Posted by
AlexU
19 yrs ago
Hi All,
I've just verbally accepted a job offer in HKG can you advise the quality of life? I just completed 2 years in India and I'm not lookin for another hardship posting.
Is it interesting and fun or just crowded!!
Also I'm on a local hire contract paying $110,000 USD + 3000GBP is this a fair deal for a managemeny job in HKG. Can I live well???
HELP
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I acutally faced the same dilema before moving here from the US. Many ppl have told me that HK is a third world country and so forth. But I took the chance and never went back even though my origal plan was only staying for one year. This city really grows on you. This city is so modern, diverse and full of contrasting culture that is so different then where I lived in the US. Every weekend I feel like I am having a miniature vacation by just exploring the streets of Hong Kong! The money you will make is OK by HK standard. Many ppl make less and many makes more, but you will live a comfortable life here.
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AlexU
19 yrs ago
Hi, Thanks for the advice. I guess after hiding out for a hotel in India I'm scared to loose another few years. I've been to HKG a few times just found it CROWDED!!. I guess it's closer to home (OZ) than the USA. No kids to worry about however I want my girl who is an Indian to join me. I'm thinking HKG will be more accepting of an Indian and she'll be happier.
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AlexU
19 yrs ago
Hi, Thanks for the advice. I guess after hiding out for a hotel in India I'm scared to loose another few years. I've been to HKG a few times just found it CROWDED!!. I guess it's closer to home (OZ) than the USA. No kids to worry about however I want my girl who is an Indian to join me. I'm thinking HKG will be more accepting of an Indian and she'll be happier.
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Although HK is a diverse city and is very open to other races, please keep in mind that the locals do tend to be a bit discrimate towards africans and south asians, from personal experiences.
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TC
19 yrs ago
One word re your g/f joining you. She will need a visa in her own right. Unmarried relationships do not qualify for a Dependant's Visa in HK. And there are large Indian & Pakistani communiteies here. Good luck.
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I'm trying to figure out why anyone would say HK is a third-world country - besides the fact it's not actually a country!
It's an international city and financial centre with the rule of law.
The World Bank classifies HK as a "high income country" along with USA, Australia and Switzerland. And HK ranks 28th in the world for GDP per capita - New Zealand was 29th and India 135th.
Under the UN's Human Development Index (HDI), which is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide, Hong Kong is 22nd - Singapore is 25th and India is 126th.
Not bad! Heck, we even have flushing toilets!
Unfortunately we don't have a good record on racial discrimination, even people from Mainland China are often discriminated against. There is a bill in the pipeline to stop discrimination but changing peoples' minds can take a long time.
Assuming your 'girl' is not your wife, you should be aware that HK only recognises bona fide marriages for dependant visa applications.
Oh, and you can also by vegemite and timtams here.
Check out the Australia Association and Sundowners (monthly meeting at the Wombat Hole!) if you want to get together with some fellow Aussies. Great social events. Discounts for members at various places around town.
http://www.ozhongkong.com/
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to answer your question, locals discrimate against africans in that they consider them uncivilized savages. The discrimination towards south asians stems from HK's roots of British colonialism where south asians tends to be the bottom class. Local HK dislikes mainlanders due to their lack of education, mannerism and money.
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dvr
19 yrs ago
Alex.... you have a very package there. maybe you should check out www.xe.com to see if you can convert your package into home country's curency and then you you should be able to relax ;). Go on, check it out... some people have the best in the world and they still don't know it...Good luck
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You are absolutly right, the ppl who asked me if HK is 3rd world are my friends from the Midwest (US) who never left their state! I have actually lived in NY and SF and in many ways, California seems more third world compare to HK! IE: San Francisco still uses coin operated parking meters where this is so "third world" here in HK.
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The only place I've drunk the local water and got sick was Sydney...
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AlexU
19 yrs ago
HMMM looks like I'll have get down on one knee to get her to join me... Oh well!
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one thing as an aside in terms of your employment contract is that you might want to see how "local" your contract is. While your salary is good, if you are on a local contract this may means that your annual leave is reduced and your health insurance may not be so crash hot. Just something to ask.
You should be able to find an apartment and live a good lifestyle here.
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clan
19 yrs ago
Take a look at the flats on asia xpat as it'll give you a good idea of how far your money will go. That is always a massive shock to people coming from abroad. It won't be the space that maybe you're used to in Oz but you do get used to it, especially if you want to live close to town. That may not sound so appealing now but seems to be the most popular choice for young couples with no kids....
