My parents are worried about the nuclear plants (close to HK), and also with fears of "riots" and health issues in HK, and are therefore quite worried for me to move to HK with my partner. My partner is currently working in HK and I'm in Auckland, New Zealand.
I'm pretty sure I'm old enough to decide for myself, if my parents are reluctant to let me move back, how shall I come up with a good compromise?
What would you adivce, what should I look out for?
I was born in HK, but grew up in NZ.
Your advice is appreciated, thanks :)
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A huge concern here is the pollution. It is horrendous!
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I'm 26 :)
Thanks for your replies.
My parents are currently worried about the nuclear plants in ShenZhen, approx 50 kms away from HK. And with health concerns- that would be air pollution.
Parents were raised in HK, but after moving to NZ they can only stay for 2 weeks max while holidaying in HK and would complain if any longer. So I guess their "concerns" revolve around that and their views would be bias.
I guess I really would need to see for myself, I holiday in HK normally, but the move would be different. Will probably visit during summer for a month or so and take it from there :)
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Cara: I know, it seems a bit ridiculous doesn't it? I guess I was brought up in a pretty traditional family. I tend to think about what my family thinks too much. I think now is the time to stop and start thinking for myself as it is, my life.
Time to be brave and start thinking about my life on my own.
I really appreciate your advice, thank you :)
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First off, it is your life. If your parents don't like your choices, do listen to their concerns and take them into consideration. But make your own choices based on the data you have. You can't live your entire life doing what they want. It's not healthy.
- Nukes. Overall, nuclear plants are way cleaner than oil or coal and kill far far fewer people each year, even counting accidents like Fukushima (no deaths yet btw) and Chernobyl. The reason the Japanese plants have this problem is that there was the fifth most powerful earthquake in recorded history followed by a massive tsunami. Pretty unlikely chain of events in any case, and one which could not happen in Shenzhen. Don't worry about it. Personally I wish there were more nukes and fewer oil/coal plants. Coal power especially is nasty stuff and kills thousands each year (probably tens of thousands) in everything from mining accidents to pollution related deaths.
- Safety. There have been no riots since the 60s. HK is one of the safest large cities in the world. A single woman can walk alone at night pretty much anywhere and be perfectly safe.
- Health issues. HK has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Health care, both public and private, is on par with any other developed country. The big health concern is pollution, which is relatively bad.
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Cara: that's actually for a friend- I just copied and pasted what she wanted me to ask on a forum and I couldn't edit it for some reason.
I'm not expecting, she is.
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Hi,
I have visited both Auckland and HK for a couple of weeks each - in terms of safety I would say there is not much in it with the exception of the pollution (HK is much worse). This can be reduced by living in New Territories or an outlying island although in winter you will still probably get it quite bad.
If anything I felt more at ease walking through HK at 1am that I did in Auckland at 11pm. There can be incidents as Pippa points out but this happens in any society but both NZ and HK are safe in the most part.
Nuclear power - agree with other comments the relative risk is extremely low compared to long term effects of coal plants. It in the unlikely event anything happens you can get out of HK.
Riots ??? Let us remind ourselves that HK has a democratic system and fairly open to western ideas and thus can not see what riots can break out.
The only other concern maybe cyclones however HK has an excellent early warning system that keeps risk down.
It seems that it maybe your parents wanting you to stay close. For instance would they allow you to live in the UK which statistically poses more hazards to safety?
Obviously the end choice is with you. Good Luck
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matt_UK, riots happen in western democracies countries all the time. ;)
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>hello people....i had to stop reading that link as i was laughing my a** off at work...i musta looked like a lunatic...thanks for that! (the rant on eating habits especially)
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HK is extremely safe. Women can walk around safely at night . The biggest threat to your health is pollution and there is always the chance of a revolution in China, i suppose, but that doesn't look likely (at least in the near future). Re: nuclear. There are nuclear plants all over the world - especially in France. The one in Daya Bay - near Shenzhen - is 50km away. It's a French reactor and China Light and Power (a well-established HK company) is a major shareholder. Hong Kong is not in an earthquake zone. Any one worried abou fall-out from the Japanese reactor in HK (Aat least 5 hours flying time away) needs their head examining.
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As mentioned above there was a very frightening article in Sunday's South China relating to attacks on western woman. According to the article it was not an isolated incident. Best advice for any women, don't go out on your own in the dark.
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Don't you think that is a bit alarmist? Compared to any other western city where my wife doesn't hesitate to be out alone after dark, Hong Kong is very safe. Just take normal precautions like you would anywhere else.
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No! Not at all! Most females would not have hesitated to go out after dark either, you are quite correct, however, there have been a spate of attacks on women in Central recently, quite horrific for the woman involved. Because HK is generally so safe we don't take precautions like you would anywhere else, anywhere else I would not allow my daughter to go out alone let alone after dark. I do here. I certainly won't at the moment until these attacks have been resolved. Take a look at the article.. these woman give their account of the attacks, really dreadful.
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Cara, I'm sure the women that had to endure these heninous assaults did not feel that they had targets painted on them, and I'm sure they were aware of their surroundings they were in Mid Levels. Of course this type of crime is not prevalent here as in Western Countries, it is totally unexpected here which makes it all the more shocking.
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Take extra care in midlevels until the police have cracked these crimes. Could you explain Cara what you mean by walking around with a target painted on you.
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Take extra care in midlevels until the police have cracked these crimes. Could you explain Cara what you mean by walking around with a target painted on you.
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&&&
14 yrs ago
I personally know of 1 young woman attacked in Midlevels. She was a moving target.
It was 2 am last summer. She was using the tunnel near Caritas (personally don't know where exactly. But many midlevels residents know it). She was wearing flipflops. Long hair in pony tail. Talking on a new iPhone (not paying attn to her surroundings. And Iphone is seen). Violated all the cardinal rules of being careful.
She was accosted by a person on drugs.........
She was OK because a male friend ran from his apt nearby whom she was on the phone with, while accosted. He beated the sxxx out of the guy who was promptly arrested. Iphone was smashed. She suffered bruises all over the body, but nothing permanent except the lesson.
Yes, she was stupid in not being vigilant. Midlevels after dark is quiet and not as safe as you think.
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Cara, I can compare to the UK & feel MUCH safer here. You're right though, you need your street smarts in any big city, including HK.
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