Is Hong Kong really that undesirable when it comes to bringing up a child?

[threelittlepigs]

To the OP - if you don't try it, you'll never know, and you seem like the type that will embrace the adventure (good or bad, generalising I know). I don't know about you, but I've always regretted the things that I never get to do, rather than those things that I've done and hated. Never regretted living in the burbs, just realised at that point in my life it was not for me. But I'm glad I learnt something about myself.

[Watercooler]

No need to be so patronising.

He might have phrased his argument rather harshly, but his point is valid.

I remember, now over 10 years ago, when I first came to HK, I hated this place. I did not have any friends beside the close circle of expats around me, and I could not understand the people and culture here. But rather than sulk and regret my move I tried to move outside my comfort zone. I changed myself. I made a conscious effort to get out and not limit myself to the expat enclaves. I made an effort to know more locals (and that's how I met my wife). And my wife in turn became my window into understanding Chinese culture. I learnt to discover things about Hong Kong I would never know had I just wall-off myself from the city like your typical mal-adjusted expat. It certainly did'nt hurt at that time I was an early-20 something fresh from college, so that allowed me to have a more open mind. Of course, none of these moves may change your mind about the city, but it's worth the effort to at least try.

I mean, there are still many things I dislike about Hong Kong today (anyone seeing my rants on HK will know, hehehe), but that is now balanced by having an appreciation of many things that I do like about Hong Kong. It certainly helped that in these 10+ years, my (former) employer moved me around Asia, US and Europe, so I can see Hong Kong in a more "global" perspective.

[Dhajasi]

To the OP - if you don't try it, you'll never know, and you seem like the type that will embrace the adventure (good or bad, generalising I know). I don't know about you, but I've always regretted the things that I never get to do, rather than those things that I've done and hated. Never regretted living in the burbs, just realised at that point in my life it was not for me. But I'm glad I learnt something about myself.

Thanks for all the responses so far.

And I completely agree with you, if this opportunity came before we had our little one, we would be on the next flight to HK. But having a kid makes it very difficult to relocate again if things don't work out.

[closedcasket]

Thanks for all the responses so far.

And I completely agree with you, if this opportunity came before we had our little one, we would be on the next flight to HK. But having a kid makes it very difficult to relocate again if things don't work out.

That is the true.... I envy those people who are able to transfer over to Hong Kong for a year or two, get the experience, and than have a guarenteed job back home waiting for them(with repatriation package). If that were the case, than I might recommend bringing the kids out here for a short stint. But what many people don't realize (I know I didn't) is that the longer you stay out here, the harder it is to get back home. That is especially true with the way the economies are in the west....


The truth is that I do like Hong Kong a lot....I think its a great city...but at the end of the day it is extremely overpopulated, polluted and a concrete jungle... Hong Kong is a lot of things...but kid friendly it is not...

[kimwy66]

I could say the same for you. I get it, you don't want to be here. You were forced to make a difficult choice and unfortunately your say in the matter was overruled by your husbband's career choice. My advice, get out of your English village and embrace the Asian experience. Travel to Kowloon once in a while for a start, shop at a wet market, make some local friends, whatever. Just don't mope about and miss out.

Ahh but I do want to be here, for the money and therefore the opportunity it gives us. My husband and I made a joint decision to come here, having both lived here before. I'm quite happy to take the money and send it overseas to set up our life after. And far from moping, I'm happy spending time with friends, planning our summer in France, enjoying our daughter and giving her the best experience possible given our choice. I have a life that makes me happy, albeit in a place that I don't like.

I really don't know why it would offend you so much that someone you don't know doesn't like Hong Kong. The need to create some horrible person forced by their husband to leave their cosy awful British life, I just don't get it. I'm not even British, I'm a New Zealander, but you won't find me extolling the virtues of the place. I'm probably the least nationalistic person you will find, in that my home country is not a place I particularly desire to live again. Lovely place, but the people drive me nuts. It's quite similar to Hong Kong in that last respect.

But, lets cut to it - would I recommend Hong Kong as a place to bring up a child, if money were taken out of the equation? No, I wouldn't. If we could have the same take-home money in France as in Hong Kong, then no competition.

