Moving to Hong Kong end of August - general advice please!

[MDL]

Hi everyone,
We are moving with our young children from London to HK at the end of August. I need to start the daunting task of packing up soon and I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on what to bring and what to leave. Is there anything you wish you had brought more of from home? Anything you wish you had left behind?

Thanks for your help.

We came here so long ago, I've completely forgotten what I missed. The Archers and Eastenders I think, but of course now you can get those (as long as you get UK VPN account when you get here so you can get iplayer.)

Do you know what kind of accommodation you'll be in? Size, area etc. We arrived here with very little - 2 beds and a table if I recall, plus some kitchen stuff and our clothes. That worked for us, as we bought things over the years, which has coincided with us acquiring kids and bigger flats along the way.

If you bring a lot of furniture with you, be sure it will fit in a HK flat. Also, if you like Asian things, you may want to buy some pieces while you are here.

There is Ikea and also places you can get things made. And loads of local stores.

I'm glad we brought the pieces of furniture we treasure plus favourite pictures. I'm sorry we didn't bring any of our wedding presents, which remain in storage 15 years later .... I keep thinking I'll retrieve them but haven't got around to it.

Good luck with the move!

Thanks for your response. We will probably be in a 3 bed flat but not got anything sorted yet. I guess I will bring as much furniture as possible but just wondering if there was anything that was particularly useful to bring that is difficult to get in Hk??
Thanks

The thing is you need to balance the attractiveness of stocking up vs. the size of HK apartments/ storage space. Many people say "oh buy all your kids clothes for the next 3 years and tonnes of towels and bedding because they're much cheaper in the UK" which is true, but you have to put them somewhere in the meantime and some apartments don't have any built in wardrobes.

I struggle to think of anything that you really cannot get here- internet delivery getting better all the time as well.

Electrical items from the UK will work here, so worth bringing
Don't bring heavy duvets as you wont use them. However, you will need some winter clothes.
Not sure how old your kids are, but bearing in mind the size of apartments, be wary about bringing a lot of "big" toys like toy kitchens etc.
If you have big boobs, buy some bras as hard to get in "western" sizes here, as in "Hello madam, you come in. We have really big sizes. Will fit even you" Yeah, thanks.
If you have any treasured antiques/ artwork, maybe consider not bringing them as the humidity doesnt do them any favours

Where are you thinking of living? I looked at about 60 3 bed apartments a few months ago (we just moved) so happy to impart any wisdom on Mid-levels/ Pok Fu Lam

Thanks for the tip - I will stock up on bras!

We have a dilemma about where to live - I think we can get them into a preschool for a year near Aberdeen, Repulse or in DB. After that we need to sort primary schools, which I know will be v difficult, but trying not to stress!

DB has its attractions as it does seem to be very easy for kids and it has good clubs, but the ferry ride and lack of private transport does bother me. We are used to turning up at Clapham Junction any time and getting a train in 2 mins, so it will be a bit of an adjustment having to be on specific ferries!

We did look at some nice flats in Pok Fu Lam when we were out about a month ago. Is there anything to walk to there though? If not, where do all the mums and kids hang out?

Thanks

Yeah, I think DB would be too much of a stretch for me- mainly because unless you can afford to live right by the ferry, the bus/ferry combo would be a PITA when it's really hot/ raining etc. Also, the way they charge extortionate amounts for the permits for those flipping golf buggies sticks in my craw. I do know lots of people who love it there though. It's just not for me.

Re PFL, actually it's probably one of the more pedestrian friendly areas (flat, has pavements), but you're right that there's not a whole lot to do there. There is a public park by Bel-Air, soft play nr the Belchers, and there's Cyberport, but actually, most people "hang out" either in their complexes (Bel-Air is the huge and most luxurious one with great facilities. Scenic Villas and Victoria Gardens are older but also popular, better priced and have pools/ playgrounds), or at their clubs. Alternatively, there are some really well priced University of HK apartments (Tam Towers, High West, Middleton Towers etc) which are a bit retro, but huge - no facilities but you can join the Stanley Ho Sports centre or the Meridian in Cyberport to access pools/ gym etc.

