Hong Kong has an unashamed reputation for hardcore materialism and freewheeling capitalism. But money is not the only reason that many people go there. Hong Kong offers a fantastic living and working experience.You may be a young single expat going there to work and play; or a couple with a young family needing to address safety, health and education issues on top of everyday living; or you are looking to put away savings for their retirement.Whatever your reasons for planning to live and work in Hong Kong, this comprehensive guide will tell you all you need to know to make the most of your time in this vibrant and challenging city. It is organised into three main sections: Living, Working, and Leisure, and each chapter includes up-to-date information, and well-informed opinion and comment. Quotes drawn from interviews with a broad cross-section of the expatriate community provide useful insights into life there, and invest the book with the colour and authenticity of personal experience.

Contents......Page 6

Notes......Page 12

Acknowledgements......Page 14

Preface......Page 16

Introduction: Why Come to Hong Kong?......Page 18

PART ONE: LIVING IN HONG KONG......Page 22

Challenges and opportunities for Hong Kong......Page 24

Expatriate lifestyles......Page 25

Pick a lifestyle......Page 26

Unemployed or ‘trailing’ spouses or partners......Page 27

Other costs......Page 32

Luggage......Page 36

Airport Express trains......Page 37

Taxis......Page 38

Ferries......Page 39

Trains......Page 42

Buses......Page 45

Ferries......Page 46

Taxis......Page 47

Driving......Page 50

Finding a home......Page 60

Popular neighbourhoods......Page 61

Searching for a property......Page 67

Renting a property......Page 69

Other options......Page 70

Short-term hotel accommodation......Page 72

Utilities......Page 77

Pets......Page 80

Life in your new home......Page 82

Removals companies......Page 84

6 Food......Page 86

Local delicacies......Page 87

Afternoon teas, tea buffets and tea sets......Page 90

Street snacks......Page 91

Coffee shops......Page 92

Fast food......Page 93

Restaurants......Page 95

Dining locales......Page 97

Take-away/home delivery......Page 100

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants......Page 101

Malls......Page 104

Shops......Page 105

8 Having and Raising Children in Hong Kong......Page 132

Pregnancy and childbirth......Page 133

Babysitters/nannies/full-time help......Page 136

Adopting a child......Page 138

Schools......Page 139

Leisure activities and extra-curricular classes for children......Page 144

Places to take kids......Page 147

Environmental safety......Page 156

Food labelling......Page 160

Infectious diseases......Page 161

Drugs......Page 162

Hospitals and GP services......Page 163

Specialists......Page 164

Stress......Page 166

Counselling services......Page 167

Alternative and complementary health......Page 168

Physical fitness......Page 169

Spa and beauty......Page 170

Facial surgery and invasive treatments......Page 172

Part of the plan......Page 174

Banks......Page 175

Financial planning......Page 178

Investments and saving......Page 180

Financial news and education resources......Page 182

Religions......Page 184

The political system......Page 185

Marriage......Page 188

Bereavement......Page 189

PART TWO: WORKING IN HONG KONG......Page 190

Business environment......Page 192

Requirements......Page 193

Visas......Page 194

Job search......Page 196

Employment contracts......Page 198

Tax......Page 200

Setting up a company......Page 201

Setting up an office......Page 204

Government support for businesses......Page 205

IT infrastructure......Page 207

Chambers of commerce......Page 208

Other business clubs and networking organizations......Page 209

14 Professional Women in Hong Kong......Page 212

Stories......Page 213

Support organizations......Page 216

Trends in English teaching in Hong Kong......Page 220

Salary and work visas......Page 221

Employment sectors......Page 223

Undergraduate and postgraduate studies......Page 228

Training......Page 229

Language courses......Page 230

General short courses for self-development......Page 231

Animal welfare......Page 234

International humanitarian......Page 235

Youth......Page 236

PART THREE: LEISURE IN HONG KONG......Page 238

Arts festivals......Page 240

Pop concerts......Page 241

Theatre......Page 242

Major performance venues......Page 243

European cultural activities......Page 244

Browsing art galleries......Page 245

Books......Page 246

Sports clubs and associations......Page 248

Private sports and social clubs......Page 254

Golf......Page 255

Friends of the arts......Page 258

Choirs......Page 259

Women’s clubs......Page 260

Country associations......Page 261

University alumni associations......Page 262

Antiques......Page 264

Cosmetics-making......Page 265

Flower arranging......Page 266

Painting and fine arts......Page 267

Pottery......Page 268

Sports......Page 269

Wine appreciation and tasting......Page 270

Peace and tranquillity......Page 272

Urban bustle......Page 273

Historical sightseeing......Page 274

Museums......Page 276

Hiking......Page 280

Outdoor adventures......Page 282

Bird- and animal-watching......Page 283

Chinese travel......Page 286

Visas......Page 287

Travel agents......Page 288

Expat districts for socializing......Page 292

Massage parlours......Page 296

The gay scene......Page 297

26 Sex in the City......Page 300

Hong Kong: graveyard of expat marriages?......Page 301

Dating websites, organizations and personals......Page 304

Appendix 1 Tertiary Institutions......Page 306

Appendix 2 Airlines......Page 307

Appendix 3 Consulates......Page 309

Appendix 4 Useful Telephone Numbers......Page 310

Appendix 5 Calendar of Annual Festivals and Events in Hong Kong......Page 311

B......Page 314

D......Page 315

H......Page 316

I......Page 317

M......Page 318

R......Page 319

T......Page 320

Y......Page 321

Photos......Page 322