HOng Kong?!

[terribletwo]

Have chance to relocate to Hong kong with husbands job for 3 years. Have lived in Tokyo before kids as expats and loved experience but am nervous about making move with a 2 yr old and 4 month old. I don't work and have heard that lots of women hand the childcare over to the live in help so can be difficult for stay home mums to find things to go to where there are other mums like them? Is this right or not? Also where would be nice areas to live with small children? Is there a good social life for families? Are there nurseries for toddlers as would like toddler to carry on with that as he does here? Any advice very welcome!!

Hi terribletwo,
It is a worrying decision to make, we are currently sorting out relocating to OZ and I know how you feel.
We considered a move to Hong Kong a few years ago, so I did a bit of research and I think that they have extremely close expat community over there and a chap that worked with my hubby said his wife loved it over there (she had kids ) and they stayed for 8 years.
We didn't go because I couldn't work over there (before kids ds 7months).
Good luck with your decision.
XXX

I have two friends with kids who live in HK and love it there - both of whom are FT, hands on mums. Am sure you would find plenty of things going on once you get there - just need to get out and about and go to every expat mums group going and throw yourself in there. (What I did when I moved to Bahrain when DS was 10 months. Actually found it loads easier to make friends when you have kids to break the ice/something in common with other mums than it was before I has DS and was a new expat in town.)

I was expat pre-kids in Tokyo as well - 2000 to 2002. From what I know from friends and visiting HK, it's alot more Mum and kids friendly in HK than it was in Tokyo.

Good luck!

Hi there - We live in Hong Kong (actually considering a move to London, which is why I'm on Mumsnet for the first time!) and no, it's not true. You can easily find other mums to hang out with, and interesting ones too. : ) Many of the stay at home mums here gave up a career to be with their children; most people do have helpers (as we call them here) but some don't; and some that do have the helpers do housework and whatnot while the mums themselves take care of raising the kids. Your kids will help bring you into mum networks here and you'll be able to enjoy a plethora of activities with them. Do not be concerned at all.

One thing to be concerned about is Hong Kong's pollution --- it is absolutely awful. Try to minimize it by picking a less polluted (though still polluted!) place to live.

BTW, that being said...any good advice on where we should think about living in London (would rather be in the city if possible) that would be kid-friendly and close to some fun where this mum could make some friends too?

Best to you.

What about schooling? Can anyone recommend a good school- my nephew is about to start reception (he is 4 years old) next year. Any advice?

hi , sorry i don't know how to do links yet,but if you look on google for the English Schools Foundation, HK

this is the organisation that...well, it does what the name suggests! it has all the info you need.

all the schools are fab, basically, with a much higher standard than in the UK, that was my experience anyway. all ages/needs are catered for.

things to do, both for mums/stay at home mums, and children: the list is endless, you are never stuck for something to do or somewhere to go. it's easy to slot in and make friends, you would soon discover all the people and places.

the expat community there is very open as they are used to new people all the time, unlike the cliquey closed-ness of the uk.

nice places to live: mid-levels, peak, pokfulam areas.

i'd recommend anyone to live there, adults or children, it's a wonderful life.