Re mid-levels, if Aberdeen is a pre-school option for you (assume you mean Woodland Harborside/ Wah Fu), then where I live (Bamboo Grove) could work, especially if you want a more urban setting- it's in Mid-levels east, right by the start of Wan Chai. There are tonnes of kids here of all ages, good mix of nationalities, good management. Peak School (ESF) catchment. It isnt as plush or green as Bel-Air but the apartments are bigger and there is traffic-free outside space for kids to ride their bikes/ scooters etc and children can "play out" with friends, without actually being outside the complex, so very safe. Aberdeen looks like a long way on a map, but actually only 20 mins through the Aberdeen tunnel. Similarly, Repulse Bay is do-able from there.

If you have a club membership (so dont care about not having pool in your apartment) then some of the colonial buildings are larger and better priced.

Do you have an agent assigned to you? If not, i can PM you a recommendation.

I would definitely recommend mid levels east along kennedy road if you want to be able to walk around. But its very urban.

For me moving out of London was all about open spaces so pok fu lam and southside work better.

Yes to wedding presents if shipment is paid by the bank. I left all mine at my mothers and 15 years on still regret it. I bring them back item by item every summer now. Tedious.
There are lots of affordable options for furniture here.

Definitely get a uk itunes account/kindle, etc....

And get cracking on the school front the minute you land.

Space will be an issue, so we have ended up getting rid of some of the bigger toys we had for the kids here, however, they have also got older in the last year, so had grown out of them.
I wish we hadn't brought our wedding photo album, as worry it will go mouldy.
We didn't bring any garden stuff at all, but if you end up with a small garden or large balcony/balcony then you may wish you had. I understand general gardening equipment is expensive, so if you think you will need hand trowel etc.
For some silly reason we didn't bring our ice packs that go in the freezer (!!!???) no idea why I thought we wouldn't need them - it is hot here most of the year, so ice packs are a very good idea!!
Any books- I stock up like a mad woman when I'm in the UK. You could also stock up on kids magazines - cbeebies etc - you can get EVERYTHING here, but it is more expensive.
Imagine everything you go to John Lewis to buy, and I would say buy it and take it with you - yes, storage is an issue, but things like bed sheets/towels/kitchen equipment - yes again, it is all available here, but each item costs more, so it does all add up!!
Oil table cloth - haven't seen them here yet, so if you use them, you may want to get three or four to bring out.
Malt Extract - saw it once upon a time, but not since and LOVE IT!
Booze - wine is expensive, so bring whatever allowance you have.
Food - you can get everything you expect to get in waitrose. You get used to not being able to get everything on every shop, or having to go to two or three supermarkets to get it, but everything is more expensive (oh and did I mention everything is more expensive!?) so I would take whatever food allowance you have of all your cupboard food items - cereal, tea bags, etc etc.
Bubble Bath - is not available everywhere, so do stock up on that (you can get it from M and S in Central)
When I go back this summer I will be buying a year's worth of clothing for the kids, trainers and shoes for the kids, make up, perfume, chocolate raisins, clothes for me, underwear, birthday cards, paper napkins that don't have naff flower patterns on them, primark tat, books for the kids and me.
Oh - puppies on a roll loo paper - the loo paper here is pretty naff.
If your little ones are in nappies, stock up and on wet wipes also. Any nice organic type baby toiletries you use - just price issue - you will find the same or similar UK/US/Australian etc brand here.
Enjoy the packing - HK is rather fabulous!

...nearly finished...
dishwasher product range not great (I think because everyone has domestic help, there isn't as much demand for a choice of dishwasher products). So your favourite dishwasher detergents. Def bring rinse aid and dishwasher salt.
Trainer-whitener. (or whatever they white stuff you put on trainers to clean them is called).
OK, good night!