Moving to HK need lots of advice

Hi, we are from the UK, my partner has been offered a secondment to HK and we are looking to accept. We have three children 13 (boy), 10(girl) and 2(boy). We are hoping to visit HK in the (UK) May half term week 26th -30th to check things out and would love to meet up for a quick coffee and chat with any expat mums with children of the same age, to enable us to get some answers to the hundres of questions we have. I have learnt lots from this site but would love to speak to anyone in person. Especially to alleviate any worries my teenage son has i.e. making friends, after school stuff, going out at weekends etc. Also are there any clubs for us mums to join to make friends whilst kids are at school and partner at work. I love going to the gym, running, sports etc. and any kind of socialising. We are looking to live around Clearwater Bay area. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Ali

Just sent you a reply on practical, but would add that I definately recommend Clearwater Bay/Sai Kung, have been out this way for 5 years, wouldn't live anywhere else in HK.

There are lots of opportunities to meet other Mums. Womens' clubs like the American Womens and the YWCA. Given that your are active you might like to join a hiking group - great way to keep fit and meet people. Surprisingly HK is full of Hiking trails and it is a very popular activity.

Because of the huge expat population here, lots of people are also recent arrivals and looking for new friends, so if you make an effort meeting friends is quite easy.

There are alot of expat families living Southside on HK island - and there are a number of ESF schools there - although schools can be hard to get into so as soon as you know where you are going to live you need to get their names down.

Happy to get together for a coffee - but I don't have older kids - only 2 under 6 years.

We have been here less than 2 years so still learning ourselves!

Thanks to all your replies and info. Didn't mean to make assumptions about where we will live but after reading many many comments on so many different ex pat sites, it sounds like we would favour CB area most. We don't live in a city in the UK but out in a more rural area. No high rise, lots of open space etc. However i'll keep an open mind until out trip in May. I am really worried that we won't have enough time to get the children in a school before summer holidays begin. We are not due to come out until early August so have to really make a decision after our May trip about where to live etc. If we apply to the schools after this trip how quickly we will find out if they have been accepted or not? With regard to marriage issue, we had already planned to get married March 2008 before the secondment came about, now we are planning to come home to do it. Do we need a dependent visa to come over. My partners company (HSBC) is dealing with everything and they have not said this would be an issue. My partner is half Chinese (Born in the UK) and already has dual nationality.

Thank you all for your replies. I will take it all on board. We will check with my partner's work regarding the marriage and visa issues and act accordingly. So many things to think about and so little time, they want us to go in 11 weeks, but i'm sure it will all work out fine.

Thanks again

Ali

Ali66


Sorry, I'm about to rain on your parade...


From the experience of friends and acquaintances, I would suggest that you start your school search today. Start phoning ESF schools to get information about waiting lists. Download the applications and get all the documents ready. Then find a local address, apply for the kids' ID cards, and submit your school applications when you are here in May.


I know a woman who practically camped out in the office at an ESF school in order to get her son into the school.


Another family has just returned home after 6 frustrating months here. The main reason for leaving was that no matter what they did, they could not get their son into Primary/Year 6. CB ESF refused to take him as there are too many kids in Secondary 1/Year 7 intake next year. They offered him a Year 7 place this year, but as he is a little guy who was just in Year 5 in their home country, they didn't accept this unusual offer.


Another Mom (a teacher in a local school) cannot find a primary 1 place for her adopted daughter - who has right of abode in HK. As they don't speak Cantonese at home, local schools are out, and English-speaking schools (ESF, international and private) won't give the Mom any help.



It is illegal to home school in HK, but apparently it happens because families cannot get their kids into a school or cannot afford the fees.


In addition: with 2-3 chldren, I'd want the company to pay an education allowance plus all the extras - bus fee, lunch fee, all the tours and trips and extra lessons as you wouldn't want your child to be the ONLY one in class to not have the opportunity to do whatever.


Gosh, this is a negative post, but I hope that you can have some sense of the reality of trying to get foreign children into a school in HK.


I guess a good thing I could say is that it's even harder at this time of year to get a child into a "good" international school! We helped friends do that for 2 children last year and they ended up having to accept two different schools in two different parts of HK - luckily for them the parents have pots of money!

Thanks aemom, will take your advice and get on with the details today.

regards

Ali

It isn't strictly illegal to homeschool in HK, I've known several people to do it. But you are supposed to apply to the Education authority for permission and they will look to see if you have valid reasons. But ali66, remember that as a native English speaker moving from England you will be given priority on any ESF waiting lists.