Where to live (yes, again!)

[dougp]

Ok, at the risk of restating a question that I know has been asked in many different ways before (yes, I've seached and read until cross-eyed), we're likely to be moving to HK later in the year. We have 2 young kids (4 and 6), and a housing budget up to 35k/month. What we're looking for is:

• Reasonably sized (1300sf+) 3 bed appartment
• Family (i.e. child) friendly
• Reasonably easy commute to Central
• Good schools/kindergartens (ESF or international)
• Close to supermarket type shopping
• At least a few restaurants in the area
• Some western contact, but don't want to live in an all-expat area
• Don't want to have a car if we can avoid it
• Some facilities for the kids in the building would be good (pool etc.)

Looking like Pokfulam or Mid Levels at the moment - though I've heard Mid Levels has pollution issues, and Pokfulam is a bit "quiet".

Any views on areas? Even specific buildings? I've looked at GoHome.com - very useful, just looking for some responses to our specific requirements.

Thanks.

Doug.

[sabi]

Try Discovery Bay - it meets all of your criteria. http://www.discoverybay.com.hk/main/home_eng/home.html

[KnowItAll]

We live in Baguio in Pokfulam. Pretty decent .. you're 15-20 minutes away from Central and have access to near by supermarkets and the cyberport cinemas.

Not much in terms of restaurants etc.. but keep in mind you're 15-20 minutes away from both Central and Stanley and most of the Central restaurants will deliver.

Good mix of both local, overseas returned locals and expats from around the world.

[KnowItAll]

Other buildings in Pokfulam include:

Victoria Gardens
Secnic Villas
Middelton

[Geordie19]

Try Tung Chung - 24 mins to central on MTR. Two English schools on Lantau, Citygate shopping mall, loads of open space nearby. It'll be cheaper than living in the mid-levels so you could afford a bigger place and the new appartment blocks e.g. Seaview crescent, Caribbean coast are really plush. They also have a residents leisure club with pool, gym, tennis, basketball etc etc.

[elle]

I second Sabi and would recommend Discovery Bay. Your budget would get you a very nice place in a low rise building with patio or garden. Commuting to Central takes 1/2 hour by ferry - it makes sense to live in walking distance to the ferry pier when you commute on a daily basis.

[gecko]

Having had experiences of Mid-levels, New Territories, Wanchai and now Pokfulam, I would go for Pokfulam with young children. DB is also a young kid paradise and if one of you is at home with the children, the support is really important. Pokfulam offers a similar support system if you go for the high rises, like Baguio, Victoria Gardens, Scenic Villas. Bit more isolated on a day-to-day basis in the low rises. Difference between DB and PFL is the time it takes to get to places on HK island that aren't near the ferry terminal - and that is important when one parent is working there. It might take 30 mins to Central from DB, but if you work in Wanchai, that interchange from the ferry terminal could mean another 30 mins at peak hour.

[dougp]

Thanks for all the replies. Forgot to add that we wanted to stay on HK island itself, so Pokfulam is looking likely at the moment.

Doug.