Job Discussion Forums

[Kaloi]

Hi folks - I'm trying to zone in on a good neighborhood to live and I was hoping you'd help get my bearings:

I will either be working in Mong Kok, or Tseung Kwan O; that will be finalized within the next few days. My boyfriend will be working in Tai Po Tsui.

District Four seems pleasant. Hahaha - please correct me if I'm wrong. All of the places we have looked at so far cost considerably less than what we have seen in other areas and they all look pretty.

Provided I work in Mong Kok and live in, say, in one of the districts along Clearwater Bay Road (Tan Shan, or Sam Long) it would be a matter of getting a bus to the Kwun Tong Line. Is that a painful trip every day? Should I buy a bigger ipod?

What about those districts to Tai Po Tsui?

Clearly I'm very green, but I'd like to have everything hammered out as soon as possible. 笨鸟先飞

Thanks,
Joey

[11:59]

Where is Tai Po Tsui? Are you sure you don't mean Tai Po or Tai Kok Tsui?

[Kaloi]

I was quite sure of how to spell it, but you're making me doubt myself.

Yes yes yes, Tai Po Tsui - The Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology.

[Serious_Fun]

[11:59]

Tai Po Tsui is a tiny (15 or 20 homes) village immediately adjacent to HKUST, is full of indigenous villagers (so stay well clear), and does not appear on most maps. People normally just refer to Clearwater Bay in relation to UST. The view from up there is spectacular. As stated above, there's a minibus from Choi Hung MTR and one from Hang Hau MTR, but there's also one to Sai Kung and there's also a large KMB bus from Diamond Hill. Some of the accommodation along the Clearwater Bay road is highly exclusive though. Silver Strand for example has homes for rent at around $80,000 HK a month. There are other areas where you can get two floors of a three-storey village home for as little as $5,000 or $6,000 HK a month. My advice would to take a place in a village in Sai Kung then it does not really matter whether you work in Tseung Kwan O (Junk Bay) or Mong Kok. There's a minibus from Sai Kung straight through to Hang Hau (which is Junk Bay) which both you and your boyfriend could get as it also goes past UST and there's also one straight to Choi Hung and from there it is only about 20 minutes to Mong Kok MTR. You would really need to find out which part of Mong Kok you might be in though as the KCR station is quite a hike from the MTR station, especially when it is 34 degrees and 99% relative humidity! Bear in mind that Mong Kok is a bit rough and ready around the edges and along with Sham Shui Po is a Triad stronghold. It was in Mong Kok a few years ago that Triad gangs took to the streets in their thousands and openly taunted police officers by announcing their gang and clan affiliation (a crime in HK). The chief inspector had to go on TV to urge this interesting element of HK society to refrain from doing anything stupid. Schools in Mong Kok tend to be either elite Band 1 institutions or the lowest of the low borstals which predominately cater to those who have been kicked out of every other school in the territory and who are still too young to go to prison.

[Kaloi]

Ahaah - you make Mong Kok sound like The Concrete Jungle.

Those were incredibly helpful posts and I'm pretty sure I have made my mind up about Sai Kung anyways.

Thanks so much.

[11:59]

If you do opt for Sai Kung (and if you are not stone deaf) then just make sure you purchase some industrial strength earplugs before coming as they are quite difficult to obtain here.

[anninhk]

Yes, Mong Kok is a concrete jungle but as I sit here in my flat in Prince Edward (which is close to Mong Kok) I have a wonderful view of hills and greenery - and I live just opposite the police station.
Personally I like Sham Shui Po. I taught in a primary school there and as I walked through on my way to the school I felt it was more like the 'real' Hong Kong. The streets are so interesting with all the small shops selling everything for the clothing trade.
As for the walk between the KCR and MTR it is relatively easy because of the covered walkway between the two, so although it is hot, you certainly aren't walking in the hot sun.
I have lived in Mong Kok and North Point and I love being so close to all the amenities - especially transport links - and Mong Kok is great for that.

[Marcoregano]

I can see the attraction of Mongkok - the real HK, the hustle and bustle and all that - but personally I'd rather go to the dentist. In fact, oddly enough the last time I went there was to see a dentist - about 5 years ago. Lamma island is more up my street.

[hkteach]

This thread and the advice that's been given just goes to show that there are many opinions of the same place. Some like the noise and the crowds while others hate it and prefer a quieter neighbourhood. I fancied Mong Kok before arriving here but once I went there and saw just what a seething morass it is, I quickly changed my mind. The problem is that you can't get a feel for a place until you do your own reconnaisance. Some people I know booked a place before arriving, then found they'd been ripped off - they paid much more than others who were already here. Also, the noise factor is something that you just can't appreciate until you experience it (and at various times of the day). Do you realise just how noisy HK buses can be when they roar past your window at 2am? It's good that you're exploring areas and transport links - but I'd suggest you arrive a week or two before starting work, stay in a hotel or serviced apartment and spend time checking the areas you've chosen. Then at least you know that you know what you're getting into. Standard leases here are two years (breakable at end of first year) and if you get it wrong, a year is a long time in an unsuitable place.