[Yumiko]

I live in Vancouver and I'm trying to think which districts of Hong Kong I would like if I were to move there.

I'm told that much of Hong Kong is crowded and dirty. I wouldn't be able to stand that on a long-term basis. Which areas of Hong Kong are less crowded (say, comparable to downtown Vancouver) and clean?

[Canadian Steve]

Hi,

Try Wanchai Mid-levels if you want to be in the city. Or u can go and live on the outlying areas of HK like the New Territories, Sai Kung, Discovery Bay and etc... HK is not as dirty as what other ppl think.

Steve

[Anto]

Hi Yumiko,

I'm from Vancouver also and worked/lived in HK for about 5 yrs. So I understand what you mean.

Actually there are a few places that is nice, quiet and clean. But this will depend also on your budget. rent can range from an average of 5000 - 15000hkd ++/mth. The average rent contract would be 2 years ( 1year locked and 1yrs open), but also depending on the owner (so be careful and read the fine line).

Actually there are alot of choices, so to narrow it down what kind if budget you are looking for, how big, any particular location you want to live near (ie shopping, ocean view, want to live on HK island & etc..), public transportation must be convient or not? what kind of occupation ?

sorry if I asked too many questions.

Anto

[PDLM]

It sounds to me like you might fit better in Singapore. Boring, but sterile.

[Yumiko]

Originally Posted by Anto

what kind if budget you are looking for, how big, any particular location you want to live near (ie shopping, ocean view, want to live on HK island & etc..), public transportation must be convient or not? what kind of occupation ?

I'm a self-employed webmaster---I make money off the internet, and I would make the same amount of money no matter what country I live in. My primary reason for leaving Canada is because the income tax here is too high (30-40%! in Hong Kong my income tax rate would be 0% since it comes from the USA, not Hong Kong).

I like to live in a clean convenient place. Right now I live in downtown Vancouver so I'm within walking distance of the subway, and I only have to walk a few blocks to do grocery shopping, go to the bank, eat lunch, etc. I'd be looking for something similar in Hong Kong.

For budget, I could pay even $10,000 USD a month and it would still be less than the income tax I'm paying in Canada right now.

Originally Posted by PDLM

It sounds to me like you might fit better in Singapore. Boring, but sterile.

What's the income tax like in Singapore? I think they don't tax overseas income if I keep the money in an offshore bank?

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by PDLM

It sounds to me like you might fit better in Singapore. Boring, but sterile.

But YVR downtown is neither.

[PDLM]

You really think it's that simple?

If you do work whilst physically in Hong Kong then you are employed (or are running a business) in Hong Kong and will be subject to tax in Hong Kong.

Where the people are who pay you is irrelevant - it is where you are when you do the work that counts. Many expats in Hong Kong are paid in other countries but taxed in Hong Kong. If this were not the case then no-one anywhere in the world would pay tax simply by having their contract of employment in a different country form where they live and do the work.

[Mikekeyy]

I like to get dirty. Where should I spend time? LOL

[jayinhongkong]

Try Bangkok or Mumbai if you like grime. Guangzhou is up there too.

[Pekkerhead]

I think you will find there are more Chinese people in Vancouver