Job Discussion Forums

[irazas]

Hello,

Currently considering relocation to HK...One of the main concerns is to find the right place for living, of course within the budget. The housing allowances are USD 2,000, and I am just desparately trying to figure out whether it�s enough in HK for quality living.
Therefore, the following questions:

- which residential area would you advise for living? Main criteria for me � expats environment (English speakers preferrable), quite, with easy reach to the other parts of HK
- Do Central and Western, Eastern, Southern, Wan Chai or Kowloon administrative divisons fall within the parameters above? Are they considered good areas for living?
- with this budget, is it possible to rent a furnished 1 bedroom or 2-bedroom apartment in a respectable residential area? (pls look above)
- what are the fees for house maid work per hour?
- Is it reasonable to rent a firnished service flat, or they charge too much and it�s simpler to buy furniture separatly?

Thanks a lot in advance for help!
Irene

[hkteach]

You will find LOTS of apartments for US 2000 a month or less.
Your preferred areas cover an awful lot of the place and you'd need to refine things a bit, bearing in mind that the places you like to go to socialise are not necessarily good places to live - too noisy, too crowded, too 'in your face'.
With the efficeint public transport it's easy to get out and about to those places while living somewhere else.
I pay less than US 2000 a month for a good size apartment with great leisure facilities and a quiet environment, yet I can be in Wan Chai in 30 minutes.

[irazas]

Lots of flat sounds good... SO which area would you recommend then? Very important criteria for me - expats environment (no mainlanders, or as less as possible) and easy reach to the HK island, Central(no more then half an hour)?

Tnx

[coralie]

Contact a real estate agent or go to www.scmp.com (properties). Lots of rental properties for under US$2000. The MTR is very convenient - keep as close as possible to a subway line and you'll get everywhere and anywhere in no time at all.

[poof]

http://www.geoexpat.com/classifieds/

You can check out the listings of some apartments on here and automatically see the types of rents that are being asked. Some are flatshare, others are individual rental. I think $2000 would get you a reasonable place, although you could save much more if you went and lived in the New Territories with the locals.

No offense, but I just don't understand people who want to come to HK, but only live among Westerners. You're missing out on lots of special experiences by not living among the locals. That's why I'd prefer to live in Kowloon over the expat areas such as Stanley, Midlevels and that ex-pat dystopia they call Discovery Bay (vomit). I went there one afternoon, and just found lots of spoilt Western kids having tantrums all over the place. Horrible!!! My Chinese kindergarten kids were much more preferable to be around!

[irazas]

i m not offended! But franly - i've heard that the locals are ot really willing to communicate with foreigners, at least this is what I've heard from those who used to live in China. And, you know, u want to make friends rather than being all alone...

Thanks for ur answer!

[leggova]

Places to look at:

Gold Coast
Tsing Yi
Discovery bay
Park Island

They all meet your requirements I think.

No wonder the locals don't want to mix with us....your attitude kind of stinks and I don't think you should be considering moving here with that kind of outlook.

[irazas]

well all i can tell is that i was brave enough to speak out what 99% of the expats think but don't dare to discuss with anyone...I have worked in many countries and i know that, for example, in Israel and Turkey all my friends are locals - amazing and warm people! - while in Czech and Russia people simply don't let u in.

That's it, don't get offended, different people - different cultures, i'd love to make friends with the locals in HK, however if they consider you "bai ren" (sorry for mandarin) and are not ready to change their attitude - i wouldn't like to fall victim to that

[poof]

There's a big difference between the mindset of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong. Where exactly did your 'friend' get his/her experience? Actually, both groups will 'let in' a foreigner if you make an effort not to carry the 'superior white guy' image. I've had no trouble making friends with locals in HK, from co-workers, to neighbors, to the apartment security guards. Some are even especially keen for you to become a private tutor for their children. You can build up a good network among the locals, and in fact, I have kept in touch with all the locals I knew since I've left HK, but only one Westerner. During SARS, the locals were notably supportive, as they knew I was the only foreigner in the apartment complex. I will also never forget the number of times I walked past the open doors of complete strangers in my apartment complex, and got invited in to share their dinners. It really made my experience of HK.

Please don't exclude living with locals on the basis of some rumor.

[irazas]

Well i do hope that you are right!

Where did you live?

[briandwest]

[irazas]

Please take my apologies, i did not mean to insult you or anyone else. Should you read my post more carefully, you would understand why i am looking for the expats environment.

I do hope that 99% of expats think like you, or will think like you.

[wildnfree]

Can the PC thugs stop with their tirade?

I live in Mongkok, the only foreigner in the building, and probably the whole street (if not the entire suburb).

Locals spit in the stairwell, which I have the pleasure of hearing constantly whenever I want a quiet night in.

Locals who live above me throw plates around, play the piano at 2am, and throw marbles around which means Ive had to complain several times after losing many a nights' sleep.

Locals are too lazy to throw their rubbish in their bins, so it piles up in the stairwell. After returning from Europe for a months' holiday, the pile was literally 6 feet high. Some (local) resident got fed up that they set it alight, and the entire building smelt like a burning dump, not to mention a potential fire hazard.

When locals leave their flat, they stand outside the apartment shouting to their families for about 5 to 10 minutes before actually leaving, noisy as hell.

I recently spent some time at my friend's (an expat) home in Central. I was so jealous! Lots of expats, clean environment, everyone seems to speak English.

OP, Central is where you want to live. And DONT live with locals!

[anninhk]

Let me tell you that you aren't the only ex-pat living in Mong Kok! I have lived there very happily for the past 3 years. I don't recognise my building from your description. I live in a relatively new block - in fact I was the first occupant of the flat. I find it very efficiently managed and the security guards and cleaners are very dilligent and helpful. It is also quiet.
Maybe you are paying a pittance (for HK) of a rent to have to put up with the type of conditions you describe. I suggest you look around for something better and you will find it.
My main reason for liking Mong Kok is it's convenience. I went walking yesterday with a hiking group and whereas those in Central had had to travel about an hour to reach the meeting place, I was there in 15 minutes. Also it is great for buses and the KCR.
Just like the different working conditions, the living conditions are the same and you will find something to suit you in all areas of Hong Kong.

[Pieface]

Actually, I have a couple of friends currently living in Mongkok. I'm not sure where you're living, Wnfree, but I have to agree with Anninhk on this one. Both buildings they are in are nice, quiet...in fact there are plenty of places that offer a decent quality of living in Mongkok. It sounds like you haven't exactly lucked out with yours, and maybe you are having a bad experience but perhaps you shouldn't tar every HK local with the same brush. If it's that bad, why not just leave??...and if it's purely a money issue, then it sholdn't be. You might find yourself a bit out of pocket for a month or two but isn't it worth it for the sake of an improved quality of life?