GUIDE TO LIVING AND WORKING IN HONG KONG
Living in Hong Kong
Housing
When ex-pats first arrive in Hong Kong, the vast majority end up taking an apartment in either Mid-Levels or Happy Valley.Mid-Levels is located directly above the Central district, which is where most of the leading law firms are based, and is therefore very convenient for work. One can easily, and cheaply, get a taxi or a bus to the office and it will take little more than five minutes.
Alternatively, it is just as easy to use the Mid-Levels escalator that runs from Central up to Conduit Road, although even just standing there in a suit can be warm work in the height of summer.
In addition to its convenience for work, Mid-Levels will be home to many of your friends and work colleagues and it is close to the Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai areas, where you are likely to find yourself after work on a Friday night.
Happy Valley is perhaps most famous for its racecourse, which is undoubtedly one of Hong Kong's more famous sights. However, it is a big residential area, popular with ex-pats and greener than Mid-Levels. The inside of the racetrack provides a pleasant park area that is popular with joggers and roller-bladers. Generally the area has quite a nice community feel to it, with plenty of good shops and restaurants. To get to Central involves a twenty minute bus ride at rush hour.
One down side with both Mid-Levels and Happy Valley is that they are both relatively expensive areas. Even though both are still well within the rental budget of even a junior lawyer, there are plenty of cheaper options. In general terms, with certain notable exceptions, the further away from Central you are, the cheaper the rent. Popular alternatives amongst ex-pats include Lamma Island and Discovery Bay, on Lantau Island, which is a particular favourite for those with young families. Regular high speed ferries connect these outlying islands with Hong Kong and ensure that you can combine the quality of island life, with the fast pace of the city.
Social Life
Most ex-pats here seem to have a very active social life. There are excellent restaurants with foods from far and wide and no shortage of bars and clubs. In addition there are a whole host of private sports and social clubs, such as the Hong Kong Football Club, the Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Cricket Club. These places have fantastic amenities, including restaurants and bars as well as first-rate sports pitches and other facilities.Hong Kong is famous for its shopping and there are certainly no shortage of markets, malls and other places to wander around with wallet in hand. Less well known is the fact that the SAR has a wealth of beautiful countryside and numerous spectacular walking trails.
Many of the bigger law firms here have their own junks and these are usually available for professional staff to use. Evening jaunts to a seafood restaurant and weekend trips to a beach for a bit of waterskiing are commonplace.
The Region
Hong Kong's international airport, Chek Lap Kok, is extremely user friendly and easily reached from Central. As a result, it is common for people to take advantage and fly off on Friday evening for a couple of days on a South East Asian beach before returning on Sunday evening ready for work on Monday. Alternatively, a city break to Bangkok, Manila, Singapore or even Jakarta is just as easy.The ease of such weekend breaks together with the number of public holidays means that living in Hong Kong provides a great opportunity to explore the region and its many fascinating areas and attractions.
Cost of Living
Hong Kong is not a cheap place to live. However, it is not anywhere near as expensive relative to income as it was even five years ago.When the salary levels payable here and the low tax-rate are taken into account, lawyers with international firms in Hong Kong are generally very well off. As well as living a very good life with plenty of lavish holidays, most manage to save significant sums in a relatively short period of time.