But we can't, c'est la vie. So, the daughter goes to boarding school in UK in 2 years and we pay off our French dream and sit sipping French red by the lake without a highrise in sight in a few years. OP, if you gain enough to make up for what you will be missing out, then go for it. I wouldn't with a newborn, but each to his / her own.

[Watercooler]

Ahh but I do want to be here, for the money and therefore the opportunity it gives us. My husband and I made a joint decision to come here, having both lived here before. I'm quite happy to take the money and send it overseas to set up our life after. And far from moping, I'm happy spending time with friends, planning our summer in France, enjoying our daughter and giving her the best experience possible given our choice. I have a life that makes me happy, albeit in a place that I don't like.

I really don't know why it would offend you so much that someone you don't know doesn't like Hong Kong. The need to create some horrible person forced by their husband to leave their cosy awful British life, I just don't get it. I'm not even British, I'm a New Zealander, but you won't find me extolling the virtues of the place. I'm probably the least nationalistic person you will find, in that my home country is not a place I particularly desire to live again. Lovely place, but the people drive me nuts. It's quite similar to Hong Kong in that last respect.

But, lets cut to it - would I recommend Hong Kong as a place to bring up a child, if money were taken out of the equation? No, I wouldn't. If we could have the same take-home money in France as in Hong Kong, then no competition.

But we can't, c'est la vie. So, the daughter goes to boarding school in UK in 2 years and we pay off our French dream and sit sipping French red by the lake without a highrise in sight in a few years. OP, if you gain enough to make up for what you will be missing out, then go for it. I wouldn't with a newborn, but each to his / her own.

I get your point, but all the recommendations to come or not to come is a moot point. Why? Like I said at the beginning of this thread, each person's situation is a little different. It's hard to recommend either way unless we know more about the OP's situation.

Just because things did'nt work out for you in HK does not mean things will not work out for the OP. You were unable to find a suitable school place in HK for your child, but maybe the OP can. After all, we have posters who have had kids here in HK and things work out fine for them.

Bottom line, the OP isn't offering enough detail about his or her background, what sort of expat package he or she has (if any), whether the company will be footing the bill for a decent place, transportation arrangement, etc. That would make a heck of alot of difference. I know many management-level folks actually subcontract finding a residence and even a school place to consultation companies in HK. All these factors will change the OP's circumstances. And even if the OP does not have these things, it can still work out for the OP due to various personal attributes. Who is to say?

[Claire ex-ax]

It's not so much the city in question, it's about having the right attitude. The OP sounds like the like of person who will give Hong Kong a go. I met many like her. I met many the complete opposite. Some people never want to leave. Some can't wait to leave.

The only things in life you regret are the things you didn't do.

[TrailingWife]

I've been reading this with interest as we are moving out to HK at the end of the month with our nearly 6 months old baby.

We've just spent a week in HK (my first visit) and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was no busier than central London with much cheaper and quicker public transport and taxis. A big plus was that the locals seem to love babies, so our little one got lots of friendly attention.

We lived in London for 7 years and currently live in a small village in the south of England where I am reliant on car to get anywhere, taxis are either impossible to find or very expensive and there is only 1 bus a day. HK has much more available transport.

I'm not overly concerned about the schools as we should be back before she's school age, but we'll try to get her name down just in case.

Finally the facilities available in HK accommodation are fantastic compared to UK (depending on budget). Many complexes have indoor and outdoor pools, playground, gym, shuttle buses, etc. I have to drive 20mins for a pool at the moment. There are also fabulous beaches and countryside I can't wait to explore in HK.

One more thing, I don't know if it's just me, but I didn't notice loads of pigeons in HK - that's a definite plus over London!

If you get a good relocation package I would definitely go for it.

[Claire ex-ax]

One more thing, I don't know if it's just me, but I didn't notice loads of pigeons in HK - that's a definite plus over London!

That's because the brown kites eat 'em!

Joking... about the kites eating the pigeons but you will see these birds soaring between the high rises.

[closedcasket]

[QUOTE=Claire ex-ax;2429910]It's not so much the city in question, it's about having the right attitude. The OP sounds like the like of person who will give Hong Kong a go. I met many like her. I met many the complete opposite. Some people never want to leave. Some can't wait to leave.

The only things in life you regret are the things you didn't do.[/QUOTE]


I wish that were.....believe me, I really wish that were true....