[Tboy]

Hi All, a copule of questions

1. I am an Australian looking to move to either London or Hong Kong, but can't decide, as both look awesome for work and play on the face of it. Whilst the many English in HK may be biased i'd love to hear your views.

2. I'm currently employed with HSBC in Australia and was wondering what the Bank's reputation is like in HK, not withstanding their size, are they a good employer?

Cheers

[Shaddock]

Do you drive?

Hong Kong has a fantastic public transportation system which makes life a lot easier. The Tube in London is much more expensive and less efficient. So are their buses. And if you drive you'd have to pay congestion zone charge if you go into town on weekdays.

London housing = $$$$$$

But on the other hand, London is a big city and capital of a country in Europe. More cultural activities going on. Easier to get books you like to read. (You don't read Chinese, do you?) Better beers, pubs, clubs etc.

I *think* they have better work hours in the UK.

Because it's close to Europe you can travel a lot there too.

(The above point of view is brought to you by a HK-local who studied/lived in London for the past 5 years)

[penguinsix]

My sort of general advice is to go farther away (distance) than you can and then work your way back. It is always easier, so it would seem, to get a transfer someplace closer (i.e. Aus-HK) than somewhere far (Aus-London).

Put it this way--if you do either, does it increase or decrease your chance of getting the other at a later date?

[Mal]

Never worked in either place, but I personally found Hong Kong far more impressive when visiting. Seems a lot more modern and condensed with a nice hot climate - that said, it's really hot in the UK at the minute.

If you're being paid at local rates, from what I understand, you will be paid considerably more in London but will even out a little when you consider accommodation.

I've just recently left my job as a web developer and am considering various options. Amsterdam was one option but their income tax is annoyingly high (even with the expat discount). I don't really want to, but I'll probably end up working in London or somewhere nearby. Still deciding.

[TTodd]

I am a Brit but have not worked in London, however have family there I know that the journey to work drives them mad everyday. I also think that as London is a huge place it's less friendly.
There is a big support network here for expats (this is good if you are bringing the other half ?? and they aren't working). My husband works in Banking and tends to work long days, usually out the house 12 hours but no travel as it takes him 15 mins to get there and we live further out than Mid levels. In London could take you over an hour, the tube is a bit old and in need of a revamp. Transport in HK is fab, buses run every few mins, MTR is clean and has air con, taxes are cheap.
I understand that HSBC have housing on the Peak so that a nice place to live and not far to the office (you can probably see the office as there building stands out).
The big plus is the weather is better here but pollution is worse....
Hope this helps, there are plus points to both places but you will have a great time which ever you choose.

[Sazzy]

I would also have to contrast personal safety in the two places. I dont feel safe in London but I do feel safe in Hong Kong., If I had a family, then this would play an important part in my decision

[TOOTS]

OK, here's my 2 pennies worth on this issue.

I've just relocated here from London (been working there for over 10 years for various Investment Bank houses).

Work - as you're at HSBC, you can try asking for a internal transfer as one of the main HQ's are in Canary Wharf. However, as London is main financial hub you can find work relatively easy there, just join one of the many recruitment agencies out there. Working hours are less in the UK as people tend to do 9-5, whilst HKG does 12+ hour shifts.

Transport - you will find this very expensive in comparison to AUS and HKG. Depending on where you live and work your ticket cost will depend on which zones you are in. So for me, I communted in zones 1 and 2, this cost me about £84 a month ($1,184 HKD). In addition to that, there is no air conditioning on transport yet, so as like very summer you get stories of people passing out on the tube, DLR, buses as they're too hot. This is not from just heat, this is also because people have no sense of personal space in UK, communters just push on and try to cram as many people in the carriage to get where they're going. One more thing on transport, it's always late and effect by weather (leaves on the line, tracks have contracted due to cold weather..blah..blah.). Not dependable at all. HKG is no probs with it's air con, on time schedules, free flowing transport and at a cheap price this inc. taxis'.

Accomodation - bigger in London, smaller in HKG and expensive in both places

Weather - Hot and humid in HKG, and variable in London without the humidity

Travel - London is great for travelling if you haven't done Europe, the Eurostar is excellent from Waterloo station and you can be in Paris within 2 hours. On the flip side, HKG is great for tavel to other Asian countries. But to and from Australia, UK takes 24 hours and HKG takes 7/8 hours.

Other things I've noticed, there are more bank holidays in HKG so you get more time off work, things are more effcient in HKG, there's no NHS (National Health Service) in HKG but in UK you can see a doctor and go to hospital free of charge...there's so much more I could go on and bore you to death....so I'll stop here

Hope this helps anyway!

[nivantj]

there's no NHS (National Health Service) in HKG

There is fairly efficient public health service in HKG at nominal charge

[berryplucker]

Originally Posted by TOOTS

communters just push on and try to cram as many people in the carriage to get where they're going

If you are suggesting this doesn't happen in HK then you aren't travelling on the MTR or most bus routes in the morning rush hour!

Originally Posted by TOOTS

there's no NHS (National Health Service) in HKG but in UK you can see a doctor and go to hospital free of charge

As the previous poster said, there is something that is very similar to the NHS. There is a nominal charge for hospital services (HKD100 per visit/day), and the quality appears to be much the same as the NHS (i.e. generally good on the medical side, particularly at the teaching hospitals (Queen Mary's & Prince of Wales), but the wards can be a bit basic).

[TOOTS]

You're right I don't work yet, so I haven't experienced rush hour traffic of people pushing.

So how do you get on this public health service in HKG - is there a form to complete or a place to register? Do you have to be a certain type of person to apply i.e. HKG resident?

Going back to the thread, London or Hong Kong, there's so much to offer in each place and all have their good points and bad ones, maybe Tboy can think where would they like to experience next in their travels...would it be Asia or Europe as HSBC and banking is in both??!!

Toots