Posted by
michtan
18 yrs ago
Hi everyone,
Moving from Singapore to Hong Kong. Need to do a little research over here. Your feedback is very much of a great help.
1. Any recommended international school/kindergarten?
2. Where are most of the expat living as in which area?
3. How to bring my domestic helper with me to Hong Kong? What are the procedures?
Please support our advertisers:
Good points... but I dont think it wl be easy for you to bring your helper at the time you entry Hong Kong. It might be easier you and your family come to Hong Kong first and then thru an employment agency you employ your helper and get her here through the normal domestic helper procedure.
Please support our advertisers:
As Islandhopper says it depends a lot on your budget and lifestyle.
1. Any recommended international school/kindergarten?
Kindy. There are plenty. Woodland has good ones scattered about.
Other schools. There's plenty of choice here too. Canadian International, HK Academy, French International. English Schools Foundation, Swiss German, HKIS just to mention some of the usual suspects.
2. Where are most of the expat living as in which area?
"Kid friendly" off Island (i.e. longer commute to Central): Sai Kung, Disco Bay.
"Kid friendly on Island": Repulse Bay, Stanley, some of Pok Fu Lam, some of Cyberport, Shouson Hill, Tai Tam, Parkview.
"Like to go out friendly on Island": Midlevels
"Traditionally exclusive": The Peak.
Note that the above are very rough classifications. It depends a lot on which schools you want, pram friendliness, proximity to the beach, proximity to grocery stores, townhouse/apartment/house, etc.... In any case if you do live on the Island (except perhaps the further reaches of the Eastern end) any other place on the Island is reasonably close for commute/school bus.
Please support our advertisers:
Ed
18 yrs ago
FYI http://www.asiaxpat.com/movingquote/
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks for all the information...
We will be working in Central and bringing over 3 kids age 4,3 and 5 months. My main concern is looking for a more children environment friendly area. Off island is pretty a good choice but travelling to central could be quite a haste. An agent recomend Gold Coast off island & North Point on island. What are the reviews for this 2 places?
Any ideal getting a maid from a agency in Hong Kong is faster than bringing mu current maid to Hong Kong? Looks like is pretty troublesome to handle all the paper work!
Please support our advertisers:
"An agent recomend Gold Coast off island & North Point on island. What are the reviews for this 2 places?"
In my opinion North Point is a bad option. Quite polluted and crowded. Very much "in the middle of the city" feel. The only redeeming quality is the proximity to Victoria Park. If you are looking "kid friendly" on the Island I would avoid the northern side facing the harbor.
It really depends on the budget.
- Lower budget options: Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport, Tai Tam
- Higher budget options: The Peak, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Shouson Hill
Please support our advertisers:
yes, North Point is not really that nice (sorry, dont mean to hurt anyone's feeling, in case you live there). Gold Coast - no been but hear it is lovely but it is ideed off the Island, hence commute.. Depends on your budget, agree with axptguy except Tai Tam - same as Stanley.. so..
Lower budget: Pok Fu Lam and Cyberport - a lot of expats and some green spaces for kids to run around,
A bit higher: Stanley, Tai Tam, Repulse bay, Shouson Hill - all very nice, close to beach
As for Peak - it is expensive but I personally dont think it is that kid-friendly...
I think you need to get here and have a look for yourself really
Please support our advertisers:
Idsllvn is spot on about the Peak. There are some very nice places but it's even hillier than the rest of HK so any stroller pushing will be a struggle with steep slopes and narrow/non-existent sidewalks. Also note that the Peak is quite cloudy in winter. As in clouds at ground level. Same with Parkview to a certain extent.
I guess he/she is right about Tai Tam. I got the feeling you got a bit more for your money than Stanley, but probably you'd end up paying the same as he/she says.
Cyberport is as mentioned an option, but the whole Bel-Air complex is the epitome of mass living. Nice mass living, mind you, but not for everyone.
A note about agents. If I asked for "close to the beach", I don't think it meant the same thing to me as it does to them. They would happily show me stuff on Repulse Bay Rd which was almost up at Wong Nai Chung Gap, claiming that it was "in Repulse Bay". While technically, it may be, I don't see a 25 minute walk down a steep hill to the beach as being "in Repulse Bay".
Moral of the story: Use http://www.centamap.com/gc/home.aspx (press "English") and buy a Hong Kong Guidebook (map book), and try to take a 10 minute walk around any place you look at.
Please support our advertisers:
ltxhk
18 yrs ago
North Point: I think the agent did not mean North Point central, but rather "the hill" or Braemar Hill. This area is above the "city" area of North Point, and is green with spacious flats. Many flats have a view of the city/ harbour at about 30% off from the mid-levels and south side. Very nice large public park with lots of green, athletic fields, and grocery stores within walking distance. Buses etc to Central and Causeway Bay. Several good international schools including Chinese International and Quarry Bay (ESF) within walking distance. I have never lived here, but know many families on a budget similar to or less than Pokfulam residing in Braemar Hill quite happily.
Please support our advertisers:
Yeah agreed North Point can be quite nice as long as you live up on the Hill. I used to live at the end of Tin Hau Temple road which is just up the hill from downtown North Point, nice area with greenery, close to two international primary schools a supermarket and still only 10-15 minutes away from central.
Please support our advertisers:
Pretty keen in finding a place at Pokfulam since this area is highly recommended plus i managed to locate some schools that are nearby. Any ideal how convenient is the area. i.e. supermarket etc...
Please support our advertisers:
Depends on where in Pok Fu Lam. Some places are quite nice. Some less. Deffo convenient for commute to Central.
Please support our advertisers:
michtan - Pok Fu Lam is very popular with expats, indeed good schools around, you do have to remember that it is very hard to get into good schools. If you company has a debenture, that would help. Best way really is to come out here and look around yourself to figure out where you want to live.
Please support our advertisers:
Visited Hong Kong today. 'Headache'... Yes, most school need debenture and are difficult to get. Agent recommended place like Olympic and Lai Chi Kok... Not too bad. Looking out for schools before deciding. Any recommendation of good school/kindergarten nearby?
Please support our advertisers:
merm
18 yrs ago
If you work in Central, Olympic and Lai Chi Kok aren't the best options.
Please support our advertisers:
"Pretty keen in finding a place at Pokfulam since this area is highly recommended plus i managed to locate some schools that are nearby."
BTW even if the school is in Pok Fu Lam it's no problem living on South Side, Midlevels etc. The school commute isn't that long.
Please support our advertisers:
Why don't you try Park Island. Absolutely awesome for families and kids and only 20 minutes to Central by ferry. Lots of families and more and more expats every day. Buses pick up at the Central ferry Pier for schools or at Tsing Yi Station and only a 15 minute ride for my daughter who goes to school in Kowloon Tong. Everybody that comes out to PI loves it but most have never heard of it. Super safe for kids, relaxing and relatively fresh air as there are no cars on the Island....just another option to look at.
Please support our advertisers:
thanks to everyone that contributed. finally decided to stay at lai chi kok... praying for everything to be smooth and easy.
Please support our advertisers:
Way To Go Kowloon! It's time to open up on the Island Head Mentality
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail