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Banks, Locations & Furniture!

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    Sai Ying Pun
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    43

    Banks, Locations & Furniture!

    hi all,

    I'm sure these questions have been posed before but I've had a look through the forums and so far haven't found a satisfactory answer, so please bear with me.

    i'm moving to HK at the end of the month, from Ireland, though I'm from UK. I will be working on a local contract, so will be paid locally in HKD, and will have no housing allowance.

    I am trying to decide on a whole host of things, the main ones are:

    Bank: what bank should I join when I move? I am torn between HSBC (I've seen a lot of people complain about their service), standard chartered or any other suggestions? I've accounts in UK and IE so will need some easy and cheap facility to transfer money between those countries, at least UK

    Locations: I'm 34 year old single guy, so I've decided it's best to live on the island. Any suggestions on where? I've been told to focus on Mid levels central. My budget is MAX HKD30k per month, and would prefer a high floor modern 2 bed apartment

    Furniture: I am trying to decide whether to move my furniture over, or to get rid of it and either get a furnished apartment, or buy furniture when I'm there. I've got chunky furniture (and a very old & heavy 63-inch plasma TV!) so unsure if I'll get an apartment big enough

    Would be very grateful for your thoughts on the above.

    Thanks!!


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    2,711

    Bank: take HSBC, easiest to get started, has all online

    Locations: mid-levels central if you like to go out, else also consider Sheung Wan, Tin Hau or Happy Valley

    Furniture: chuck everything you have and buy here (except if you have a shipping allowance)

    Gruntfuttock likes this.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    2,259

    Banks:
    They're much of a muchness. An HSBC Premier account will allow you to make overseas transactions to other HSBC accounts without incurring fees but I'm sure other banks have similar arrangements.

    Locations:
    Contrary to your suggestion there are in fact no gender, age or marital status based residency restrictions that would necessitate you living on HK side but you would be perfectly free to live there should you so wish.

    If you have a burning desire to rid yourself of HK$30k a month on rental then Mid-levels would be ideal for that purpose. For a similar amount you could of course purchase your own place in Hong Kong in a slightly less expensive area or alternatively, spend HK$10k per month and put HK$20k per month in the bank in order to purchase your own dwelling upon returning to your home country. Your choices are many and varied in our fair city.

    Furniture: As I have intimated before, it is in my experience much easier, cheaper and less time-consuming to purchase furniture to fit an apartment than to purchase an apartment to fit your furniture.


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Sai Ying Pun
    Posts
    43

    thanks for the advice guys.

    Two things I should've added to my original post:

    Firstly, my company will cover moving costs, so if I decide to ship my furniture it won't cost me anything. The main issue is more around whether or not I can find a suitable apartment for my stuff, and based on the feedback so far, a clean slate might be a better idea.

    Secondly, I am getting 2 months of serviced accommodation when I arrive, allowing me time to explore and decide. I really just wanted to get people's opinion primarily on the whole Kowloon vs Island debate, cos I'm really struggling to decide on which area to focus on.

    Thanks again!


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    2,446

    Same response.

    HSBC
    Central or Sheung Wan
    Leave the furniture behind


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    You know where the airport is...
    Posts
    586
    Quote Originally Posted by bibbju:
    Same response.

    HSBC
    Central or Sheung Wan
    Leave the furniture behind
    +1 ..........

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    HK
    Posts
    14,624
    Quote Originally Posted by lanre:
    hi all,

    I'm sure these questions have been posed before but I've had a look through the forums and so far haven't found a satisfactory answer, so please bear with me.

    i'm moving to HK at the end of the month, from Ireland, though I'm from UK. I will be working on a local contract, so will be paid locally in HKD, and will have no housing allowance.

    I am trying to decide on a whole host of things, the main ones are:

    Bank: what bank should I join when I move? I am torn between HSBC (I've seen a lot of people complain about their service), standard chartered or any other suggestions? I've accounts in UK and IE so will need some easy and cheap facility to transfer money between those countries, at least UK

    Locations: I'm 34 year old single guy, so I've decided it's best to live on the island. Any suggestions on where? I've been told to focus on Mid levels central. My budget is MAX HKD30k per month, and would prefer a high floor modern 2 bed apartment

    Furniture: I am trying to decide whether to move my furniture over, or to get rid of it and either get a furnished apartment, or buy furniture when I'm there. I've got chunky furniture (and a very old & heavy 63-inch plasma TV!) so unsure if I'll get an apartment big enough

    Would be very grateful for your thoughts on the above.

    Thanks!!
    Where is your office?

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Sai Ying Pun
    Posts
    43
    Quote Originally Posted by Mat:
    Where is your office?
    Office is in central, near Jardine house.

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using GeoClicks Mobile

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    HK
    Posts
    14,624
    Quote Originally Posted by lanre:
    Office is in central, near Jardine house.

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using GeoClicks Mobile
    Okay then Midlevels, Sheung Wan, Kennedy Town, Wanchai, Causeway Bay.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    11,711

    65" led tv are only HK$30000 nowadays (freeview digital not compatible in HK - dtmb standard here not europe standard dvb-t), maybe more features than your old TV, plus the fact plasma require calibriation and regassing after 5 years, very expensive in HK


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