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SusiCunningham, what does that phrase mean? "...ah cannot"?? I've had a bad run of sinus problems due to pollution, but a Claratin a day keeps the sniffles away.
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AlexU
19 yrs ago
Crunch time I've got a letter of offer to sign...WHAT TO DO?
The annual leave is 25days + HKG holidays is this good? I'm looking into the health insurance. Really torn what to do, kind of smell a rat that the company offering is trying to do it all on the cheap as there is no relocation cost paid no bond on the flat etc. .basicly they are treating me as if i live in HKG already. No a great start and I'm leaving a long term contract position.???
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clan
19 yrs ago
I LOVE HK but it not for everyone. Most packages these days are not great. I am employed as a 'local' and it is gettting tougher to survive. If they are pushing for an answer have you thought about asking for more? Such as housing benefits and a better medical scheme?....that is really your biggest expense seeing as you don't have kids. Have they told you the cost of living here? If you probe and ask them direct questions would they may be more inclined to offer you a more attractive deal or are they being straight with you already? I know people who have come out in the last few years who felt that they didn't get the full picture of how expensive HK can be. If they'd known they may have thought twice.
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aemom
19 yrs ago
I would not make assumptions about any aspect of your employment here. Read the letter of offer carefully and, as suggested by clan, ask questions.
In many countries, 25 days leave would be 5 weeks of Monday to Friday, but this is not always the case in HK. For example, for teachers here, if you are absent on Friday and Monday, then Saturday is counted in your 25 days even though you never teach on Saturdays.
When can you take those 25 days?
Are you expected to work full or half days on Saturday?
What are the daily working hours?
If one of your parents falls ill in Aus, what sort of compassion can you expect?
How much sick leave do you get? Do you have to have a medical cert for every day? If you do, it's easier (and free) to go to work than to get up and dressed to see the doctor.
Good luck in your decision making!
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i am not sure about superannuation schemes in india, but you might also want to consider that in HK, your superannuation (or MPF as it is called her) is not very robust, so you might want to add that into the equations.
Holidays you have been offered are decent, so that is good for you.
You want to look at your notice period too, can be anywhere from one to three months.
I would ask for recolation expenses and the company to pay the bond. they know where you are coming from and that you are not a local hire. If they could hire locally, they would - so i think you have some room to push your luck!
Are you also getting a bonus. A lot of companies offer a 13 month. Might want to ask about that.
Happy negotiating.
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AlexU
19 yrs ago
Well the offer letter didn't touch on Medical or Retirement. I guess they figure i'll sign without thinking WRONG!. I rejected it and asked for mention of probation/termination medical and pension. The work hours are 9 to 6 Mon to Fri with no Over time. Anual bonus is paid. There is no anual flight home. I guess I'm going to work for a cheap company! MAYBE NOT.
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The retirment scheme (MPF) is obligatory if you work in hong kong... so no worries about that... also you need to check if you got any housing allowance, Settlement Allowance, Daily allowance for the first month you stay in hong kong without a salary, housing for the first month since you won't be having a flat when you arrive may be in a hotel or a serviced appartment.... And also the Home Leave Ticket... this is not included in the local packages. And yes 25 Days annual leave is perfect... but as some mentioned, you need to know and make sure if they are working days or calendar days.
If you have no kids to worry about, go for it... what the heck... hong Kong is an experience by itself... you will learn alot... plus the asian working environment is totally different than Western... Here you don't leave sharp at the end of office hours, and you are expected to answer your phone calls any time of the day (Especially if it is a phone number given by your company) ... Again it all depends on what type of job you having...
Discrimination... come on... Australia discrimination towards other races,with all due respect, is high very high. I am Egyptian and white... here they look at your skin, other places they look at your passport and criminal records.. if you know what i mean... :)
I personally took the risk and i am enjoying my stay in hong kong... not intendig to stay all my life here of course... but so far so good... best of luck... cheers!
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you'll either love it or hate it. It is very expensive, the air is horrible in many places, you can't drink the water, sometimes you can not wash in this water, and be careful where you live. I do not recommend low floors they tend to smell like the sewer in HK, even in 'posh' places.
And once again, it's very expensive.....
good luck!
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I think you guys are right about moving flat. Looking into that, not so easy considering lease terms etc.
It makes life pretty unbearable.
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