How about living in Park Island (Ma Wan)?

[surie]

Hi, I moved to HK around 3 months ago and now I live by myself in shared apartment while my wife will come next February. When she visited for a couple of days we saw apartments in Park Island and she loved so much and wanted to live there.
Yeah, it's a lovely place, I agree, but I still wonder if it's okay to live there with no kids(yet), and working at Sheung Wan. My wife probably do not work in HK. Can anyone who is living (or has been) there let me know pros and cons?

[HK_Katherine]

Pros - nice environment, lower cost, ferry to work which is relaxing
Cons - ferry to work (have to fit the schedule, will need to take care during typhoons)

Ultimately it comes down to your own preferences. Some ppl love it, others don't.

I don't live there but I live somewhere with somewhat similar characteristic.

[cookie09]

transportation also allows for taxi access and a shuttle to tsing yi mtr giving some alternative options to ferry

[surie]

Thanks, HK_Katherine & cookie09.
Regular commuting to work will be okay, as you mentioned, but I'm wondering in case of emergency (injury, for example), how can I get to clinic or hospital? I know I can take a taxi to get in Park Island, but I couldn't find any taxi in island that waited for (or moving around) to take resident to out of island.

[HK_Katherine]

Thanks, HK_Katherine & cookie09.
Regular commuting to work will be okay, as you mentioned, but I'm wondering in case of emergency (injury, for example), how can I get to clinic or hospital? I know I can take a taxi to get in Park Island, but I couldn't find any taxi in island that waited for (or moving around) to take resident to out of island.

There is a taxi rank. Perhaps it just didn't have any. But you can always call an ambulance! That would be the normal approach in emergency. It's honestly no more remote in that respect than anywhere else

[BruceHadley]

I do live there, and can advise that in an emergency, the Management Office have a vehicle that can assist you in getting off the Island.

Any residence has pros and cons, and I would advise you to bring your wife and look around. Personally, the advantages of living their outweigh the disadvantages, and I enjoy calling it home. More than happy if you wish to send me a private message with any questions you may have.

[imparanoic]

humidity is highest there, don't forget to buy a dehumidifer

[HK_Katherine]

humidity is highest there, don't forget to buy a dehumidifer

Huh? Where do you get that from? People keep telling me that living on a boat, surrounded by water 360 degrees must have "high humidity" but we have zero humidity problems.

[Big Rocky]

Surie Park Island is a really nice place to live. I'm a resident and can tell you its a very relaxing place to live, kind of a resort feeling to it. All residents will tell you as soon as we arrive on the island we feel very relaxed. There are regular busses and ferry services. For taxies, from Central or Sheung Wan its a very quick 15 min trip home. And when you catch a taxi, there are almost always taxies waiting at the main taxi stand to Park Island/Ma Wan. All the locals also have "local taxi numbers" that you can use to call discount taxis.

In terms of access for vehicles, many women live on the Park Island who are pregnant. When its due for baby (or any other emergency) the ambulance can come in very quickly. So that is absolutely no problem.

The comment about humidity makes no sense to me. I have found Central HK to be and feel much more himid than Park Island. On Park island the air is cleaner (due to less cars and less highrises) and these is often a nice breeze. Some people don't even use aircons and just open windows for the ocean breeze.

Whilst there are plenty of parents with young kids on the island, there are also many singles/couples. For you, the best thing I would say is the relatively affordable pricing of the apartments, very high quality of everything there, the peacefulness at night, and all the great facilities like the pools, gyms, tennis courts etc. You will have no problem at all meeting people there.

There is a local facebook for Park Island residents called The MaWan Network. If you join that you will see many friendly residents who can help you out. We use it to sell second hand stuff, complain, discuss, gossip etc but also to help each other out Feel free to PM me if any questions about living there, but in summary, for many reasons (and I have lived in many places in HK) it really is a very good living place.

[surie]

I see, maybe I worried too much to live in island. Thank you all!
I may start apartments searching there.. any recommendation of agent/agency who can speak good English? I have one but he does not speak English that well..