Originally Posted by cookie09:
1. how do you describe your working environment here? Are you satisfied with it?
Working environment is quite good overall, i.e. reasonable hourly pay. The issue is working hours which are quite extraordinary by any global standard.
I worked in local, semi-international (i.e. global company with localized environment) and truly international companies. I would never work in a local company anymore. Too much backstabbing, rules, conservative attitudes. No flexibility and openness, which I don't like.
Overall I like my current job and employer.
2. how do you think about the life here? Stressful or stress-free?
stressful overall. people are very very busy and do not seem to mind. it might be slowly changing but overall i believe the government represents the current (!) thinking of the majority of people by NOT creating relaxing zones (e.g. harbourfront cafes, etc.). Of course that is not very forward looking but that's another debate.
3. Do you hang out with local people? How often?
i used to hand out with locals only; recently this is shifting towards a very international mix-up of locals, mainland chinese, other asians (pinoys, thai, japanese) and westerners. i meet a local every week once at least
4. What do you think of the local people?
while very liberal in business terms, overall i experience local (hong kong) people are very conservative in social terms. lots of traditional values and 'rules' (some good, many not so). it's especially striking in comparison with my mainland (urban) friends who are almost consistently more liberal in their lifestyle. the positive of sticking to the 'rules' is the keeping of the rule of law and the resulting efficiency which is something hk people are very good at.
ps: am here for 10 years now