Advice Please on recent job offer

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Advice Please on recent job offer

    Hi all,

    I have just this morning been offered a job in Hong Kong, which of course I am very happy about given the current lack of them here in the UK for Early Years proffesional graduates.

    Anyway, can you please offer some honest views on the whole thing:

    The school is based in Constellation Cove, Tai Po. So I assume I will live in this area, or possibly further into Tai Po itself (over the river) and have been told to expect about 4000HKD for a shared apartment (my salary is 18,500 HKD per month)

    I have searched this forum and the internet in general and cannot find any information on Constellation Cove. So can anyone tell me what to expect out of life in this area for a 29 year old, single, sociable, sporty woman.

    I understand that it is about an hour to Hong Kong island should I wish to go there (which i certainly will as I do plan on socialising at weekends) However I do not mind too much being that far away, as I understand on a wage like this I will not have the funds to be socialisng too much on HK island.

    Anyway, I am struggling to find ANY information on life around this area so any views would really be appreciated.

    Thanks in advance people x


  2. #2

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    Tai Po is a fantastic area where you will be able to do lots of outdoor things like great bike trails, hiking trails, very near the water etc.

    also, there are lots of western and foreign families in Tai Po as the housing is more open compared to HK Island and the Japanese Intl school is also in Tai Po.

    I know of at least 2 westerners in my company who live in Tai Po and love it.

    Last edited by Katanga; 30-04-2009 at 04:36 PM.

  3. #3

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    Take a look at this group - Hong Kong GeoExpat - People Living in the NT

    There might be some members who have identified themselves as being from Tai Po.


  4. #4

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    Are you sure Constellation Cove isn't just a residential development?

    Why not rent a floor in a village house outside of Tai Po? It wouldn't cost much more and you'd have much more privacy and space... Or live in Sha Tin or Kowloon...


  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sigga:
    Why not rent a floor in a village house outside of Tai Po? It wouldn't cost much more and you'd have much more privacy and space... Or live in Sha Tin or Kowloon...
    Thats true, village house is approximately $4500 per floor.
    As regards to travel though if you're a party animal then taxi's back to Tai Po from HK island will not be cheap, Approximately $250 or so.

    Life in Tai Po is good and I loved it when I lived there years back, If you need a mini tour guide of Tai Po then feel free to contact me as I know all the good places to eat etc.

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sigga:
    Are you sure Constellation Cove isn't just a residential development?

    Why not rent a floor in a village house outside of Tai Po? It wouldn't cost much more and you'd have much more privacy and space... Or live in Sha Tin or Kowloon...
    Constellation Cove is residential development, looks high class too me. even the surrounding residentail places looks quite high class so getting a place close by is going to be very hard for 4K.

    map attached of where constellation cove is for OP.
    Last edited by wtbhotia; 30-04-2009 at 05:11 PM.

  7. #7

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    18500 is more than enough for living in Tai Po and socialising on HK Island.

    If you make use of the blatantly discriminatory Ladies Nights in bars then you will probably spend less than most guys on a night out including taxi fare because cover charge is normally HK$200-HK$300.

    If you learn to use the minibuses then you will save even more!


  8. #8

    Hi Soph123,

    Your salary is fine for HK and you'll be able to live pretty well with that as the taxes in HK are much lower than the UK (around 15% of your salary). Also, the public transport system is great. It's cheap, quick, safe and convenient. So you needn't live in Tai Po itself, but could live in nearby areas if you don't want to spend too much time traveling.

    Wouldn't worry about going over to HK Island for socialising as getting on the train to get down there is easy. Though it will take you about an hour to get there. As mentioned already there are buses and minibuses which run over-night so you needn't take a taxi if you don't want to.

    You should be fine.

    Got a visiting friend from UK here at the moment staying in Tai Po who'll be going back to the UK soon as their holiday is finishing soon. Would you like to contact her?

    Last edited by chris_in_hk; 30-04-2009 at 05:38 PM. Reason: Added HK tax rate about 15%.

  9. #9

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    Wow - thank you guys, your feedback has been so encouraging! As I am hoping to get a good balance of work, play and outdoors I feel that this would be a good place for me to come and spend a year, maybe more.

    With regards to housing, the school will be providing me with an apartment at a reasonable price, so I am not too worried about this.

    Jimbo and chris_in_hk, thanks for the offers they would be greatly appreciated - can you PM on this forum? If so, any more info is really great.

    Well, in that case, ill maybe see some of you around!! Thanks


  10. #10

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    You may live @Tai Mei Tuk~
    there're lots of village houses!

    I also live in Tai Po and enjoy a lot as I can play windsurfing, sailing and kayaking at Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre. It's surrounded by hills and it will be a great place for hiking too!