View Poll Results: How old were you when you first moved to Hong Kong

Voters
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  • 19 or under

    13 7.43%
  • 20-24

    45 25.71%
  • 25-29

    62 35.43%
  • 30-34

    26 14.86%
  • 35-39

    14 8.00%
  • 40-44

    7 4.00%
  • 45-49

    4 2.29%
  • 50+

    4 2.29%

How old were you when you moved to Hong Kong?

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  1. #21

    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    22
    Quote Originally Posted by carang:
    it's amazing how many people have nearly the same story... came for a very short trip and never left...
    I came for a short trip and left ...

    and came again for a long trip and left ...

    and came back for good ...
    Last edited by Vile; 01-02-2009 at 10:29 PM.

  2. #22

    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    1,896
    Quote Originally Posted by carang:
    it's amazing how many people have nearly the same story... came for a very short trip and never left...
    Indeed, especially if you compare it to the significant number of people who _plan_ to come and stay here and don't manage to find a job. Wonder if this is just my perception or if times were just very different ten years ago.

  3. #23

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    228

    25 when I came....been 3 years now.


  4. #24

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Pampanga, Philippines
    Posts
    29,763
    Quote Originally Posted by er2:
    Indeed, especially if you compare it to the significant number of people who _plan_ to come and stay here and don't manage to find a job. Wonder if this is just my perception or if times were just very different ten years ago.
    Ten years ago it was just post-SARS so I doubt it was better then.

  5. #25

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    833

    I used to work as an export sales manager in the UK in the mid 90s and used to travel 6 or 7 times per year to SEA and frequently to HK. I was in my early 30's at the time and always enjoyed trips to the Far East although HK was one of my least favorite places. I considered it noisy and just too busy and only used to stay here a few days then fly on to another country in the region only too glad for a change of scenery.

    Come the back end of 1996 and the Asian Financial Crisis everything changed dramatically across SEA and in HK it was worse because of the lack of confidence in the handover in 1997.

    I lost my job in UK in late 1996 due to the swift demise in the amount of business we had in SEA and as big a blow as that was to me, I always wanted to live and work full-time in Asia but never thought I would end up in HK.

    I remember in the mid-90s there appeared to be many more Gweilos around and I have met some 'Old China hands' here these past few years who came in the early 90s with only a couple of suitcases and found casual work in bars. The general consensus amongst them was that it was much easier then to find work (especially for Brits) and many ended up staying.

    I may be wrong (and I apologise if I am) but I believe pre-1997 Brits did not need work permits to take employment in HK?


  6. #26

    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    1,896
    Quote Originally Posted by hullexile:
    Ten years ago it was just post-SARS so I doubt it was better then.
    I know time moves faster when you're beyond a certain age.... but that fast ???

  7. #27

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sai Kung
    Posts
    8,561

    pre-97, they did not need them. one of the advantages of being a british colony...oops... sorry, TERRITORY!

    i luckily have both canadian and british passports, so i did earn a few extra dollars working in a pub for 3 years or so.


  8. #28

    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    23,205
    Quote Originally Posted by er2:
    I know time moves faster when you're beyond a certain age.... but that fast ???
    Indeed - SARS was 2003 so a decade ago was well pre-SARS.

  9. #29

    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Siu Lam
    Posts
    1,092

    I arrived at 19 y old in hong kong 10 years ago, the economic of Hong Kong was not that good and the immigration gave me a lot of headache to get my visa, even i had all diplomat and experience for the job i was seeking for.


  10. #30

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Pampanga, Philippines
    Posts
    29,763
    Quote Originally Posted by PDLM:
    Indeed - SARS was 2003 so a decade ago was well pre-SARS.
    oops yes, getting SARS and the handover periods mixed up - as you say old age. I was involved in Hong Kong during the SARS period so no excuse.