Hi and hello to all, great forum you have here.
I'll be relocating with work in 6 weeks time (approx) and just wondered if you'd be so kind as to answer some initial questions I have, apologies if I have posted in the incorrect location. Also my apologies for the length of the post.
I am 23, and will be moving alone. I will be receiving a salary of HKD 560,000 and a minimum annual bonus of HKD 320,000, but due to credit commitments will need to account for HKD 9,000 to send home. My employer is paying my shipping costs, putting me in a serviced apartment for one month at their expense and I get a HKD 60,000 relocation allowance, but this will most likely go straight on the deposit for an apartment.
Q1 - am I correct it is one months rent, plus another month deposit upfront? So if I paid this in July, my next payment of rent wont be until September/I hear electricity is expensive, how much is it roughly due to A/C etc. Most sites I've viewed rentals for state there is zero management/government fee and utilities are
included, but my new boss says this is rare in HK. My employer uses Santa Fe to deal with everything,so hopefully will avoid agent fees as Santa Fe will pay those.
Q2 - I have been told that my UK applicances should work as HK uses near enough the same currency,I may just need a plug adaptor - is this accurate?
Q3 - If I spend HD 20,000 monthly on a nice place (central or mid-levels) will I still have enough left a month for a relatively decent living? I
Q4 - How much is the MTR from Central/Mid-Levels to the CBD? Can you buy annual tickets, or like tokyo are you only able to buy single ones.
Q5 - Is it correct that you don;t pay tax monthly, you are billed annually? I used the HK tax calculator from the Inland Revenue site and it showed on my salary (excluding bonus) annual tax of HKD HDK 76,000 - is this accurate ? (hope so as that is fantastic!)
Q6 What month is tax billed in if annually ?
Q7 Are there any English language sites anyone can suggest where I can view HK internet / cable television packages to gauge how much they will cost.
Q8 Are mid-levels too much of a financial area to live in? I want to escape work without having to commute for hours (hense new terrortries is out) how far from Mid-Levels to CBD?
Apologies again for all of the questions,
Many thanks