[biz]

Moving to HK later this year and on past two occs ive visited the smog has been pretty bad in Central. Of concern as weve got some little uns. Where is the least smogaffected place to live on the island? presumably southside?

[SuzieQ]

Hubby has signed contract today!!! Ahhhhhh packing our 'Sydney' bags (and pants) for July/ Aug arrival. Nice....bammmm straight into the steamy weather eh!. I too am seeking the same info re. best place as far as 'less polluted', as we have a 6 mth daughter and looking to grow family over there.......I have spoken to a friend up there, who had this advice. She is a kiwi lady, who has bought her kids up in both UK and HK (been there 10 yrs).....here is what she has to say........sure her opinion but may help....?

I have lived all over HK. The Peak is too expensive and too damp. Lots of young married people live in Mid levels which is 2 minutes from Central. Great for the boys but less good for you and Ruby. Pokfulam is where we lived first and has the best climate right by the sea. Infact on the shipping channel. Very good value down there. You can find really neat old apartments owned by the HK University that are as cheap as chips. Colonial and scruffy but with a lick of paint come up really well. Pokfulam is HK’s best kept secret. Huge developments have taken place down there over the years . There are some huge modern apartment blocks but they do have amazing fascilities. Great places to walk a buggy. Lots of people don’t know where it is. Lots of nursery schools. Stanley is lovely by the sea and market but far for the boys to commute. I lived in Chung Hom Kok which is the next place round from Stanley and hated being all the way out there. Only one road full of road works. However people do love living out there and make it their lives. Sheko is the most fabulous little quaint village 30 minutes from Central. By the sea. Feels like a village. Beside fantastic golf club which costs a fortune but well worth every penny as we live out there in the summer. Very old fashioned and scruffy but stunning place. Very cheap out there to live but comes with lots of driving. If I knew that we would have been here so long I would have made the choice to live there. Probably the least polluted place in HK.

If anyone can help out further I too would be most appreciative

[Sazzy]

Discovery Bay on Lantau Island is also popular with families.

[KnowItAll]

>>Pokfulam is HK’s best kept secret.

Ssshhh! We like it that way.

[MHong Kong]

Clear Water Bay is the least polluted in HK. On the Eastern side of HK, the water is actually clear and there is a great bunch living out this way....full of australians and south africans who love a bood barbeque and can't handle being too far away from the beach. Big boating community as well.

You need a car out that way and it's about 20-25 minutes into Central but the drive is worth it!

[MHong Kong]

Clear water bay is great for kids too. They can all run around in the neighbourhood and on the beaches safely. Lots of families out this way!

If you look into specific areas in Clear Water Bay, try Sheung Sze Wan or Lobster Bay as these are the best areas for families etc. Avoid the other areas that real estate agents try to lure you to!

Good luck!

[biz]

Thank you for your comments. How does stanley stack up these days? We lived in HK 10 years ago when the pollution wasnt such an issue (and before we produced the sprogs). My office will be in central but frankly i'm not bothered by a commute and i want to make sure the family are in best location. The clearwater bay idea is not one i'd zeroed in on... anybody know what the decent 4 bedroom with facility developments to look out for are?

[SuzieQ]

thanks MHong Kong I shall add CWB to the long list of research topics!!

SQ