[NewFamilyGuy]

We are moving to Hong Kong soon and trying to narrow down where we are going to live. My company's offices will be located in Kowloon Bay but from what I am seeing online this is not the place for my wife and daughter (8 month old).

I am really looking for some place with good space, (relatively) clean air and good expat community for my wife.

I was looking at townhomes in Clear Water Bay or places in the New Territories vs. Stanley or Repulse Bay given what looks like a terrible commute. But dont understand how transport would work or neighboorhood structure.

I think we could spend up to H$100 K per month.

Thoughts from a blog are really appreciated.

[Skyhook]

Clearwater Bay or Marina Cove would be sensible locations. You're familiy will love it, Marina cove especially as there will be many white collar professionally employed families with kids, living there in a similar situation to you, all homes have parking for 2 cars each, most people own 2 cars there.

You could also Taxi it to Hang Hau MTR which would be 10 minutes or less away, and then train it in to Kowloon Bay or.

You could own and operate a car, drive to and from work, or your wife could drive you to the station each morning and pick you up in the evenings, and still have 10 - 20K per month spare out of your monthly 100K budget.

You'll also live in a very spacious 2100 tri level home with roof top terrace, with its own private court yard that backs onto an inlet, where you can moor your own boat from, for that kind of budget. Marina Cove is definitely the pick of the bunch, on a top end lifestyle point of view..It really is awesome.

You're also handy to 2 yacht clubs, spitting distance, less tnan 10 minutes drive to Sai Kung for weekend eateries, and drinks with many other expats who also live in the locale. Its got everything you need, without living right on top of it .

The drive to kowloon bay would be about 20 minutes by car, should you decide to self drive. Monthly car expenses providing you get something relatively new, shouldnt be more than 6,000 a month inc parking at work, maintenance, fuel, road tax and insurance, for a year..

Hope that gives you a little bit of food for thought.

Cheers

[NewFamilyGuy]

Awesome ! Thanks for the quick and really detailed response.
One problem is that my wife doesn't drive (eyesight thing). Will she feel isolated in Marina?
Also how much does parking cost in Kowloon? We lived in Mumbai before and were able to arrange for our domestic help to drive me to work and back? Do people ever arrange similar situations in HK?

[Skyhook]

Heaps of families live in Marina cove, quiet the mothers club coffee clique exists there. If you get bored there, then we have chosen the wrong location. Marina Cove, is for people who like quiet neighbourhoods, sailing, hanging out at the communal pubs that everybody who's who does, I'd be amazed if you werent meshing with a expat group at Steamers pub or the Duke of York within a couple of weeks, socialising with the gang.. It all hinges on how extroverted you are socially. But seriously, meeting people will be like shooting fish in a barrell in Sai Kung Town on the weekends...

Jojn the Hebe Haven Yacht club and you'll meet heaps of people who live in the surrounding area, every given Sunday, weather permitting.

Parking would cost you between $1200 and $1800 on a pre paid monthly rate in the Kowloon bay area.

Hmm not sure about the driver situation, there are certainly Filipino and Nepalese guys out there that will happily drive for you, for a monthly wage.. Otherwise you're going to need to get friendly with a Taxi driver that you can calll when you need them. Most Taxi drivers will give you their card to contact them, direct.

Best thing to do is take a look at the area's and get a feel for them, I'd be surprised if Marina Cove didnt impress and feel very comfortable, from the moment you set foot there.


btw: The villa's that are on end as the Welcome Supermarket, are in my opinion, the most convenient.

[wtbhotia]

for that amount of money u can get a good house also hire two domestic helpers, try to get domestic helpers that are a couple, the female will do all the house work, while the husband will be the driver, gardener and all labour jobs. you can get a cheap people carrier that is not too old for a 30-40K second hand, eg Toyota Lucida/previa, this will be good for your family and also with the dirver you wont have to bother about the car parking in kowloon bay, 2 DH will set u back 8K per month.

[jaykay]

wtbhotia, this will not solve the problem as a DH driver is not allowed to drive an employer to and from work!

[wtbhotia]

Originally Posted by jaykay

wtbhotia, this will not solve the problem as a DH driver is not allowed to drive an employer to and from work!

holy crap, didnt know that, i thought they were allowed to drive if they had HK driving license. Is it that they are not allowed to drive the employer anywhere period or what?

[jaykay]

Check the immd website The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Immigration Department, specifically questions 47 - 50, although Q48 answers most things clearly:

Q48: My FDH has special permission to perform driving duties. Can he/she drive me to and from the office daily?

A48: No. Special permission for an FDH to perform driving duties is given on the basis that the driving duties are incidental to and arising from any of the five broad categories of domestic duties, namely household chores, cooking, baby-sitting, child-minding and looking after aged persons in the household.

Special permission is required from immigration to allow a DH to drive in the first place!