[fore51]

Hi,

We are currently finalising our decision to move to Hong Kong. WE have two little boys (2 & 4), who are extremely active and love to run around. My concern is that Hong Kong apartments will not be big enough to contain the two boys. I would love to hear experiences from other people.

We are also looking at other areas off Hong Kong Island where there would be enough space for the kids to run, and still be close to Hong Kong.

Thanks in advance.

[KnowItAll]

fore51 : We have www.geobaby.com for issues concerning baby expats... you might get some more sane advice on there.

[discobay]

To be honest the size of your apartment is going to be small compared to what you are used to (I am making sweeping assumptions here). Living further out from the city will help a bit and will put you nearer green areas too but this may have an undesireable effect on your daily commute (there I go again making sweeping assumptions).

[carang]

Depending on where you will be working, I'd consider Discovery Bay. It's as close to "home" as you're going to get in HK.

I have a 19 month old son and a daughter on the way. I have lived in HK for over 11 years and there is NO OTHER place in HK I would want to raise my children.

The downside for some is the 25 minute ferry commute into Cnetral. This has never been a problem for me. I would rather have a nice comfy seat and drink my hot chocolate and read my paper than grumble about traffic or the lack of manners on the MTR.

[fore51]

Thanks for everyone's advice. Discovery Bay is one of the areas we are definitely looking at and a half hour ferry ride into town sounds just wonderful.

I will also write this message on geobaby.com.

Thanks for all your advice.

[tx75070]

I have a three year old boy and a daughter that will be two in November. Hong Kong is a difficult place to live with small kids. It would be even harder if you don't have a car. Well, I guess that depends whether or not you are coming from big city life. I think it also depends how long you are going to be here. Have you spent much time in Hong Kong? If so, you should ask yourself where you would have rather grown up? In HK or the place you grew up and apply the same logic to your children? Not that I regret making the decision to move my family out here, but if I could go back and do it again I probably would have stayed put even though the pay is better in HK.

[Pekkerhead]

I have 2 kids, a boy and a girl and actually I have found Hong Kong to be very kid friendly - with loads of playgrounds all over the place. And as I live in Tai Po, way out in the NT I am assuming most of HK is the same - certainly seems that the populated areas of the NT are pretty much designed in the same way.

[jenifa]

This is probably a daft question but can anyone tell me what the likely commute time would be from Discovery Bay to Shatin? (Or know of a website where I could find it out).

Thanks

jennifer - anxiously awaiting her visa

[carang]

it would be a little time consuming... although i do know someone who does it everyday.

it woud be 15 minutes to sunny bay MTR, then MTR to Kowloon Tong probably around 20-30 minutes, then change to KCR, probably another 10 minutes... that gets you to Sha Tin, but after that, i don't know where you need to go.

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by jenifa

This is probably a daft question but can anyone tell me what the likely commute time would be from Discovery Bay to Shatin? (Or know of a website where I could find it out).
Thanks
jennifer - anxiously awaiting her visa

I'm thinking a little over an hour:

30 minutes by ferry from DB to Central
20 minutes from ferry to TST
20 minutes by KCR from TST to Shatin

This web site will give you KCR fares and travel times:
http://www.kcrc.com.hk/html/eng/index.asp