[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Ivory Holidays

SilverSurfer, I am not agree at all.
Being a professional travel agent and guide. I have taken tourists from various parts of the world to India, Nepal and Bhutan.
BUT as compare Singapore v/s HK. I would say Singapore people are much advance, cultures and civilised.
People here in HK just want to only copy what the western people do in terms of fashion and life style. Most of the people here are less educated. Their English is very poor, even if you go to super stores its pretty hard to make them understand what you want.
During my guiding job, I appreciate Singaporean coz they have many questions to as about various things whereas HK people just want to know where is shopping arcades, food courts and then finish!!!

Ironic really

You criticise the HK locals English skills when yours is not really up to scratch either.

[pizzalover]

Just curious. Are you a Singaporean? I thought you people speak better English. Guess I am wrong.

Originally Posted by Ivory Holidays

SilverSurfer, I am not agree at all.
Being a professional travel agent and guide. I have taken tourists from various parts of the world to India, Nepal and Bhutan.
BUT as compare Singapore v/s HK. I would say Singapore people are much advance, cultures and civilised.
People here in HK just want to only copy what the western people do in terms of fashion and life style. Most of the people here are less educated. Their English is very poor, even if you go to super stores its pretty hard to make them understand what you want.
During my guiding job, I appreciate Singaporean coz they have many questions to as about various things whereas HK people just want to know where is shopping arcades, food courts and then finish!!!

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by jimbo

You criticise the HK locals English skills when yours is not really up to scratch either.

That's not really fair - it's far, far better than most HK locals...

For what it's worth, your post was missing an apostrophe.

[MovingIn07]

The hiking and outdoor pursuits are much better in HK than Singapore - and the weather is better too (we actually have winter! yeah!). Just my 2 cents worth. I lived in KL (similar weather etc) for 2 years and actually found I hated the constant heat and inability to do anything outdoors at any time of year!

[araucaria]

Originally Posted by PDLM

That's not really fair - it's far, far better than most HK locals...

For what it's worth, your post was missing an apostrophe.

so, of course, was yours.

[UK/HKboy]

again it really does depend on your criteria for "positive" characteristics and what the "western" expat wants...

personally, i prefer having crowds, the different things to do, having more culture and customs in Hong Kong. Singapore is nice because it is cleaner and i love the hawker stores there selling lots of cheap good food, but it is not somewhere i would want to live...

so it does depend on what the expat is looking for... good english? character? good pay? things to do? cost? taxes? shopping? spouse jobs? etc etc.

[MovingIn07]

Originally Posted by UK/HKboy

again it really does depend on your criteria for "positive" characteristics and what the "western" expat wants...

personally, i prefer having crowds, the different things to do, having more culture and customs in Hong Kong. Singapore is nice because it is cleaner and i love the hawker stores there selling lots of cheap good food, but it is not somewhere i would want to live...

so it does depend on what the expat is looking for... good english? character? good pay? things to do? cost? taxes? shopping? spouse jobs? etc etc.

Which of course varies by individual !

I loathe crowds with a passion and like hiking - others may have completely different desires....

[wtbhotia]

Originally Posted by MovingIn07

I loathe crowds with a passion and like hiking - others may have completely different desires....

I loathe both thats why I am a semi-professional Sofa tester, i sit and lay on my sofa in my house as much as possible.

[fm7]

Originally Posted by MovingIn07

Which of course varies by individual !

I loathe crowds with a passion and like hiking - others may have completely different desires....

I love crowds and hate hiking.

Actually, what I really like is walking in busy cities. Part of my struggle with HK is that you either get the pleasant walk, or the big city. Singapore is no better on this issue.

[Skyhook]

Originally Posted by MovingIn07

Which of course varies by individual !

I loathe crowds with a passion and like hiking - others may have completely different desires....

I am with moving07, it is very much up to the individual as to which lifestyle requirements best suit us.

Consider also that expats are a very diverse group, some are on their 5th international expat post, and adapt well to geographic change, for some it will be their first time working abroad, single with no ties, married with no kids or married with children, we all have different levels of criteria, that will make the transition easier...

On a housing space point of view, I'd have to say that Singapore offers much larger accommodation that suit families with kids better, and for less expense. ( 4 bedroom 2000 - 3000ft2 properties ).

But the same could be said for families here in HKG that choose to live in the New Territories ie Sai Kung/Clearwater Bay, who want much larger spaces, for considerably less cost than Central or south HK island, as an example..

Hong Kong has it's various suburban/urban enclaves that cater for all of the different expat demographic life styles/stages, so it really depends on what stage your lifestyle is at, right now.

Are you starting with nothing, building a budding career, single with no ties etc ? Married with no kids, or married with children ? All of these factors will influence where you choose to settle.

Personally I find Hong Kong the best fit, as we have family here, which has helped me understand the HK Chinese culture a lot more, by adding to my sensibilities.

I believe that there is a residential area for everybody, it might pay to visit the different residential area's where us expats like to live, and make your own mind up, as to which one suits you.

My suggestions of some diverse area's of HK & its territories..

HK Island

Mid Levels
Happy Valley
Causeway bay
Sheung Wan
Kennedy Town
Tai Koo Shing
Aberdeen
Stanley

Lantau

Discovery Bay easy access to central, if you like the out doors in your spare time, it's a good affordable spot.

New Territories East

Sai Kung / Clearwater Bay one of my favourite locations, but its a 60 minute commute to Central by public transport. Worth it for one of the best communities in HK, in my opinion.

New Territories West

Tuen Mun which is where the Sino Property owned Gold Coast development is, although there are much better non property developer owned quality apartment complexes that neighbour the Gold Coast, but it does provide a well equipped el fresco mall, to hang out with friends on the weekends.

____________________________________

Check out Google Maps and flickr photo galleries to get a feel for how these area's look.

Good luck and happy researching .