I've HAD IT with Hong Kong... Advice? Wanna move to Singapore.

[Cho-man]

I'm not taking that risk with my daughter. Before moving here, I had friends already living in the area that kept telling me "the air is FINE, you're going to LOVE it!"
My husband was here for a month in the summer and "didn't notice anything"... I am still kicking myself for not doing better research before jumping on that plane. Props to the happy HK dwellers, but it's not for me.

And I don't care if Singapore is not "as fun" or if the parks are "manicured" and there are lest mountains and trails... Again, if you can't go out and enjoy those things, why does it matter? I grew up climbing mountains. The view when you get to the top is your reward... I guess people like looking at smog from the top of a mountain? Sorry, I don't get it.

You are perfectly entitled to your view, but I have to disagree when you think think smog is the only view you get from the top of the mountain in HK! Plenty of HK hikers, local and expats alike, have gone out and enjoyed a hike in HK. Guess you simply don't hike enough in HK to know.

Enjoy your new life in Singapore. But just know its not necessarily paradise over there either. If you think there is no air pollution in Singapore, boy, are you in for a disappointment...

[HK_Katherine]

I'll look into this. Thanks!

And the only suggestion you really like is the 100% common sense you should have thought of first, before asking the rest of the online universe to solve your problems....

[jgl]

You are perfectly entitled to your view, but I'm sorry, I think you are simply wrong to think smog is the only view you get from the top of the mountain in HK! Plenty of HK hikers, local and expats alike, have gone out and enjoyed a hike in HK. Guess you simply don't hike enough in HK to know.

Enjoy your new life in Singapore. But just know its not necessarily paradise over there either. If you think there is no air pollution in Singapore, boy, are you in for a disappointment...

Cho, are you arguing just for the sake of arguing again?

I was out on top of a mountain middle of last week. What I mainly saw was grey haze. I've since stopped outdoor excercise as the air counts have gotten even worse.

Sure, Singapore has bad air sometimes, but it's limited to short periods where they burn off trees in neighbouring countries vs months at a time here.

Singapore has a lot of things against it- it's a bit dull, the weather is a downer and the place is tiny. But air quality between the two cities is one point that is frankly silly to argue on.

[LaowaiLulu]

And the only suggestion you really like is the 100% common sense you should have thought of first, before asking the rest of the online universe to solve your problems....

Mmm not really. Let's see: when you try to immigrate to another country, the first thing you look at is the immigration laws of such country (not your company's HR department, since they can't grant visas as far as I know..).

The laws are not entirely clear when it comes to a particular situation like mine, so I came to this forum, went to the "LEAVING HK" section (since this IS about leaving HK) and asked to see if anyone had a similar experience and, if so, what to expect.

I guess his suggestion of talking to HR MIGHT do something, but really they don't have the power to grant permission to live and work anywhere. So I'll look into it like I said, but really don't know how much it'll help.

So no, that's not the "100% common sense I should have thought of first".

I didn't mean to step in your pretty little toes by not liking HK as much as I expected on arrival, but that doesn't mean you have to be a b*tch... First by using derogatory terms about my nationality, and then spewing criticism that makes no sense. THAT really isn't helpful.

[Cho-man]

I was out on top of a mountain middle of last week. What I mainly saw was grey haze. I've since stopped outdoor excercise as the air counts have gotten even worse.
.

I'm not arguing, simply disagreeing with the OP's statement. Or expressing an alternative view, if you like. In case you didn't realize, I said she is entitled to her view, just that I disagree with some of it.

I climb many mountains and hills in HK, yes, some days you only see haze, but I've hiked and climb enough in HK to know there are also quite a few days when the air is reasonably clear and the view is terrific. To say all you see is smog every time you hike such that its not worth hiking at all is plain wrong. To say otherwise is frankly silly, in my opinion.

Hong Kong has many things against it too, but moving to Singapore, well, sure, you will gain some good things but also lose some other good points in HK.

[LaowaiLulu]

Cho, are you arguing just for the sake of arguing again?

I was out on top of a mountain middle of last week. What I mainly saw was grey haze. I've since stopped outdoor excercise as the air counts have gotten even worse.

