Looking for apartment that is less-expensive and with good International schools

[elixir.sg]

Thanks so much for your response, really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by hkexpat

We used the corporate entry last year. Your cOmpany would need to Pay a non- refundable deposit for this type of entry.
Give the ESF a call as last year it was only an option until 30/6.

I hope this deposit is that HK$10,000 and other is Refundable Capital Levy of HK$ 25000, will confirm with school in a short while.

Yes you need to Pay the 25k deposit to ESF and the school fees at the start. The deposit is re-paid when u leave the school.

Sorry I didnt get you, what do you mean by re-paying the deposit? Do you mean that school refunds this deposit (Capital Levy) when kid leaves the school?

On the apartment side we also stayed in a hotel initially. You are expected to pay 2 months deposit & 1st months rent at the get go + half of the estate agents fees.
We managed to secure an apartment and Move in that time.

Ah! that's a lot of money for settling down......didn't knew about the estate agents fees part here.

How easy it is to find the apartment by yourself in HK, is there any website or newspaper from where we can get ads like For Rent By Owner, so that we can save on agent's fees? And how does apartment leasing works, can we directly go to the apartment's leasing office and inquire about vaccant property?

HK island is a lot more convenient for international schools. You will need to be in the right zone area for school & bus.
School starts at 8:15am - 2:40pm at all ESF primary schools.

[elixir.sg]

Originally Posted by hkexpat

In my near 12 mths in HK - there's no way our landlord would allow us to break our lease early. So I guess it's dependent on the individual landlord. You also have a lot of mOney at stake. 2 months deposit etc.
As Part of the deal the landlord changed the lock on moving day. I highly recommend that, as a work colleague got " broken into" on Discovery Bay twice while they were working - using the door key. He only then changed the locks.

Thanks hkexpat :-) for your reply and advise on getting the locks changed, never thought about this as never asked any one in US to change the locks before move-in.

[JWilliamson]

Well in my case I never had a problem with theft in USA or Hong Kong but changing or even better ADDING a lock seems like a good idea.

[elixir.sg]

Hi friends,

I have these two clause in my offer letter, and I need help from seniors here on these 2 clauses -
1) Kids Education Fee
The company agrees to pay you a monthly fee for your kids education in HK. This is an unchangeable amount used as subsidy under the budget of HKD7,000.00, no matter how many kids you have now or in future.

Please help me understanding the above statement.
Does this mean that I will only get HKD 7000.00 if I produce the monthly tuition fees bill from school or does this mean that I will get paid HKD 7000.00 regardless of bills/ invoice? Let's say if I don't get school for my kid this year, and I opt for home-schooling for current year, company will not pay me HKD 7000.00 or let's say I don't move my kid in HK till mid-term admissions begin and supposedly he joins school after November then company will start paying HKD 7000.00 from then onwards only?


2) Relevant MPF and individual income tax is subject to your responsibility. Monthly salary will be paid to you by credit transfer directly into your bank account in Hong Kong. (During the first year in HK, MPF-Mandatory Provident Fund is allowed not to be
paid by both parties, but it's up to you).


Company is not required to pay any % of MPF in HK?
And I don't need to pay MPF during first year of my stay in HK?
How much % of salary is gone towards MPF per month?


Kindly help me with these two points as I have 48 hrs to confirm the offer.

Thanks all for your help so far.

[Mtrliving]

Try this website for schools : h t t p : / / w w w .chsc.hk/psp/main.php?lang_id=1]PSP2011

Remove the spaces in the url above to work.

MPF is required by law to be contributed by employer and employee on a 50/50 basis with maximum contribution of hk$1000 per party per month. Might clarify with your employer if they would give you cash instead if you choose not to contribute to the fund, which belongs to you.

The contractual terms be best clarified with your employer as they may not standard terms.