Would you move to HK again?

[komo]

Carang, simply because you disagree with my comments (which is fine) does not make them innacurate. We know you have been here for 10 years, so clearly you do enjoy and love Hong Kong, why else would you be here for so long otherwise. The original poster asked for my opinion, and I gave her my honest opinion. You are right, we do live on HK island where it is very congested, much more than say the NT. But we don't live out there purely because of the communte. I have many friends in the NT, many in large complexes like mine (which can also feel congested), and many in houses. So it is not like I am unfamiliar with what you refer to.

I have travelled across many major cities in Australia, Asia, Europe and US. And compared to western cities (and what I assume Florida is like), I think it does feels quite dirty and polluted. The quality of food and living standards are not as high as probably one from Florida is used to.

And as for the Pollution, we live in Pokfulam on the water, and majority of the year (probably at least 80% of the time), I can't even see Lamma which our apartment looks directly out to. Yes we are currently having a few days where my view feels like I am looking at a HD TV, but that is honestly rare. In fact so rare, I get my camera out on the good days. We actually get excited when we see the moon!

And as I mentioned in my initial post, yes I agree, my children probably are ill so often due to the population density, but you can't deny the fact that that pollution is any good for their lungs. Why does it take them 3 weeks to get over a simple cough here when in other countries it lasts 2 days. My doctor agrees that it is environmental, including the vertical way of living, small spaces, and of course, the pollution. So many friends agree, I am not the only person thinking along these lines.

Sure we can escape and move to the NT, but if we compare HK to other major cities, if I was to live the same time frame out, I am confident I wouldn't have the same issues.

As for escape, I am referring to holidays. Where I have had holidays and where I am from, you can jump in the car an take a driving holiday. I miss that, and again, why I feel like it is hard to actually escape HK when you need a break.

The poster asked for my opinion, and I strongly stand by it. You are welcome to yours and I do believe it is healthly for the original poster to hear from people from different areas. After all, we don't know where she expects to live, where her husband will work, and what her expectations, or standard of living requirements will be. Hence why I recommended a trip out here to check it out for herself. I do feel like people either love it or don't like here, I think we are from those two opposite scales - which again - I think it is healthy for this person to hear.

 

[Mia Bella]

I agree with komo completely. You have to ask yourself why are you here for? Quality living and clean air- none, making money- yes. (which most foreigners are here for, we are)

 

[carang]

komo, of course you are entitled to your opinion and to share it. what i was objecting to was that it didn't sound like opinion, rather you stated it as fact. and in fact, you CAN get less congestion etc, but you have to compromise.

FYI, the new place that we are moving to, is a 39 minute train ride from Central. so, granted, it's not a 10 minute taxi ride, but it's not like it's a 3 hour commute either.

i, too, have a deep disgust of the pollution. it has changed so much over the past 16 years that it also makes me seriously consider moving "home".

thanka's post was also fairly negative about hk but i thought it was a great post. so, i'm not disagreeing simply because you don't like hk. i was disagreeing with what i viewed were inaccuracies/misrepresentations within it.

sorry if you took such offense to it.

as for the "escape" sorry. i misunderstood. i, too, have lamented the "lack of road trips" here.

 

[Biggie]

I guess everyone also have different definition of "quality living". We find our quality o life much better here than in London and NYC where we used to live. Granted we are probably having more money to spare than some locals, but comparing what we can get for the same money here vs in London or NYC, we find it "cheaper" here, except for housing. E.g. Transport, domestic help, restaurants, local food, household goods, vacation. I think it really depends on what you are comparing to and what your expectation is.
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[Neha]

komo: our son used to have the same issue cough/cold every month we used to go to our ped every month and then we switched to Homeopathy ( IMI) and it really worked wonders for us.

 

[evgreen]

I was born and raised in HK but have spent almost half my life overseas in the US and Canada before moving back to HK 4 years ago. Although I have the comforts of family here and my husband (an American expat) and I make a more than comfortable income, the pollution really is the deal breaker for us. It's gotten much worse progressively over the past 10 years and the government here seems powerless and very nonchalant about taking care of this issue. Expensive property prices are also another glaring issue for us. Although we love many things about Hong Kong, these two issues are becoming more difficult to ignore and simply 'accept'. We have not exactly 'given up' on HK as we plan to stay here in the long run (say next 10 years at least); and I believe the best solution is to put pressure on legislation to make meaningful changes in regulation. However, I've probably taken this view simply because I am a Hong Konger and not an expat. I do see these issues as major hinderances for Hong Kong to attract and maintain expat talent. Unless something is done, we may be losing a lot of talent and creativity to more increasingly attractive Asian destinations such as Singapore.

 

[solidstars]

with today's heat, i just wanted to point out that a lot of expats have problems with the humidity levels here.

 

[thanka2]

with today's heat, i just wanted to point out that a lot of expats have problems with the humidity levels here.

Ha! Today I went for a massage and the therapist asked me if I'd adjusted to the heat and humidity here and I said, that I've adjusted but I still don't like it. I will never like feeling like a sweaty armpit in the summertime.

 

[louisouis]

Hk is great if you are single not great with young kids. But in hk lots of money can buy you some happiness.

 

[monte]

We have been here 3 years and are returning to the States this summer. Very glad to be moving back, for reasons similar to what others have said: to be closer to family, less pollution, a big yard, etc. But--am I glad we came? you bet! I think it's really valuable to live in a new culture and meet people from all over the world. Makes you realize how big and small the world is. We have loved our time here, though I think it's at least in part because we only planned for it to be temporary, so we didn't get too upset about annoyances. We also loved how easy transportation is, loved walking everywhere and not driving (we gain weight every time we go back to the states and lose it as soon as we get back here!), and a huge one for us is that we could afford to live on one income here. My husband is a teacher, and so I'm sure you can imagine what that would be like in the US! But living here has given me the chance to stay home with kids in their baby years, and I'm extremely thankful for that. We have also loved the beaches and hiking in the parks. Despite what has been said about HK Island, it actually is quite easy to escape the congestion even here--I would venture that hiking paths are actually much closer to the "downtown" area here than in many "world cities" like NY, London, etc. Schooling, however, is a serious issue to consider. If your husband's job won't pay for it, you need to get some estimates and figure out if you'll be happy with what you can afford.
And in a little bit different vein, I've been thinking a lot lately about the differences in living someplace "new", as an "adventure", and just living someplace. There's an excitement and a constant observation that goes with being in a new place. I honestly am a little bit scared about going back to just "normal life"--afraid that my attitude towards life will be different. Does that make sense? I guess partly what I'm saying is that there is something valuable about simply being outside of your own culture and in a new place that doesn't really matter where that new place is. Because after all, for many people here this is "normal life" and they don't see it in the same ways that I do.