*****awayfromhome?? re: living in Hong Kong*******

[berthablatherwick]

Hi. I've been lurking for a while now and thought you might be the person to ask for advice! Have posted this on Living overseas as well.

My husband has just been offered a job in Hong Kong for 18 months. I've got a 2 year old and and pregnant with No.2, due in November and are unsure as to whether it would be a good move at this stage.

Any advice on childbirth/rearing there? Easy to get on board with a doctor in late stages do you think? Have lived as an expat in Asia pre-kids (Malaysia). Also, the cost of living...they've offered to cover the accommodation costs. What about access to foreign food/supplies?!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

A few years ago I worked in a company with a HK office. Accommodation is the biggest additional cost. Everyone (even singles) has a maid. There is a big ex-pat community, and I know of one man who took his young family there with no qualms.

I always found HK a bit claustrophobic - people seem to love it or hate it. If you know and like HK, then I think it would be a good move.

I haven't been there before...lived in Sarawak for a year but I can't imagine it being anywhere close to that...Singapore might be my nearest comparison!

The getting out factor with a double buggy in the crowds is a concern as I know how crowded and pushy it probably is. And the cost of having a baby there as we don't have medical insurance and I don't imagine travel insurance will cover it.

Thanks for your input.

PS: Sorry to temporarily hijack your thread, ladies...can i join?!

Due November 4th. One DS aged 22 months.

I have just been to Singapore - HK seems much smaller, more intense, with more very high tower blocks. However I was on business trips in each case. I think the people with families lived on the far side of the island (Repulse Bay), which was very different.

The company might cover medical insurance as well. Search for somethng like "hong kong expat package" to see what you can get.

berthablatherwick

Exciting news..

HK can get a bit claustrophobic, but I loved it. We lived in Repulse Bay, which is great for families and away from the pollution in Central.

There are very good doctors who will take you at any stage of pregnancy - although you will need medical insurance as part of your package - make sure that it covers pregnancy as it is very expensive if you go private. If you don't have insurance you can have the baby at the local hospitals (there is still a charge although nothing like the private charges), I believe that these are very good as well - I just never investigated this.

The cost of renting is very high - so it is good that that is covered. Most of the the main supermarkets have lots of English stuff in fact the one I used to use carried loads of Waitrose meats etc - there are also lots of US foods available. Food from these stores isn't particularly cheap - but having returned to the UK I don't think that I spend that much less on food here during my weekly shop. All of the supermarkets carry a really good range of both local and imported foods.

Most people have live in help, I did and really miss her now I am back in the UK!!

See if you can get membership to a club as part of your expat package, as this will really help in making friends and getting out - although it is by no means essential as we didn't have one - but again a lot of expats do.

The top rate of HK tax is 16%, so you can save lots of money especially if your accommodation costs are covered by the company.

I found it a bit tough going at first, but after about 2-3 months met loads of people and now really miss them and Hong Kong. Hope that this helps and good luck with everything