Moving to HK - Second Time Around

Hi all :-)


So...I'm looking for some advice on moving back to Hong Kong..it's my second time around and my circumstances are different.


Where to start..

I lived and worked in Hong Kong 3 years ago now, worked as a TEFL teacher for over 2 years, Hong Kong side. I really enjoyed the work, the money was good enough to live comfortably off but alas I decided to go home because of family issues, which thankfully look alot better now.


So 3 years have flitted past and my fiance and I find ourselves back in Ireland (our homecountry) partially unemployed and wanting to move to somewhere more vibrant where finding a job is not so difficult (things are really bad here due to the recession).


After much discussion we have boiled it down to Canada..and Hong Kong. HK has won, largely because I can return to the language centre I worked for in HK so that means at least one of us has a job.


We're planning to be married by the time we move to HK (about a year off) so my first question is to do with my then to be husband's right to work. I will hopefully be sponsored by my employer (no issues with sponsorship when I worked for them previously). Will this mean my husband will be entitled to stay on in HK with me and take up work? Obviously he will also be looking toward securing legal employment either way. I am an artist and have both a masters and a bachelors degree and have worked previously as TEFL teacher so either way I'm optimistic about finding a job and as I say have my old job to go back to as a failsafe. My hubbie to be is a bit younger than me, does not have a degree but has worked fairly solidly for the last two years in the bar/hospitality industry here, specifically in the security end of that trade. He has great people skills and has also done some volunteer work with youth groups and bits of acting/drama. I'm hoping to help him find a job teaching English too as this was a good start for me the first time around and brought in a steady income fast. I know without a degree it'll be more difficult but am hoping if he's entitled to work under my visa this might make things a bit easier?


The second question is where to live!?

I lived in Tin Hau the first time around, loved it...liked that it still had a very 'local' feel to it, and although I liked Mid levels and Central I preferred Tin Hau. I've heard rents have sky-rocketed again...this does daunt me, but to be honest we live in Dublin, Ireland, and on low incomes rent here is crazy! They are on the increase despite recession, but thats the cost of living in a capital city. We're under no illusions about the expense of living somewhere like HK but still believe a new start, somewhere so far from home where we can at least make enough money to save a little and enjoy the simple things in life is prefereable to rip-off Ireland!

So..in regards to renting budgeting 12,000-13,000 hkd a month (yeah I know it's small) I am thinking about North Point, Sheung Wan or maybe Kowloon Side..TST or Yau Ma Tei maybe? Any suggestions? I like to jog and walk, also like to be near shops..I also don;t mind older apartment blocks..they do seem to have bigger apartments. There's still a tonne of HK I haven't explored!

Thank you's in advance :-)

Thanks for the reply @beancurd. Believe it or not rents in HK are very similar to what rental prices are in the capital here :-O I've been looking online and indeed it'll be no fun finding decent accomadation, but as you say transport is amazing and cost of food and amenities compared to where we live now is relatively cheap.

If you are considering New Territories, you may consider village houses at Tai Wai or Shatin. Transport is very convenient; going to HK island within 45mins, just one stop with MTR to Kowloon side. Air pollution is minimal. Many expats live here, there are education centres with expats teaching english to primary and high school students. Cost of food is a lot cheaper than in HK island. Environment is generally quiet, you can do your jogging along the Shun Mun River. In terms of shopping, there is a big shopping mall in Shatin, you may find almost everything to suit your daily needs.