Sure, Singapore has bad air sometimes, but it's limited to short periods where they burn off trees in neighbouring countries vs months at a time here.

Singapore has a lot of things against it- it's a bit dull, the weather is a downer and the place is tiny. But air quality between the two cities is one point that is frankly silly to argue on.

My thoughts exactly. Today would be a perfect hiking day: 18 degrees and sunny... Except you can't see 3 meters ahead.

I haven't experienced the summer here yet: some say the air is cleaner (some say it's not, you know how it is)... But let's imagine it is cleaner... Not sure if hiking with the oppressing heat would be ideal either... In reality you don't move to HK for the hiking trails, for the same reason you don't move to Michigan to go surfing.

[merchantms]

Mmm not really. Let's see: when you try to immigrate to another country, the first thing you look at is the immigration laws of such country (not your company's HR department, since they can't grant visas as far as I know..).

The laws are not entirely clear when it comes to a particular situation like mine, so I came to this forum, went to the "LEAVING HK" section (since this IS about leaving HK) and asked to see if anyone had a similar experience and, if so, what to expect.

I guess his suggestion of talking to HR MIGHT do something, but really they don't have the power to grant permission to live and work anywhere. So I'll look into it like I said, but really don't know how much it'll help.

So no, that's not the "100% common sense I should have thought of first".

I won't address your personal conflicts with other users, but you are wrong here.

HR departments of any large company like an airline have immigration consulting firms on retainer. The consultant will be able to tell you the immigration laws of Singapore, and HR will be able to tell you A) if they will allow your husband to keep his job if he lives in Sing and B) what if anything they will do to assist your application in fees and services.

Speaking to HR is absolutely the first thing to do if your plan is to move to Singapore while your husband remains employed by the same company.

If you were planning simply to move to Sing or look for jobs over there that might sponsor, then you'd be right to start with Sing immigration law.

[Mat]

Anyone has the popcorn?
This is gonna get good soon I htink.

[Cho-man]

My thoughts exactly. Today would be a perfect hiking day: 18 degrees and sunny... Except you can't see 3 meters ahead.

I haven't experienced the summer here yet: some say the air is cleaner (some say it's not, you know how it is)... But let's imagine it is cleaner... Not sure if hiking with the oppressing heat would be ideal either... In reality you don't move to HK for the hiking trails, for the same reason you don't move to Michigan to go surfing.

Uh-eh, and you really think every day in winter is like this? How long have you been in HK exactly? You simply don't know enough to make a convincing statement there, I'm afraid.

I have no opinion about you moving to Singapore. That is perfectly in your right. But like I said, its not necessarily paradise there.

P.S-I don't think anyone of us here moved to HK for the hiking, so your point is moot and irrelevant.

[HK_Katherine]

Mmm not really. Let's see: when you try to immigrate to another country, the first thing you look at is the immigration laws of such country (not your company's HR department, since they can't grant visas as far as I know..).

The laws are not entirely clear when it comes to a particular situation like mine, so I came to this forum, went to the "LEAVING HK" section (since this IS about leaving HK) and asked to see if anyone had a similar experience and, if so, what to expect.

I guess his suggestion of talking to HR MIGHT do something, but really they don't have the power to grant permission to live and work anywhere. So I'll look into it like I said, but really don't know how much it'll help.

So no, that's not the "100% common sense I should have thought of first".

I didn't mean to step in your pretty little toes by not liking HK as much as I expected on arrival, but that doesn't mean you have to be a b*tch... First by using derogatory terms about my nationality, and then spewing criticism that makes no sense. THAT really isn't helpful.

You appear to want to move countries without [your husband] changing jobs. Talking to HR is the first step!

As to finding the laws of immigration to a new country, you find that in the [forums about or official information on] the new country, not a section of a forum meant for exit taxation, closing bank accounts and removal firms.....!

I'm sorry you are unhappy with your life here. But running away doesn't solve problems. You just get a whole new set to deal with. If you think air pollution is the be-all and the end-all of your life I pity you.

You don't even seem to be acknowledging your poor husband in all this, who by your very words likes it here!