Hong Kong

[Treborz]

Hi not sure if this is the right place to post this but here we go.

My Company are potentially opening a Hong Kong office and I am seriously thinking of handing in a transfer request as I am fed up of life on this little Island I currently live on.

Now I know a lot of you have lived/travelled/worked or even still do in Hong Kong so I wanted to know a little about the place.

Things such as;

Cost of Accomodation (1 bedroom appartment rental)

Cost of living (How much is a beer/public transport/packet of cigarettes- Given up but helps me get an idea)

Whats the nightlife like (Want to wind down at the weekends)

Levels of crime (in the centre)

Tax Rate (Average Income)

Quality of Public Transport

Any information would be greatly appreciated, please either reply here or by private message.

Thanks all.

Rob

[Greggo]

Taken from: http://www.goinglobal.com/countries/hongkong/hongkong_cost_of_living.asp

COST OF LIVING AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Excerpted from the Hong Kong Career Guide

The cost of living in Hong Kong is high. Almost half of Hong Kong's population is living in rental housing and there is a high demand for quality apartments and houses, which are in short supply.

Public health facilities are generally good and comprehensive medical and specialist care is available. Payment is required for all treatment, and Hong Kong has no reciprocal health agreements, so comprehensive medical insurance is essential for living in Hong Kong.

Public transportation is efficient enough that working and living in Hong Kong without a car is quite possible. Taxis are plentiful in Hong Kong and Kowloon, although there is an extra charge for the Cross Harbour Tunnel. An average fare around town will cost about 60 HKD.

Some other sites that could be helpful:

http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/consular/acs/living.htm

One-litre bottle of mineral water: HK$4

33cl bottle of beer: HK$8

Financial Times newspaper: HK$20

36-exposure colour film: HK$20

City-centre bus ticket: HK$5.60

Adult horseracing ticket: from HK$10

Three-course meal with wine/beer: HK$150-200

1 Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) = £0.07; US$0.12; C$0.15; A$0.18; ?0.10

Currency conversion rates as of April 2006

Website of a guy living in Hong Kong:

http://www.bigwhiteguy.com/

[Treborz]

Thanks mate.

I guess i was being a little lazy.

Would still be good to hear some first hand experiences from people of what it's like as a place to live.

Rob

[alexanderdream]

Hong Kong is a great place : I love it ! ! !

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/video/index.jhtml

:wink: Enjoy it !

[rtd]

Everyone know HK is a wonderful Island

It?s easy to find all the info. you asked and those TFers are always helpful.

Only one thing I couldn?t stand about HK is Cantonese?in both language and the way they behave?when they speak?it sound like shouting and throwing their slavish BOOM to each other and the Booom bang ?Keeerch?Chong?Chang ?habit they always do in everyday life.

It?s a major problem that?s bother me and?It?s personal?that?s why I can?t stay there.

If you can live with it everyday and everywhere ?take it? It?s - Money is in the air Island - ?so it?d suite your job. :wink:

Good luck!!!

[Katoom]

Cost of Accomodation (1 bedroom appartment rental)

Cost of living (How much is a beer/public transport/packet of cigarettes- Given up but helps me get an idea)

Whats the nightlife like (Want to wind down at the weekends)

Levels of crime (in the centre)

Tax Rate (Average Income)

Quality of Public Transport

Any information would be greatly appreciated, please either reply here or by private message.

Thanks all.

Rob

Hi Rob,

I have been here 12 years now and call it home (although I would rather be in BKK! :twisted: )

Bluepearl is quite right in most things regarding cost of living but of course people have different budgets etc so the cost of accomodation could be anything from 2,500 to 100,000 per month, if you are a banker or whatever. The area you choose to live has the biggest effect on the cost of accomodation and after that the size and decor of the place.

For a small 400 to 700 sq/ft place in Mid-levels above central you can pay between 7,000 to 18,000 approx and anything above can be 20,000 and upwards. Of course shareing makes it cheaper. In Happy Valley, pretty much the same is true for comparable places.

A few of my mates live out in Western (still on the island) and have what used to be storage warehouses that have been nicely converted, are about 1,000 sq/ft and cost 7,500. So you can get really good deals if you know where to look.

Cigarettes are now $26 down from 30.

Of course there are a lot of happy hours and beer (bottles) is normally 45 to 55 each. Mixed drinks anywhere from 55 to 75 each.

Loads of places to go out both the island and kowloon. The island of course has Lang Kwai Fong with a veriety of bars and rests. Then Hollywood Road/Wyndham Street, again bars and rests followed by SOHO (South of Hollywood Road) in Mid-levels following the escalator and branching out to Staunton Street and Elgin Street. This is the growing and vibrant area with many new bars and rests. It almost has its own little community along the escalator...

Wanchai is not all bad and has many pukka bars but of course is populated by the girly bars, but not on the same basis as patpong or Nana thank god. If you are into sport it is good here with a very good expat involvement, of course rugby being the dominant pastime. If you like watching live events on TV, then Wanchai is better for this thing and most sporting teams go out on the town after games in Wanchai rather than LKF. Wanchai is more laid back compared to Central where it is pose city in most places.

Crime is minimal.

Basic tax rate is 16%. There is a 100,000 basic allowance, 200,000 married and there is a sliding scale of tax from 2%, 8%, 14% and finally 20% on different bands of income after allowance. The final figure is rounded down, or up, to an overall tax of 16% thereafter.

You pay one year in arrears and thereafter pay a provisional tax on the following year. So in essance, you are paying now and paying forward if you know what I mean!

Quality of transport is brilliant. The tram is the least refined but is the cheapest!

PM me if you need detailed info.

Cheers,

Katoom

[Treborz]

Thanks all.

I will check out all the links later on when I have a bit more time.

Sounds like a really cool place and somewhere I can definitely handle living. I also believe there is a Leeds United Supporters club there .