Our guide was written by Caryn Yeo and Sarah Moore and last published on Thursday 6th December 2012.
Welcome to the Expat international relocation guide to living in Hong Kong. This definitive guide to living in Hong Kong as an expatriate contains all the practical information you need to know about finding your way in this amazing city.
Hong Kong is quite simply one of the most interesting places on this earth. It is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes, a vibrant metropolis of people from all backgrounds living side by side in ‘Asia’s World City’. Since the day China regained sovereignty and Britannia departed from the waters of Victoria Harbour, the city has continued to evolve and develop at breakneck speed. It has embraced the modern world while at the same time continuing to ooze traditional Chinese character and historical charm.
What Hong Kong means to different people varies enormously. For some it is quite simply the best place to shop in the world, from the up-market malls of Central and Causeway Bay through to the local street markets on Kowloon, there is a never-ending choice of places to visit and things to buy. For others it is a city that never sleeps, a place where you can quite literally party all night long in the streets of Wan Chai or Lan Kwai Fong and then rest and recuperate the following day on one of Hong Kong’s many beaches. A little known side of Hong Kong is the surrounding countryside parks and outlying islands where hiking, water sports, camping and barbeque pits can be enjoyed. People are often surprised to hear that less than one quarter of the land in Hong Kong is actually developed, leaving a huge area of natural beauty to be explored and enjoyed.
Hong Kong is truly a multicultural place and people from all over the world move here on a daily basis. Western conveniences and luxuries are widely available yet, so too, are opportunities to try new and exciting things.
This Hong Kong relocation guide is your first step to gaining a complete understanding of what it will be like to relocate to Hong Kong. It provides you with all the information you need when moving overseas.
Gaining a visa to live in Hong Kong legally is not easy and there is a great deal of paperwork involved. The Expat Info Desk relocation guide to living in Hong Kong contains a full low down on all the visa types available, what prerequisites exist in order to successfully apply for them and what the limitations of those visas are. We also give detailed information about how you can secure your Hong Kong ID card.
There are a large variety of residential areas available in Hong Kong, all of which offer expats a very different type of lifestyle and living environment. Our expat guide to living in Hong Kong contains full details of all the popular living areas and provides thorough information on the type of people who live there, local amenities, types of accommodation and transport links.
Hong Kong is a very bureaucratic city and it can be very frustrating trying to organize basic services such as telephone, cable television, and gas and electric connections. Our guide contains well-informed opinion and comment about all the major providers available and the best methods of contacting them and arranging assistance. The guide contains everything you need to know to start living life as a resident; from beauty salons and hairdressers through to malls, markets and mobile phone providers. It won’t be long until you know Hong Kong like a local.
Hong Kong is an amazing city with a large variety of different types of entertainment on offer. The Expat Info Desk guide to living in Hong Kong covers everything you need to know to make the most of your time here and points you in the right direction to find restaurants, bars, clubs and nightlife where you can meet like mind-ed people and party the night away. For those who prefer the quieter life, we also provide full details of popular trails, parks, beaches and sporting venues, together with information about how to get there and when to go.
Hong Kong is a safe city with a low crime rate. However, there are a number of actions that expats need to take in order to ensure they remain safe. Our relocation guide contains thorough information about maximizing your safety and well-being while you live in Hong Kong. In addition to this there is a full listing of public and private hospitals, clinics, dentists and other healthcare providers, together with location and contact details.
Living in Hong Kong may not always be easy, and this vibrant Chinese city will undoubtedly offer different routines, climates, cultures and work ethics with which expats will need to accustom themselves. Our international guide to Hong Kong contains details of Chinese beliefs and superstitions, cultural idiosyncrasies and religious beliefs. Being informed of what to expect can help you to fit into life here and, while living with people that are so different may be challenging at times, you are sure to emerge a much more interesting and open-minded individual!
Our expat relocation guide to Hong Kong is written by an expatriate who has first-hand experience of moving overseas and relocating to Hong Kong. She is able to share the lessons she learned and the snippets of information she has discovered along the way. The authenticity of personal experience makes this the most comprehensive and accurate guide to Hong Kong available.
Our guide was written by Caryn Yeo and Sarah Moore and last published on Thursday 6th December 2012.
| 01 | The majority of homes in Hong Kong do not have ovens, as most Chinese cooking is done on a hob. Check kitchen appliances before signing a lease. |
| 02 | Hong Kong is mainly hot but it does get cold between December and February. Homes don't have heating so you will need your own heating appliances. |
| 03 | All residents need a Hong Kong ID card. Queues for registration are always huge so book an appointment in advance. |
| 04 | Rental prices are very high in Hong Kong and you will usually be expected to pay six weeks rent to the estate agent to pay for his or her services. |
| 05 | Tax is not automatically deducted from your salary in Hong Kong. You will need to ensure that you put aside enough money each month for tax purposes. |
Only 20% of the land in Hong Kong is developed, the remaining 80% consists of mountainous terrain, beaches and countryside.
