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Family life in Sai Kung?!

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  1. #1

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    Mar 2021
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    Family life in Sai Kung?!

    Hi everyone
    My husband has just been offered a job as a teacher, so we're thinking of moving this July
    His school is not too far from Sai Kung, so we're thinking of moving there.
    We have a 3 year old daughter and I'm currently 8 months pregnant, so baby would be around 3 months old

    My questions regarding Sai Kung would be:
    - is theft/burglary an issue?
    -we would love to rent a house with garden if feasible - I'm. Assuming houses are more. Remote than apartments and we don't drive/don't have a car-is this true
    -how well connected is Sai Kung in terms. Of public transport?

    -how bad is air pollution?

    -in terms of typhoons - never witnessed one, but I'm. Guessing the closer you are to the sea, the worse the impact of the typhoon?!

    -anything else we need to know and consider before moving out family to Sai kung?

    Thank you so much for your help!!!

    Cheers


  2. #2

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    Good advice given above.

    To add, Sai Kung is a relatively large place and if you are not in the town centre (unlikely) then a car would certainly help.

    Would be interested to know where the school is, as there may be better options closer by. As said above, with a place like Ma On Shan, you can enjoy similar access to the hills and water, but also get much more convenience. For me personally, I enjoy visiting Sai Kung on the weekend for eating out, but I wouldn't necessarily want to live there. But then I favour apartment living over the village house, and if you are moving to SK, odds are you'll be living in a village house.


  3. #3

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    Mar 2021
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    Thanks for your replies.
    My husband will be working at the ESF College in Ma On Shan.
    We currently live in an apartment, so the prospect of living in a house sounds really nice. But we dont have a car, so having easy access to public transport is key for us.

    We are also looking for a Kindergarten/Preschool spot for our 3 year old and I guess that will also determine where we can live.

    I havent even looked at Kindergarten options in Ma On Shan...

    If anyone can recommend any good Kindergartens in Ma on Shan, Clear Water or Sai Kung... that would be great.

    Its kinda hard doing it from the other side of the world ;-)

    Thanks so much!


  4. #4

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    I havent even looked at my work options... I´d most likely be at home with the baby for at least a year, so meeting people would be key for my sanity


  5. #5

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    I can't top the advice already stated except to say that for public transport generally at weekends you would be heading out of Sai Kung when the rest of the world is vying to get in and the reverse when you come home. I'm used to a commute and I find the various travel options and travel are worth the effort. I think if I had a family I would definitely be getting a car though.

    I really love my village and the fact that I can be up in the hills hiking within 5 minutes of my house or on a bus in a 10 minute walk in the other direction. It's not for everyone I grant you, but Sai Kung country park plus the best beaches in HK are two very good reasons to live here, plus the many hiking, watersports, boat trips options etc.

    Just re-read that you don't drive. Don't let you put that off. Also as others have said Ma On Shan could also be a viable option and if you are looking for a house with a (small!) garden plenty of villages between Sai Kung and Ma On Shan.

    Jillypots likes this.

  6. #6

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    Mar 2021
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    Thanks for all your respones.
    I guess with a toddler and a newborn, we are ideally looking for something fairly quiet with good transport links and enough of a town so that we can buy and enjoy all the things we need (groceries, cafes, restaurants, medical facilities, clothes shops).

    Does Sai Kung town centre cater for those kinds of needs?

    P.S. Maybe I would also enjoy a spa facility or health club


  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Romiha:
    Thanks for your replies.
    My husband will be working at the ESF College in Ma On Shan.
    We currently live in an apartment, so the prospect of living in a house sounds really nice. But we dont have a car, so having easy access to public transport is key for us.

    We are also looking for a Kindergarten/Preschool spot for our 3 year old and I guess that will also determine where we can live.

    I havent even looked at Kindergarten options in Ma On Shan...

    If anyone can recommend any good Kindergartens in Ma on Shan, Clear Water or Sai Kung... that would be great.

    Its kinda hard doing it from the other side of the world ;-)

    Thanks so much!
    RCHK has many teachers that live in SK. Good if you are one for socialising with colleagues. Also, quite a few teachers pool car journeys. The commute is okay but for now is a narrow road and can easily get jammed. I see major roadworks though so looks like that commute will improve shortly.

    Just to note, there are lots of villages close by Ma On Shan, or at least Wu Kai Sha. No idea of quality of life there though.

    Both Ma On Shan and SK have hills and beaches in walking distance. I know people that live on the water front there and can still be in the country park with a 10 minute walk. Also walking distance to RCHK. I guess the choice becomes do you want more of a village life (and all the good and bad that comes with that) or do you want to stick with high rise apartment living.

    Not very knowledgeable on kindergartens, but there is a ESF one in Ma On Shan (Wu Kai Sha). I expect your husband would get priority admission.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Romiha:
    Thanks for all your respones.
    I guess with a toddler and a newborn, we are ideally looking for something fairly quiet with good transport links and enough of a town so that we can buy and enjoy all the things we need (groceries, cafes, restaurants, medical facilities, clothes shops).

    Does Sai Kung town centre cater for those kinds of needs?
    Yes it does. Except I think clothes shops In terms of cafes and restaurants, I say it beats Ma On Shan hands down. MOS is more shopping mall culture and in truth a bit of a desert when it comes to dining.

    Are you currently in HK? If not, related to above post, there is a service apartment building in MOS (Harbour something or other..). It's a short walk to RCHK so may be a good place to use yourself and see the options for yourself.

  9. #9

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    Mar 2021
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    Thanks!
    We are. Currently. In. Germany, but aim. To move in July. And. Serviced. Apartment sounds.great.

    After we've. Survived the 3 week. Quarantine...


  10. #10

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    Horizon suites Ma On Shan for serviced apartments - I almost went there before I found my first place in Clearwater Bay 3 days before my paid for serviced apartment ran out at Parkview (and I wasn't going to be paying their rates!)


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