Help! Movin to HK in a few weeks with a family!

[Satay Sue]

I meant specifically about lawyers being more likely to go by the book - I'm from a legal family...

Oh right! I only know a couple of lawyers here and they are very careful! Interesting...

[Expat lawyer]

Also, with that housing budget it's not as if OP will be in a cramped apartment tripping over her all the time!

Actually, the most that the budget gets me is a 1.5 bed apartment in Central which is cramped conditions for me, the husband and two children - let alone a domestic helper :-)

[Expat lawyer]

Thanks again for all the comments - someone did mention the possibility of "day" FDHs and I had not looked into the point but was hoping to deal with it when I arrived in HK. It is very good to know that whilst it may be common practice, it is illegal - I am definitely not interested in doing anything illegal. Will have to consider other options for the 7 month old.

[Zenon]

I recall your budget is 80k HKD a month? If so that has to be incorrect. You can definitely get better than a 1.5 room apartment in central or very close by.

[MovingIn07]

I recall your budget is 80k HKD a month? If so that has to be incorrect. You can definitely get better than a 1.5 room apartment in central or very close by.

Possibly that relates to a serviced appt for just the first month, which are very expensive in Central especially if you look in the wrong places. Yes since 80k is many multiples of average income in HK, you can get a nice place for that! Those who live on HK island can give advice as to where, but best to search it out when you arrive.

[Satay Sue]

Actually, the most that the budget gets me is a 1.5 bed apartment in Central which is cramped conditions for me, the husband and two children - let alone a domestic helper :-)

I am really genuinely concerned as to where you are getting your information. I lived in Central in a 3-bedroom, 1450 sq ft apartment with separate maid room & bathroom for less than half your budget! Even allowing for a small increase in rent since we moved out last summer, you will be able to get something quite nice.

Edit: just checked and the rent increased by $2000. So it would be half your budget. Maybe a bit more than half your budget for full facilities.

[carang]

Yes....expat's info seems to be so far off of reality....makes me wonder, too.


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[elliee]

Expat lawyer, re: childcare, there are a couple web sites like Little Steps Asia that talk about childcare options in HK. You can also reach out to several thousand mothers in HK directly through the Hong Kong Moms Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/hkmoms. Others are correct in noting that there are very very limited options for a creche or day care centre for a 7 month old (you should probably just forget about that idea, know many who have looked into it and none who have been able to find one). More realistic HK childcare options include a live in foreign domestic helper (by far the most common solution amongst expats when both parents work), family, local resident live out domestic helper (hard to find, generally speak little to no English) and a nanny or nanny share (much more expensive than a domestic helper, but used by some, including myself). There are a number of agencies that can help source a nanny, who does not need to live with you. Average salary for a nanny is between HK$25-35k/ month. If you are hiring from overseas (which is generally how its done) the process takes 8-12 weeks to pick the candidate, interview, apply for the nanny's work visa, and cannot really be done faster than 6-7 weeks if the nanny has worked in HK before and there are no questions from Immigration.

For your housing budget (80k, I think) you should be able to get a nice 3+ bedroom of at least 1500sf in most parts of HK island. Family friendly areas relatively close to Central include Pokfulam, Happy Valley, Mid-Levels East. Would stay out of Mid-levels Central area with two small children, moving them around would be a pain, although plenty do it. Similarly, Causeway Bay and Wan Chai are super crowded, generally loud, full of heavy traffic and probably not the best place to live with a young family. A little further out on HK island there are places like Parkview, Repulse Bay, Stanley and Tai Tam that all have many expat families, more space and less traffic. Lost of people also live in Kowloon and the NT, but I am less familiar with those areas.

[climber07]

Actually, the most that the budget gets me is a 1.5 bed apartment in Central which is cramped conditions for me, the husband and two children - let alone a domestic helper :-)

You are looking at 1,900- 2,000+ sq feet 3/4 bedroom flat near mid-levels on your budget even at currently insane rent prices.

[hullexile]

I meant specifically about lawyers being more likely to go by the book - I'm from a legal family...

Are you implying that the rest of us come from illegal families?