Living and Working in Hong Kong: The Complete Practical Guide to Expatriate Life in China's Gateway

337 Pages·2008·11.64 MB·English

by  Rachel Wright

LIVING AND
WORKING IN
HONG KONG
To Nin, with my love
Please send for a free copy of our latest catalogue to:
Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road, Begbroke,
Oxford OX5 1RX, United Kingdom
LIVING AND
WORKING IN
HONG KONG
THE COMPLETE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO
EXPATRIATE LIFE IN CHINA’S GATEWAY
RACHEL WRIGHT
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Contents
Notes xi
Acknowledgements xi
Preface xv
Introduction: Why Come to Hong Kong? xvii
PART ONE: LIVING IN HONG KONG 1
1 The Reality of Life in Hong Kong 3
Challenges and opportunities for Hong Kong 3
Expatriate lifestyles 4
Pick a lifestyle 5
Unemployed or ‘trailing’ spouses or partners 6
2 The Cost of Living 11
Main costs 11
Other costs 11
3 Arriving at the Airport 15
Visitor information and help 15
Money 15
Shops and restaurants 15
Lugage 15
Acomodation 16
Medical 16
Washroom and nursing facilities 16
Other facilities 16
Transport connections 16
Airport Express trains 16
Airport buses 17
Taxis 17
Limousines 18
Feries 18
4 Getting Around 21
Trains 21
Buses 24
Feries 25
Trams 26
v
v i / C O N T E N T S
Taxis 26
Elevated walkways 29
Driving 29
5 Accommodation 39
Finding a home 39
Popular neighbourhoods 40
Searching for a property 46
Renting a property 48
Other options 49
Short-term hotel accommodation 51
Utilities 56
Pets 59
Life in your new home 61
Removals companies 63
6 Food 65
Local delicacies 66
Afternoon teas, tea buffets and tea sets 69
Street snacks 70
Sandwiches 71
Drinks stalls 71
Coffee shops 71
Tea shops 72
Fast food 72
Restaurants 74
Dining locales 76
Take-away/home delivery 79
Halal/Kosher restaurants 80
Vegetarian and vegan restaurants 80
7 Shopping 83
QTS shops 83
Mals 83
Shops 84
8 Having and Raising Children in Hong Kong 111
Pregnancy and childbirth 112
Babysitters/nannies/full-time help 115
Adopting a child 117
Registering your baby’s birth and obtaining a passport 118
Schols 18
C O N T E N T S / v i i
Leisure activities and extra-curricular classes for children 123
Places to take kids 126
9 Health 135
Environmental safety 135
Food labelling 139
Infectious diseases 140
Drugs 141
Health insurance 142
Hospitals and GP services 142
Specialists 143
Stres 145
Counselling services 146
Alternative and complementary health 147
Physical fi tness 148
Spa and beauty 149
Facial surgery and invasive treatments 151
10 Money 153
Part of the plan 153
Banks 154
Money changers 157
Financial planning 157
Investments and saving 159
Financial news and education resources 161
11 Society 163
Crime 163
Religions 163
The political system 164
12 Marriage and Bereavement 167
Mariage 167
Bereavement 168
PART TWO: WORKING IN HONG KONG 169
13 Work 171
Business environment 171
Expatriate employment sectors 172
Requirements 172
Visas 173
Job search 175
v i i i / C O N T E N T S
Employment contracts 177
Tax 179
Setting up a company 180
Banks 183
Setting up an offi ce 183
Government support for businesses 184
IT infrastructure 186
Chambers of commerce 187
Other business clubs and networking organizations 188
14 Professional Women in Hong Kong 191
Stories 192
Support organizations 195
15 English Language Teaching 199
Trends in English teaching in Hong Kong 199
Do I need to be qualifi ed to work as an English teacher in
Hong Kong? 200
Salary and work visas 200
Employment sectors 202
16 Professional Development 207
Executive and life coaching 207
Undergraduate and postgraduate studies 207
Continuing education 208
Training 208
Language courses 209
General short courses for self-development 210
17 Volunteering 213
Animal welfare 213
Conservation 214
Counselling and support 214
International humanitarian 214
Local issues 215
Youth 215
PART THREE: LEISURE IN HONG KONG 217
18 The Local Arts Scene 219
Arts festivals 219
Classical music concerts 220
Pop concerts 220
C O N T E N T S / i x
Jazz 221
Dance 21
Theatre 21
Major performance venues 222
Film 23
Chinese cultural activities 223
European cultural activities 223
Visual arts 224
Browsing art galleries 224
Boks 25
19 Sports 227
Sporting events 227
Sports clubs and associations 227
Private sports and social clubs 233
Golf 234
20 Interest Groups 237
Asian interest 237
Friends of the arts 237
Amateur theatre groups 238
Choirs 238
Film buffs 239
Writers 239
Others 239
Women’s clubs 239
Country associations 240
University alumni associations 241
21 Classes 243
General interest 243
Antiques 243
Coking 24
Cosmetics-making 24
Dance 245
Flower arranging 245
Jewellery and glass 246
Languages 246
Painting and fi ne arts 246
Potery 247
Music 248
Photography 248