, and it certainly isn't home!
I am not including anyone who has not said it to me firsthand.
If it's such a hoot up here, then why are a lot of the guys who are returning to HK after the post 23AG ATO screw up, finding themselves commuting?
In fact why are there so many commuters in the first place????
Yes there are lots who are happy up here, but it's not all fluffy white clouds and harp music, and it certainly isn't home!
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Thanks for the comments guys. I've also done a search using the words Hong Kong life and came up with quite a bit of info.
Most of the postings appear to come from those who are married. I'm guessing that having your family with you can either be a plus in as much as you're all in it together, or it can lead to problems as mentioned above.
But what about the single pilots? Do you end up socialising only with other pilots? Are there opportunities to meet members of the opposite sex? I know in regional bases in Australia pilots and FAs socialise - does this happen in Hong Kong as well?
Most of the postings appear to come from those who are married. I'm guessing that having your family with you can either be a plus in as much as you're all in it together, or it can lead to problems as mentioned above.
But what about the single pilots? Do you end up socialising only with other pilots? Are there opportunities to meet members of the opposite sex? I know in regional bases in Australia pilots and FAs socialise - does this happen in Hong Kong as well?
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People come to Hong Kong to find employment for two reasons, either because they want to or because they have to. Those who do come to Hong Kong, for whatever reason, find it quite different to their 'home', assuming that they are of Western origin. This 'difference' can be intimidating or exciting, dependent on your upbringing and foibles. But it is not the Hong Kong of 30 years ago, in no way a hardship post. Supermarkets stock everything I am used to, they kick balls the same shape that I remember. The language strikes a chord and I can hear the occasional wood on leather. This and the opportunity to save and live quite well. Yes I think it's quite rosey here. When I arrived a friend gave me some advice, 1st, if you have a shakey marriage don't bring it here as all weaknesses will be cruelly exposed, usually by the husband. 2nd, don't play with fancy cars or fancy watches and if you leave with the wife you come with you will do very nicely. Both good advice. There are many reasons why folks commute, some medical, some scholastic, some family and some plain greed. If CX is so bad why don't those folks dump their huge conditions and take work in their home country?
The Reverend
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Hong Kong is what you make of it; you either love it or you hate it. I spent 33 years there, which at the time of my retirement was half my entire life. Went through a sticky divorce which had nothing to do with either Hong Kong or Cathay. Re- married ( a flight attendant) and produced a second family. To me, Hong Kong will always be home and I visit there on a regular basis.
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There is a price for the EXPAT lifestyle. Do not underestimate that
price.There is nothing sadder than the old CX retiree who has not
spent some time/effort keeping relationships going with family &
friends. Its okay to bag commuters but ultimately those that sit
pat as expats pay the price- you want to retire in HK as a sim
instructor or perhaps to see out your days in Sai Kung?
Whats it like in HK? NEVER forget that home is somewhere else.
Whether the wife is happy here or not, one day you leave HK!
Your family and friends have enough trouble relating to our
expat lifestyle without cutting off all contact with them in your
home country. After all, does'nt everyone travel all over the world
and have more money than sense!
There are precious few non Asian women for guys to meet in HK.
Single guys should seriously consider this fact. If you want to be
in Asia for the remainder of your life and your single, join CX
There are a lot of great things about HK that your kids will see
and hopefully benefit from. Personally, the spirit of the locals is
inspiring and shows what hard work and focus can achieve without any real assets but hard work!
Good luck to all.
price.There is nothing sadder than the old CX retiree who has not
spent some time/effort keeping relationships going with family &
friends. Its okay to bag commuters but ultimately those that sit
pat as expats pay the price- you want to retire in HK as a sim
instructor or perhaps to see out your days in Sai Kung?
Whats it like in HK? NEVER forget that home is somewhere else.
Whether the wife is happy here or not, one day you leave HK!
Your family and friends have enough trouble relating to our
expat lifestyle without cutting off all contact with them in your
home country. After all, does'nt everyone travel all over the world
and have more money than sense!
There are precious few non Asian women for guys to meet in HK.
Single guys should seriously consider this fact. If you want to be
in Asia for the remainder of your life and your single, join CX
There are a lot of great things about HK that your kids will see
and hopefully benefit from. Personally, the spirit of the locals is
inspiring and shows what hard work and focus can achieve without any real assets but hard work!
Good luck to all.
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Come here with a plan.
While HK is not what you'd call a hardship posting, it's not where I plan to stay the rest of my life.
They money's good. The Tax is low. don't get used to spending it all, or you'll be here forever. Keep you outgoings low and your lifestyle in check, and in 10 year you will be able to down-shift in style. Take the politics too seriously and it will kill you.
