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[Fortigurn]

I am contemplating moving to HK for career reasons. I am particularly interested in learning about the social environment.

I confess to almost complete ignorance of HK other than a couple of John Woo movies (not a good advertisement for HK), and three brief visits (during one of which my wife had her cell phone stolen from her on the MTR).

Thus far, I have no favourable impressions of HK. I have good friends (expats), who have lived there for around 10 years or so, and who tell me life can be ok there, and it's a safe city.

Currently living in Taiwan, I anticipate a drop in my quality of life if I move to HK (please note that this is entirely subjective, so please don't take offence). The easy going and casual attitude of Taipei is far more attractive to me than the New York/Manhattan rat race which seems to be the HK way of life.

Air pollution, noise pollution, and traffic in Taipei are all terrible, but I'm not out that much, I sleep with ear plugs, and I use the incomprarable public transport system so the traffic is a non issue.

In my three visits to HK I found the air and noise pollution to be worse than Taipei, the traffic more dense, and the MTR system not up to the standard of the Taipei MRT (public rail system). Of course, these are things you get used to, and perhaps I would warm more to the HK MTR once I had become accustomed to using it.

These are things I can get used to. What I'm more interested in is the crime and general safety of the city. In Taipei I am used to seeing young children playing on the sidewalk at all hours (well past 11pm), which would be unthinkable in any major city in Australia (where I'm from), but here it seems to be ok.

In Taipei I have regularly been out past 1am (even 3am), and never felt in the slightest bit nervous anywhere I walked (seeing the local Neighbourhood Watch guys marching up and down their beat with ID cards, reflective vests, and huge sticks does contribute to a sense of security).

I'm wondering how people feel in HK. Any comments appreciated.

[dandan]

[Fortigurn]

[munasa]

Hong Kong is known for being safe -- and it is, so long as your lungs are strong enough to cope with the air pollution.

[Fortigurn]

Thanks, that's the sort of thing I wanted to know.

[Joachim]

I have never felt unsafe in Hong Kong, if somebody had their wallet stolen on the MTR then I would say that is absolutley the exception, rather than the rule - while it could definitley be argued that people are rude and inconsiderate here, they tend to be honest.

Most crimes of that nature I've heard of have been scams involving fortune tellers and the like, and in order to avoid that you really just need a little common sense.

I actuallly find the transport system here to be extraordiairily efficient, with perhaps only Tokyo rivalling HK in terms of punctuality, cleanliness and connections.

As for kids playing in the street......certainly not on Hong Kong island or in Kowloon, but quite possibly in the New Territories and Outlying Islands. Those are also quite peaceful areas where you'll sleep well and still hear the birds in the morning etc

And while the pollution here is bad, I would argue that in Taipei it's worse.

Good luck with your decision.

[Fortigurn]

[once again]

It is difficult to know where to start with this post. As you mention that the MTR here has no "real" seats and you ask do they beat children in HK schools, Dan Dan has it right. I strongly suggest that HK will not suit you.

[Fortigurn]

[once again]

[Fortigurn]

[munasa]

IMHO, HK is a great place to live, except for the air pollution. After living in several other mon-cultural countries, I've enjoyed and appreciated being here where people are used to more than just their own culture. Shopping is a breeze and you can eat like the locals, or try thousands of international restaurants. In your apartment, you can cook almost any type of cuisine as most ingredients can be bought here, although they aren't always easy to find.

You can find almost anything here. Hong Kong is very user-friendly!

There are LOTS OF FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. If you are looking for rude and inconsiderate people, you can find them here, but in my experience I have rarely come across them. I've been offered help by total strangers in the streets and MTR stations. I've had lots of conversations with lots more on buses, MTR and in various venues. My husband and I both enjoy chatting with small children in the elevator, on the bus, in the MTR. And I could go on and on. There are three adults in my household and not one of us would describe HK people as rude and inconsiderate.

There are some things that local people do differently here -- but that doesn't mean they are wrong. And on several occasions, I have heard a westerner say that they have been treated better than a Chinese tourist would be treated on the streets of Sydney/Christchurch/Perth/any western city. Many of us have stories to tell of 'feel good' moments with Chinese people here!

And HK schools do not allow corporal punishment.

Yes, I see the pickpocket signs and I hope that they will never target me. I try to be careful when I am in places known for thefts, but one day I just might lose my purse. So what -- there are thousands of places in the world where this can happen. We are very safe on the streets of HK, even late at night. It isn't a culture where children play outdoors late at night, but I guess they would be safe if they did.

Yes, it's a rat race here -- fast paced and money-oriented, but it's still possible to make good local and expat friends and to live in a quiet 'oasis' away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Oh, and I do not really like the MTR, so I only travel by MTR when I really have to -- just a personal quirk of mine. I don't like standing up and I don't like being underground. The top of the double decker buses is my favourite place. I find the public transport system here is fantastic and have traveled all over HK by bus, minibus, MTR, KCR, light rail, tram and ferry. It's great not to have to own a car and when I am tired/carrying a lot/or just lazy, taxis are not too expensive.

If you are outgoing and accepting of others, then you have a good chance of enjoying being in HK. It's worth a try.

There are some people who are not happy here -- it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but there are lots of expats living in HK and enjoying the experience.

[Fortigurn]

Thank you munasa, that was a very informative, detailed, and well balanced post. That provides me with the kind of information I was seeking.

It sounds like HK has a lot of the same advantages of Taipei (the food, chatting with small children, not needing to own a car, and general saftey).

I'm certain that any drawbacks will be minor in comparison, and I'll be able to ignore them just as I ignore minor drawbacks of Taipei.

[once again]

[poof]

I can't really understand this line of questioning.

You've already visited HK on several occasions, so if you had time to take off your shades when here, you may have seen that HK has just about scraped itself from third world impoverishment, Chernobyl grade air quality, British rail style inefficiency, into a fantastic metropolis.

If you like Taiwan so much, you'd better stay there.

Security wise, it might be far too dangerous coming here... On the other hand, you might miss being nearly run down by the Taipei Hello Kitty scooter girls.

(Incidentally, I walked through St Kilda at 3am one night, and wasn't attacked...)