Job Offer / Relocation Package

[closedcasket]

Indeed, so one would only employ Merkins if there were no people of other nationalities available, all other things being equal.

If you want the best, you have to pay for it...

[darraya]

Yes 30,000 is enough. Sai Kung was be a good option although the commute to work would be a little bit longer. Cleaner air there and more room for your family.

How long is the commute from Sai Kung to City Plaza in Takioo Shing?

[darraya]

Make sure your housing allowance is included in the contract to say that the company is providing an allowance. This will reduce your tax liability when the time comes.

This is included in the contract as "The Company will provide housing accommodations during your assignment in Hong Kong".

[bibbju]

How long is the commute from Sai Kung to City Plaza in Takioo Shing?

One of my colleague's makes this commute and it's not nice. He usually drives to avoid the worst of the traffic so gets to the office very early and leaves around 5pm. It takes him around an hour but longer on public transport. By HK standards, this is a long commute.

Have you considered living nearer the office? It might be worth looking at Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho. It's walking distance to Cityplaza (along the harbourside) or 1 stop on the MTR (plus there are buses of course). Grand Promenade overlooks the harbour and has great facilities for children. There are also lots of playgrounds in the area (such as Quarry Bay Park) as well as family friendly restaurants next door at Soho East. It falls within your budget so is probably worth a look to see if it fits your requirements/taste.

[kimwy66]

I have to agree with Bibbju, working in Takioo Shing I would not be considering Sai Kung. The commute would send my stress levels to maximum, and this is time you would not have with your family. There are plenty of nice places on the Island side that would give you a shorter commute and a reasonable living environment.

Clear Water Bay, around Silver Strand may be something you could think about - the Hang Hau MTR is close by. I would guess around 45 minutes total commute.

Discovery Bay I have only visited, so can't comment on the commute, but it seems a nice place.

[daddysprincess]

I live in Taikoo my whole life except 4 years in the states for college. Taikoo is a lovely place for families. You can certainly get organic food in the supermarket in Apita or take a 5 min walk to International (more western food) and Justco (greater variety and bigger). There's a huge park that stretches from quarry bay to shau kei wan. You kids can run and play all they want there. Rent is reasonable. Concerning about air quality, itabuse ether than business districts like central and causeway bay, but not as good as Sai Kung/Stanley/any outlying islands for sure. Kornhill (located near Taikoo) is pretty good too. However, the apartments there are smaller and it takes like 10mins (or longer for kids and women with short legs like me :P) to walk to Taikoo MTR station. There are two bilingual kindergartens in Taikoo and more in Kornhill. But as a language teacher myself, I don't see the point of you sending your kid to a local kindergarten. Once you go back to the states, your kid doesn't get to interact with people in Cantonese anymore, she/he will forget the language eventually no matter how fluent she/he is by the time you guys leave. Just my two cents Hope you and your family will enjoy your stay in Hk!

[carang]

sorry, i live in sai kung and don't think the commute would be too bad. you could get to hang hau mtr and then take the train. it would likely be faster than driving the entire way.

wonder if any of the people who say it's awful have actually done it? also, if you live in sai kung, you kind of KNOW you won't be to work in 10-15 minutes. one of the reasons people choose sai kung is so that they are not in the thick of the highrise jungle that makes up the north side of HK island. for many, many people the extra commute is well worth it. that said, it isn't for every one. only you know what kind of commute you are willing to tolerate.

[bibbju]

wonder if any of the people who say it's awful have actually done it?

I've done it when I stay with friends near Sai Kung (Floral Villas) and have commuted from there to Citiplaza (where I'm based 50% of the week). My Sai Kung friends have been doing this commute for 2 years (they work in Citiplaza). They say it is quicker to drive (as long as you leave early) but do also use public transport (if they intend to have a drink after work). Bus to Hang Hau, then MTR with 1 change isn't the end of the world but it's not the nicest of journeys. For someone with 2 young kids, I guess it's up to the OP if they want to lose 2 hours every day commuting when they could live 1 stop from the office and have an extra 1.75 hours a day with their family. Less crowded, more open space versus more time with family: OP's choice.

[darraya]

One of my colleague's makes this commute and it's not nice. He usually drives to avoid the worst of the traffic so gets to the office very early and leaves around 5pm. It takes him around an hour but longer on public transport. By HK standards, this is a long commute.

Have you considered living nearer the office? It might be worth looking at Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho. It's walking distance to Cityplaza (along the harbourside) or 1 stop on the MTR (plus there are buses of course). Grand Promenade overlooks the harbour and has great facilities for children. There are also lots of playgrounds in the area (such as Quarry Bay Park) as well as family friendly restaurants next door at Soho East. It falls within your budget so is probably worth a look to see if it fits your requirements/taste.

Thank you for the suggestion, I like what I see in Sai Wan Ho, any other areas like that close by to consider?

[Lootoo]

Indeed, so one would only employ Merkins if there were no people of other nationalities available, all other things being equal.

Exactly. The US government just loves us expats...

My firm does it as a matter of policy, but I'm sure it is driven by competition for human resources perceived to be both valuable and scarce, not benevolence.

Sai Kung to Hang Hau can be a nightmare, due to the traffic, but Clear Water Bay to Hang Hau (and then on to Quarry Bay and Tai Koo, etc.) is much quicker. Depending on where in CWB, I'd expect more of a 30-min commute on the MTR/minibus. That said, Sai Kung is a real town, and CWB is just bunches of villa compounds and one supermarket, so quality of life is not as good, in my opinion.