Single guys:
Not the best place. You will find loads of beautiful ladies from all over Asia, but status climbers. You'll have a hard job to find someone you can respect as a equal. They are available, but to be fair, most of the western ladies here are other peoples wives.
Keep a level head, and don't lose the plot, and you'll come out the other end a retiree about 15 years earlier than usual.
Which is nice..
While HK is not what you'd call a hardship posting, it's not where I plan to stay the rest of my life.
They money's good. The Tax is low. don't get used to spending it all, or you'll be here forever. Keep you outgoings low and your lifestyle in check, and in 10 year you will be able to down-shift in style. Take the politics too seriously and it will kill you.
Single guys:
Not the best place. You will find loads of beautiful ladies from all over Asia, but status climbers. You'll have a hard job to find someone you can respect as a equal. They are available, but to be fair, most of the western ladies here are other peoples wives.
Keep a level head, and don't lose the plot, and you'll come out the other end a retiree about 15 years earlier than usual.
Which is nice..
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"There are precious few non Asian women for guys to meet in HK."
I was going to post a typical light hearted MCP response to this, as in thanks God for that etc.
Then I read this
"You will find loads of beautiful ladies from all over Asia, but status climbers. You'll have a hard job to find someone you can respect as a equal."
I am disgusted by this ignorant and raciallist post.
Although they seem witty to me at the time, (de booze is a turrible ting), I make some pretty silly posts but I try hard not to insult anybody. This one is different.
Some Asian ladies can be very loving until they get your hands on your wallet, and they can be very hard to resist when they put the charm on. However, I did not realise that the universally virginal, utterly pure, totally unmaterialistic, Caucasian girls never indulge in such behaviour and have a breeding line that any self respecting man would die to breed from.
But at least the Asians are are honest about it, unlike most of the thick ankled, generally physically gross, disgustingly large and unpleasantly odoured Caucasian specimens who I could never even think remotely of an "equal"
Many in the Asian society are more highly bred and respected, regardless of their current circumstances, than some oik who happens to be a "pilot", or the holder of any other occupation across the spectrum for that matter.
I was going to post a typical light hearted MCP response to this, as in thanks God for that etc.
Then I read this
"You will find loads of beautiful ladies from all over Asia, but status climbers. You'll have a hard job to find someone you can respect as a equal."
I am disgusted by this ignorant and raciallist post.
Although they seem witty to me at the time, (de booze is a turrible ting), I make some pretty silly posts but I try hard not to insult anybody. This one is different.
Some Asian ladies can be very loving until they get your hands on your wallet, and they can be very hard to resist when they put the charm on. However, I did not realise that the universally virginal, utterly pure, totally unmaterialistic, Caucasian girls never indulge in such behaviour and have a breeding line that any self respecting man would die to breed from.
But at least the Asians are are honest about it, unlike most of the thick ankled, generally physically gross, disgustingly large and unpleasantly odoured Caucasian specimens who I could never even think remotely of an "equal"
Many in the Asian society are more highly bred and respected, regardless of their current circumstances, than some oik who happens to be a "pilot", or the holder of any other occupation across the spectrum for that matter.
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Back to the Topic Please!
OK ladies and gentlemen, points made by both sides, for and against etc.
Can we now please dump the racial stuff and get back to the topic of what life is like in Hong Kong but leave out matters which are of a highly personal and individual nature. Ones man's meat is another man's poison , as the saying goes.
Objective and non racial comments please. Thanks.
BlueEagle - Moderator.
Can we now please dump the racial stuff and get back to the topic of what life is like in Hong Kong but leave out matters which are of a highly personal and individual nature. Ones man's meat is another man's poison , as the saying goes.
Objective and non racial comments please. Thanks.
BlueEagle - Moderator.
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Yes Traffic, you definitely got that wrong, which is why your post has been deleted. Hymie, if you think what traffic said was, "well thought out" then I am feeling sorry for you. 
Last edited by BlueEagle; 20th Jan 2003 at 09:18.
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Blue Eagle
Please explain yourself, my wife and I are interested.
I tried to explain that, like many gwailos, you are simply without humour. My wife suggested something more sinister.
That said, I am seriously intersted in why you found my post offensive enough to delete. I humbly suggest many others would also be...
Cheers
Please explain yourself, my wife and I are interested.
I tried to explain that, like many gwailos, you are simply without humour. My wife suggested something more sinister.
That said, I am seriously intersted in why you found my post offensive enough to delete. I humbly suggest many others would also be...
Cheers