[gazmario]

Although I work in Hong Kong, I've recently been thinking about moving to Shenzhen and commuting. I know it would be a major pain in the proverbial to cross each day, but I find being there is extremely beneficial for my Mandarin, so I am considering the options to spend more time there.

I am thinking of either getting a serviced apartment there, and doing the commute for three months or so. This way, if the daily crossing turned out to be hell, it would be easy to forget the whole idea and come straight back to HK, having had three valuable months in a Mandarin environment.

The other option is to just take an apartment there (they seem very cheap anyway), and stay there at weekends.

Does anybody know of any tax implications that might arise from either of these options? And whether it would be possible to make regular crossings while resident of Hong Kong and on an F-Visa or an APEC card? Would I even be able to rent in Shenzhen if I'm a HK resident?

[larac]

How much are you really going to learn if you spend 5 days a week in HK. Why not live more conveniently in HK and visit Shenzhen regularly on the weekend for shopping, eating out etc and start with all the useful phrases that would come with those activities. The weekend apartment sounds a better plan.

Have you thought about Visas? They are hard to get and super expensive right now and don't forget the cost of replacing your passport constantly as it will fill up super quick.

[gazmario]

Yeah, I agree the weekend apartment in SZ is a good option, apart from the fact that I'd need to rent two places.

And any move hinges on the assumption that the visa situation will go back to normal in October. So it's a few months off anyway.

As far as learning goes, I actually already speak Mandarin, so it's more about constantly being in an evironment where I can use it - expanding and polishing at a faster rate than I can do here.

Wonder if it's possible to be resident in both places and pay tax in one. Highly unlikely, but having a China and HK ID so I could use the e-Channel on both sides would make things much simpler.

[Trebor]

Shenzhen is far too dangerous a place to live!!!

Don't do it!


*snigger*