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?