WWYD? Back to the UK from HK after over a decade? Or is there another way?

[QueenOfTheKong]

Hi - need some clarity and so throwing this out to the universe!

I've been living in various locations across Asia for over a decade with my DH and two DDs (both born Hong Kong). We are very much localised, no expat packages, and have considered HK to be our home for years now. DDs (4.5 and 9) in particular are very attached to their home and would be sad to leave.

We found out last week that DH is being made redundant this summer, and due to the current situation, are struggling to see any other option but to move back to the UK, which is something I'm uneasy about, despite having wanted to return in the past.

We've looked at him getting another job in HK (I own a small biz but this has tanked since Corona), but there's very little in his field plus we fear the 12+ months of unrest here is going to seriously flare again as soon as all restrictions are lifted (this is already beginning).

We also looked at a move to Singapore, to maintain some degree of consistency in our lives by staying in Asia but it's looking increasingly unlikely that we'd get visas for the foreseeable and cost of living is also very high.

We have a small amount of savings that would tide us over for a few months if we were to stay in HK, but the hideous expense of rent here would eat through these at around twice the speed of the UK. I'm also conscious that both the UK and HK are heading into major recessions, so job hunting for both of us will be very challenging in either location.

DH has previously stated he would never return to the UK due to Brexit, however has now changed his mind as he can't see any other alternative, and is being quite positive about the lifestyle change. Conversely, I have previously suggested moving back for the benefit of larger home, stability, proximity to aging parents, etc, but am now the one wavering!

So please, WWYD? Return to Corona/Brexit-stricken Britain at what is probably the worst possible time, where we could afford a nice house with a garden but know no one apart from family and would have to adjust, or try to stay on in our adopted city and see if we can ride it out for a few months on savings until there are more jobs available?

Would really love some perspectives as I feel totally lost and going around in circles. Thank you and apologies for the length!

[pinotgrigio]

Similar situation here OP, I've been in Australia for the last 15 years but am waiting on a job offer in London.

Once my job went due to COVID it was pretty much game over - even with a job offer here, visa processing is shutdown, so I can't transfer my visa to a new sponsor. Ditto New Zealand. Applying for roles in Singapore got me nowhere, not even a response, despite being well suited to several roles in my fairly niche area.

I've found that even during COVID the UK job market is considerably larger than Sydney and have plenty of roles to apply for - and due to zoom interviewing people have been surprisingly flexible about interviewing somebody so far away.

I'm going to embrace the return and enjoy all of the little things I've missed - theatre, travel, M&S!

[2468whodoyouappreciate]

I have friends who are in a similar situation. They were all set to return to the UK this summer from HK but have found job/s in Kuala Lumpur where they say the cost if living is very cheap in comparison to other Asian countries. They have 3 school aged kids.
Returning to the UK probably is the option to naturally look at but perhaps it might be worth considering job options elsewhere. Jobs in the UK are on hold with masses and masses of redundancies expected. The figures pretty bleak. I know the entire world has been affected but the UK is in utter mess right now and will take years to sort out and recover.
Personally, I'd be keeping my options open with the UK as an "If all else fails" option.

[Onone]

You could come back to the U.K. while you get sorted,then go back to HK in the future?only thing is if you stay in HK and spend all your savings you will have no way of getting back to the U.K.?

[FeelTheRush]

I’m also in Hong Kong and with the recent enactment of the national security law, things have changed a lot since OP last posted - @QueenOfTheKong, would be interested to hear what you’re thinking about relocation now, if you’re still around?

[QueenOfTheKong]

@FeelTheRush

I’m also in Hong Kong and with the recent enactment of the national security law, things have changed a lot since OP last posted - *@QueenOfTheKong*, would be interested to hear what you’re thinking about relocation now, if you’re still around?

Still around but not for long! The NSL has changed so much for us (potentially directly affects both our careers) that it became very apparent we needed to leave. We'll be back to the UK in autumn where we can regroup and reconsider our options.

Thanks for all the helpful advice and good luck to everyone else treading this path at the moment - not sure there's a more challenging time to relocate across the world!

[Loveinatimeofcovid]

We’re currently stuck overseas and considering not returning to the U.K. We’re both in professional services and pretty much everything is dead in the water there. Everything was ticking along until the end of May when suddenly 90% of economic activity (from our perspective at least) ceased. Just stopped. No one suing, no one wanting consulting services, most prexisiting clients asking to defer payments. I don’t see how the U.K. is going to recover from this.