Safety in HK

[alabama]

Hi everyone, just wondering how safe it is in HK for a girl to take public transport/taxi at night time, say 12am, or 1am or even 2am? As I am expecting to be working long hours in my new job, any advice in appreciated :

Is taxis safer or bus?

I also heard that pok fu lam gets really quiet at night time, so I guess it would't be a good place to live for me then>?

[jayinhongkong]

i'll take care of you

[KnowItAll]

Where abouts in Pokfulam are you looking at?

The general rule is that it is a very safe area.... and all rules have that one exception (murphy's law .... )

Overall, HK is pretty safe ... most of the time the criminal elements tend to ignore the expats. (Again.. murphy's law comes to mind)

[jayinhongkong]

I recently found out that British people call Murphy's Law "Sod's Law."

Pokfulam is great, I know a ton of people who live there and I live pretty close. It's very safe and a lot of expats live out there.

[penguinsix]

My first general observation is that you should always be observant, no matter where you are. Who is behind you, what dark corners lie ahead, where is the nearest exit. These don't require a ridiculous level of security and paranoia (i.e. a US airport post-9/11) but just a general ability to observe your surroundings and know your options. Glances and observations, that's all. Don't walk around with your head in the clouds. I generally feel that with that basic level of situational awareness, you'll avoid 99% of the problems you would encounter in almost any place on Earth.

My second observation is that Hong Kong 'feels' very safe. I don't know if it is the number of people around, or the basic general rule that expats are ignored (hey, whatever happened to that guy that got sliced up at the Rugby 7s last year--that was the last major triad attack on a gwailo I think). Basically, you will not get the 'creeps' as much as say walking through the back alleys of Manhattan at night.

Of course, I'm a big white dude in a black leather coat and Terminator shades who scares people when I walk and generates concerned stares from cops who think I'm with the Russian mafia they've heard about on tv, so your mileage may vary.

[dropdedfwed]

i'll take care of you

dude,

i think, collectively, we are trying to re-assure this lady, not scare her off

agree, like all places, keep your eyes open. having been to a few other cities in the world, i feel safer in HK than in some places. even at wee hours of the morning, there is generally a few people around, and cabs are cheap if u want that security too.

just avoid expats offering to be your chaperone...

[jayinhongkong]

haha. yeah hk is pretty safe. sorry, it seemed funny saying that at the time. ok, it still does penguinsix gave you good advice...most people walk around completely oblivious to what's happening around them. penguinsix, you aren't a bouncer, are you? talked to one in lan kwai once who fits your description. lol.

[kirlex]

The only way to get into trouble in HK is if you go looking for it. And statistics say that you have a much, much greater chance of being attacked by someone you know than by a stranger on the street, especially for women.

[cerberus]

yes generally safe here but not as safe as some make it out to be. there are serious incidents of crime and don't forget the statistics aren't as wide open as elsewhere. having said that, safety is sufficiently removed from most people's minds to assure our new poster of her situation in HK. there's really nothing major to worry about, the rule to keep in mind is ignore the many idiots who troll around the streets here, don't get upset at people pushing/staring/pointing etc, don't lose your temper. i found from personal experience that east asians, while generally laid back, once you get them going just fly off the handle, start calling friends to gang up on you and so on. practice common sense, don't be overly trusting in hyperbole (i.e HK's unsafe or totally safe), you'll be fine.

[helles]

i think its good to be a bit scared in the evening, even if its unwarranted, at least it keeps you alert just in case.. i always get a bit jittery leaving my friends to go home.. but i think its good, cos you never what could happen, even though i think hk is a pretty safe city.

anyway, i live in pokfulam, and usually take a taxi home from places like LKF, its relatively cheap and safe and usually i just want to get home as quick as possible after a night out, so taxis are the best form of transport.