S'porean wanting to work in HK

[evergal_19]

hi bingo,

i got a posting on page 2, was wondering if you could share your experience with your work permit application process?

refer to thread #40

Thanks a lot.

[bingo]

Hey Evergal,

I saw your PM. Have replied you.

[usherer]

er..bingo, mind PM-ing me so I have an inkling of how you did it too? =p thanks!

[sghkcn]

As a Singaporean, I can say that Hong Kong has its good points too.

- weather
- access to international companies and contacts
- better shopping for fashion
- access to China
- more democracy
- more independent thinking
- kinder citizens (man on the street will help you if you're lost, security guards will chit chat, etc.)
- more recycling bins
- cheaper cars
- lower crime

And a plate of chicken rice doesn't cost $65. It ranges from $19 to $30 depending on location and the portions here are at least 50% larger.

Ultimately, what draws you to a city will be personal preferences. Perhaps individual things like childhood memories, friends, ethnicity, or even favourite haunts.

I cannot see how one city is clearly better than the other. There are nice people everywhere.

[bingo]

Hey sghkcn,

U had a totally different experience from me then. Where is this $19 to $30 chicken rice place that you are talking about? Any to recommend? My colleagues have brought me to places for chicken rice, besides the price, I didn't like the food.

I also haven't found
- good shopping, a matter of personal taste I guess...
- kinder citizens (haven't met anyone nice on the street). But the locals I know are all nice people.

[sghkcn]

For chicken rice, these duck/pork/chicken coffeeshops are all over the place. They are characterised by their hanging of meats at the front of the shop behind a glass window. Two types of chicken rice can be found in Hong Kong, yao kai fan (soya sauce chicken) and chit kai fan (plain boiled chicken).

You can try the following areas:

Causeway Bay (Canal Road West, Percival Street, Tang Lung Street, Jardines Bazaar)
Central (Cochrane Street, Gage Street)
Sheung Wan (Queens Road West, Des Voeux Road West)
Kennedy Town (Cadogan Street where the trams end)
Tin Hau (Electric Road)
Fortress Hill (Java Road)
North Point (also has excellent goose, at road between Shu Kuk and Kam Hong St)
Tai Koo (at foodcourt basement of Cityplaza One)

I have found that the price variation of a plate of chicken rice depends on distance from crowds (the more ulu the cheaper) and 'status' of the area. I have not found a particular chicken rice stall that is much better than the others. They all are about the same.

For fashion shopping, what I'm referring to are boutiques that you cannot find or are much smaller in Singapore because, unlike Hong Kong, our 'village' has not reached international city status yet.

- Aveda
- The North Face
- Vivienne Westwood
- Dries Van Noten
- Mandarina Duck
- Manolo Blahnik
- Jimmy Choo

And the following Hong Kong boutiques also seem larger (and more importantly, stock wider range) than the Singapore counterparts. Some are even on multi-storeys!

- Louis Vuitton at Causeway Bay
- Prada at Pacific Place
- Ermenegildo Zegna at IFC Mall
- Hermes
- Gucci at The Landmark
- Paul Smith at The Landmark
- Tommy Hilfiger at Tsim Sha Tsui
- Burberry at Tsim Sha Tsui

Indeed, some boutiques are more impressive here than in other international cities like London, New York or Sao Paulo, probably because there are a lot of potential customers in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

So buying clothes must be one of Hong Kong's plus points.

Live it, love it!

[bingo]

Oh you mean those "hanging meat" places... I meant Hainanese chicken rice. Guess I wasn't clear. There are lots of that around my working area too. I find most too oily and salty. Anyway, it's not important, all a matter of personal taste.

I know! Shopping should be one of the most attractive places about Hong Kong. But then again, I'm not into branded goods. I'm a simple girl and I don't need that much branded stuff

[sghkcn]

One can still be simple and use branded stuff.

[xzi]

Hiii,
I guess every country has her own pluses and minuses....its up to each preferences. I believe its a good chance to be able to experience living in another country for a period of time.....

I do agree that Hong kong has very good transportation system over here...but the living standards are also higher than singapore...food is more ex...i also hvtn found any hainanese chicken rice so far :P..

[Onyx]

So buying clothes must be one of Hong Kong's plus points.

Unless you're not typical asian size.... then it's a whole new adventure.