Advice to a couple potentially moving to Hong Kong in July...

[TheBrit]

The noise has been an improvement for me in HK over London. Our flats in London had thin floors -- could always hear what the neighbors were doing or saying. In Hong Kong, you get modern, concrete flats, so I've not had an issue with neighbor noise (yes, there are sometimes renovations, and noise from outside is another issue).

Apartments here are constructed to a much lower standard than those in London, as a rule. They are smaller, less well built and and carpets/wallpaper are exceptions rather than the norm. As such, the sound dampening effects of these are missing - hence you can hear the overhead neighbours walking around, toilets flushing and anything louder than a normal conversation in the apartments next door.

This is simply a fact of life in high density living in Hong Kong - I've experienced it all the way from cheap, low-end flats all the way up to "modern", "luxury" flats. We moved out of our old flat after being driven to distraction by late night loud drunken mahjong playing tenants in the flat at the other end of the hallway.

[gunsnroses]

OP I agree with the previous posters that it would be best to visit HK for a week or so to get a feeling of the place, especially the air quality, whether you'll be able to handle it or not. (of course if you still have time to do so).
35.5K + housing allowance + teacher's salary, that seems like a great proposition, but you may or may not get the teaching job immediately and might have to do private tutoring, which could be quite lucrative or so I am told.
Yes, HK is noisy, but if your husband is willing to commute for 45 mins each way then you can find not only bigger flat for same cost, but quieter and less crowded too, look New Territories.
Good luck with your decision, and hope you enjoy HK as much as most of us do, if not all.

[imparanoic]

Original Post Deleted

I have asthma, but since coming to HK for the last 8 years, it's improved as I don't drive to work, I have nice walk to ferry from east tsim sha tsui every day to work, main thing, I use less and less becotide ( less common here, around HK$90-110) and my ventolin seems last long, previously every 3-4 weeks in uk, now, I only have to buy a ventolin inhaler ( no prescription needed) every 2-2.5 months, cost HK$60-85 depending where you buy from

main thing, where will you husband work, if you like scenic and less hustle and bustle, consider gold coast or sai kung and your husband haves the option of driving

[Boris]

If he is used to a three hour commute that a one hour commute by living in the New Territories is golden.

Live in a nice environment like Ting Kok Road out of Tai Po , with the sea to the front and mountains to the back. Lovely.
Cost for a 750 sq ft good quality place, 3 bed rooms and a better kitchen than a 500 sq ft apartment block shoe box .. around 9,000.. No spiders.

As most of you know I have lived up here a LONG time and even with my office in Wanchai ... won't move.
On 45 k you can live like a King and great restaurants ( not those overpriced slush pits on the island ) here too.
Come over, stay in a serviced apartment for a month or two and try to look around. It's the only way to find and get the best value.

Living on the Island is not conducive to happiness after a while. IMHO.

[imparanoic]

If he is used to a three hour commute that a one hour commute by living in the New Territories is golden.

Live in a nice environment like Ting Kok Road out of Tai Po , with the sea to the front and mountains to the back. Lovely.
Cost for a 750 sq ft good quality place, 3 bed rooms and a better kitchen than a 500 sq ft apartment block shoe box .. around 9,000.. No spiders.

As most of you know I have lived up here a LONG time and even with my office in Wanchai ... won't move.
On 45 k you can live like a King and great restaurants ( not those overpriced slush pits on the island ) here too.
Come over, stay in a serviced apartment for a month or two and try to look around. It's the only way to find and get the best value.

Living on the Island is not conducive to happiness after a while. IMHO.

My aunt lives in ting kok village, I have lived in sha tau kok for 3 years, yes, unlike UK no spiders in HK, but there are rare occasions that you get big massive green back spiders in the bushes in the villages, near ting kok rd is nice next to plover cove, but commuting is a bit of pain on daily basis ( I live in fanling next mtr station now) 78k bus or is the 11 mini bus to tai po market, then 40 mins to hung hom *(standing all the way) then mtr to hk island is not nice at all.

[Mat]

HE WILL WORK IN LAN KWAI FONG....READ people READ and finish LATE (past 11)

so please dont suggest GoldCoast or Tai po or the likes if he wants to keep commute down (whihc was also written by the OP).

[HowardCoombs]

I have asthma, but since coming to HK for the last 8 years, it's improved as I don't drive to work, I have nice walk to ferry from east tsim sha tsui every day to work

As Asthma is quite complex, with variety of triggers, pollution is not a good indicator for asthma.

Yes, Hong Kong is somewhat polluted but I have a friend and similar to imparanoic, he is happier in Hong Kong for a very simple reason : there seems to be much less pollen here and that translates to much fewer issues for him.

[imparanoic]

As Asthma is quite complex, with variety of triggers, pollution is not a good indicator for asthma.

Yes, Hong Kong is somewhat polluted but I have a friend and similar to imparanoic, he is happier in Hong Kong for a very simple reason : there seems to be much less pollen here and that translates to much fewer issues for him.

so your friend has hayfever as he/she is affected by airborne pollen in UK, as the grass pollen here is a lot heavier and doesn't float around much

yes, other factors include, no carpets which means better for asthmas sufferers

[Boris]

HE WILL WORK IN LAN KWAI FONG....READ people READ and finish LATE (past 11)

so please dont suggest GoldCoast or Tai po or the likes if he wants to keep commute down (whihc was also written by the OP).

Don't Suggest ???? So a One Hour commute from a Three Hour commute ( I do it every day bar Sunday ) is NOT keeping the commute down ??

Who are you, the thought police?

FYI -- Past 11 is still OK for the MTR, even for us country folk. Mini buses run from the MTR station when the trains run ... WOW .. go figure .. integrated transport for us country folk as well.

[Cho-man]

Given the high cost of accommodation in HK an accommodation allowance would be great.
!

Oh heck, that makes all the difference in the world given the sky high cost of housing in this town. I wish I had it when I first came to HK, but alas, I have to pay it out of my own pocket. That sure put a damper on my purchasing power in my first few years in HK.

As for the OP, another thing not yet mentioned here is the climate. HK summers are long, hot and humid, quite a contrast from the comfortable and temperate oceanic climate of London. Get ready to endure unpleasant stickiness and sweat a ton in the summer. Also we occasionally get typhoons, most likely in the summer and fall (it would seldom hit directly in the city-although that does happen), which can range anywhere from breezy and rainy but otherwise unremarkable day to full-on hurricane force winds, building damage and disruption to work and traffic.

The winters are more pleasant, temperature-rise. It is also drier with much less rain than summers (and on occasions, surprisingly chilly despite not snowing in HK), but it can be rather polluted, as the winter monsoon blows the pollutant-laden air from the mainland down to the city.