New Job Offer

luluslair · #1 (**permalink**) 2nd April 2012, 06:25 PM

My husband has been offered a job in Hong Kong, salary 46K GBP p/a free accommodation, relocation package yet to be decided, 1 bed apartment. Is 46K enough for 2 adults to live on out there?

plato413 · #2 (**permalink**) 5th April 2012, 09:02 AM

46GBD p/a is around 46700 HKD per month plus accommodation is not a bad money in HK. What you need to consider is that HK is a very entertaining city and there is LOTS and LOTS of ways to spend money ie shopping, travelling, eating out and going out with friends. My closed friend with his wife is a upper middle class(and both well educated) in HK and their total income is around 55000 HKD per month and their rent is 7000 HKD mounthy, and I can tell you they have just enough money to live, it's all depends on how you spend the money. Also, one bab flat in HK could be very, very, very small.

Hope this help!

luluslair · #3 (**permalink**) 5th April 2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plato413

46GBD p/a is around 46700 HKD per month plus accommodation is not a bad money in HK. What you need to consider is that HK is a very entertaining city and there is LOTS and LOTS of ways to spend money ie shopping, travelling, eating out and going out with friends. My closed friend with his wife is a upper middle class(and both well educated) in HK and their total income is around 55000 HKD per month and their rent is 7000 HKD mounthy, and I can tell you they have just enough money to live, it's all depends on how you spend the money. Also, one bab flat in HK could be very, very, very small.

Hope this help!

Thank you. I intend to work there as well, but have not got a job yet. I am sure i will find work too and i will get a visa through my husbands workplace.
The apartment offered is indeed not the biggest, but we are trying to negotiate with the company on a different location in HK, as we are not sure we want to live smack in the city. Can you recommend any other alternatives, with greenspace as our dog will be travelling with us?

All help is appreciated.

plato413 · #4 (**permalink**) 5th April 2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luluslair

Thank you. I intend to work there as well, but have not got a job yet. I am sure i will find work too and i will get a visa through my husbands workplace.
The apartment offered is indeed not the biggest, but we are trying to negotiate with the company on a different location in HK, as we are not sure we want to live smack in the city. Can you recommend any other alternatives, with greenspace as our dog will be travelling with us?

All help is appreciated.

What I would want you to understand is HK is a very small city with an extreamly high population and the living envirnment is out of the imagination of most people in the world, considering HK is a rich city. You need to prepare for a less comfort living flat in HK almost for sure, even if the company can provide a "bigger" flat for you, it will still be smaller than what you are living now. I cannot recommand any work for you to do as I do not know what your education level and working experience. Greenspace, umm......there are not very many out there in HK I am afraid, and they are very, very, very expensive as well.

Hope this help!

luluslair · #5 (**permalink**) 5th April 2012, 02:55 PM

I do understand the city is densely populated and completely different from any other place. I have travelled a lot in Asia so do realise what it is like.
I merely would like to know where there is nice places to relocate to, and if there is any recommended places to live. I am not looking for a big house or anything like that, I am used to small/flat living and i dont see a problem i am more interested in a nice area to live in, does not necessarily be on HK island.
Due to my dog is coming it would be necessary to have dog allowed green space within walking distance. Which i fully understand is not available on HK island.

dunmovin · #6 (**permalink**) 6th April 2012, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luluslair

I do understand the city is densely populated and completely different from any other place. I have travelled a lot in Asia so do realise what it is like.
I merely would like to know where there is nice places to relocate to, and if there is any recommended places to live. I am not looking for a big house or anything like that, I am used to small/flat living and i dont see a problem i am more interested in a nice area to live in, does not necessarily be on HK island.
Due to my dog is coming it would be necessary to have dog allowed green space within walking distance. Which i fully understand is not available on HK island.

we lived in Yau Yat Tsuen (Kowloon Tong) and then moved to the New territories (Clearwaterbay area) the housing was cheaper, the commute was 10 to 15 minutes longer, but me and the dog could walk down to Little Palm beach, me and my friend could go diving in the shallow waters or mucked around with cannoes, while his friends (all chinese) looked after the dog. Later we would have a bbq, I would help them with english, they taught me cantonese.

The village is called Ng Fai Tin, it's about 5 km from Tsuen Kwan O, but 900 mts from the main road,(up a steep hill, not good for walking on a day with 35C+ and 90% humidity ) plenty of good supermarkets in the area, with good stocks of western/austalian/european foods.

If you don't want to drive, find a good taxi driver ( Mr Lee would arrive at our house, knock on the door and wait for us.... if he was not going to able to pick us up himself, he would send three other drivers, in case the other two were busy, to make sure we got to work on time)

Whatever happens, enjoy your time there. There is a lot of nice people.

luluslair · #7 (**permalink**) 18th April 2012, 06:50 PM

I have now got another update from the company, the housing is in Kowloon area. Not been given exact location as yet. Is kowloon a suitable area for Hank, my JR?

dunmovin · #8 (**permalink**) 19th April 2012, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luluslair

I have now got another update from the company, the housing is in Kowloon area. Not been given exact location as yet. Is kowloon a suitable area for Hank, my JR?

Kowloon area is a very large "spectrum", which could include places from Mong Kok, Kowloon city to Yau Yat Tsuen, Beacon Hill and others.

Do you have to pick a place, before arriving in HK? or will they arrange a hotel/serviced flat while you make a choice?

Look at mtr/kcr rail maps (fastest way to get where you want to go)...driving is resonable outside rush hours, but try doing the Cross Harbour tunnel,at peak times... if the rise in blood pressure doesn't cause a stroke, heart attack or migraine, then the carbon monoxide in the tunnel will get you

( 25 mins from gascoine rd tsim sha tsui, to the toll gate, 15 mins IN the tunnel and then hit the traffic on the island.....I used to dread the times when I was one of the "nominated drivers" for our lawn bowls team and the match was on the island)

Try to get the company to give you a price range, which is very important, as the further away from the island, the more space your rental will get you,(if you don't care about a 30/45 min commute, the size and space you have goes way up) time in a hotel( so you can view places..... You can't pick a house from a webpage, you have to actually see it),

I'm biased, because we had a great place in Clearwater Bay area. We rescued our lovely little dog there, gained friends, both locals and expats. (Adam [ethnic Chinese from Shanghai] would frequently return from a business trip and come to our house, with a bottle......" ohh I was given this... thought you might like it" chivas regal 21 year old malt whisky or Johnnie Walker blue label and would always say, "Willie, thank you for taking the time to to speak to our boys in English..they have to learn"

indian01 · #9 (**permalink**) 23rd April 2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luluslair

My husband has been offered a job in Hong Kong, salary 46K GBP p/a free accommodation, relocation package yet to be decided, 1 bed apartment. Is 46K enough for 2 adults to live on out there?

Congrats on your job-offer. I m sorry to start a thread off-topic, but just small question, what is your husband's job-profile (IT sector)? Intermediary or Senior level?

And what is the best way to manage to get job while living abroad, any pointers for job search will be helpful.

TIA.

Mi2 · #10 (**permalink**) 2nd May 2012, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luluslair

My husband has been offered a job in Hong Kong, salary 46K GBP p/a free accommodation, relocation package yet to be decided, 1 bed apartment. Is 46K enough for 2 adults to live on out there?

We've had a postings in Tokyo and Shanghai....Both times the company recommended blah housing. We balked and got fantastic places by insisting the company show us more options suitable for us. It was extra work for them but still within the original budget....

We've only visited HK but saw many people with small and mid-size dogs on the Island. And there are hiking trails too. For me I would consider the Island for sure.