[fioneyiu]

"Life of expatriates in Hong Kong"

Hello friends,

I am curious about the life of expatriates in Hong Kong. As a historical key trade hub of economic activities in East Asia, Hong Kong became a centre for many transnational corporations working to expand their activities in the region for a long time. Everyday, we can see lots of people with different race and nationality living or working in Hong Kong. I wonder what factors influencing their stay in there.

I would like to know:
1. What are the important factors considered by you as an expatriate in your choice of where to work and live?
2. How do gender and gender relations shape your incentives to move to HK?
3. What are the comparative advantages of Hong Kong in attracting and keeping the expatriates?
4. If provided with a chance, will you choose to go to HK again or other cities?
5. Whether ethic identities and associated cultural endowments affect their career and personal plan? Say, ethnic Chinese family backgrounds
6. What would be the roles of unpaid wives and girl friends of male elites in expatriate communities?

I wonder if I can get responses from any.I know some of them may be quite difficult to answer, but I look forward to receiving your reply.

Hope you could spare some time to help me to solve these questions.

Thanks so much. Nice to meet you here.

Cheers,
Fione

[KnowItAll]

Ummm ... sounds like a school assignment.

[AnotherAmerican]

errrm. I have another question:

As expatriots, what do you think of Globalization and how it affects Hong Kong and its surrroundings? Especially during the period prior to the hand-over. Please cite your sources. And make sure it is kept within 1.5 inch margins, and is double spaced. 3-5 pages.

[Djinn]

Can I phone a friend?

[AnotherAmerican]

Originally Posted by fioneyiu

"Life of expatriates in Hong Kong"

I would like to know:
1. What are the important factors considered by you as an expatriate in your choice of where to work and live?
2. How do gender and gender relations shape your incentives to move to HK?
3. What are the comparative advantages of Hong Kong in attracting and keeping the expatriates?
4. If provided with a chance, will you choose to go to HK again or other cities?
5. Whether ethic identities and associated cultural endowments affect their career and personal plan? Say, ethnic Chinese family backgrounds
6. What would be the roles of unpaid wives and girl friends of male elites in expatriate communities?

1) Having to choose a city in China, I decided to go for what seemed to be the most modern, westernized city in China. As well as the most English-friendly.

2)Well, I lived in Beijing for a year and found women were greatly discriminated against. An interesting example lies in the smoking demographics. In US, 26% men smoke and 24% women smoke. In Mainland China, 71% men smoke, and 7% women smoke. All of this because of the social standards put forth by the men. While they can smoke, they look down on women who do the same. In Hong Kong, it is a lot more equal. (I know smoking isn't a sure-sign of equality. It was just an example!!)

3) Like I said before, it is a lot more english-friendly, and consequently, has become a lot more adapted to western culture. If it's bars or restaurants, westerners will have a much more familiar experience here.

4) Personally, no. Hong Kong is too damn expensive. I preferred Beijing much more. But if I were to actually live here and raise children, opposed to work temporarily, then Hong Kong would be preferable.

5) I wouldn't know yet. I'm white, just as many other expatriots are, and my workin environment isn't what most others would be (I'm an intern).

6) I'm too young to know

[golfduke]

I would like to know:
1. What are the important factors considered by you as an expatriate in your choice of where to work and live?
-I simply chose an area that had the most advancement oppotunity within my professional field.
2. How do gender and gender relations shape your incentives to move to HK?
-They never really played any part in my decision personally.
3. What are the comparative advantages of Hong Kong in attracting and keeping the expatriates?
-opportunity, growing HK and chinese economy, an Economic metropolis, the almighty dollar.
4. If provided with a chance, will you choose to go to HK again or other cities?
- I dont plan on leaving anytime soon.
5. Whether ethic identities and associated cultural endowments affect their career and personal plan? Say, ethnic Chinese family backgrounds
-I strongly agree that this is a big factor in business opportunities. There is a completely different method of treeatment in my profession depending on your ethnicity. Even in some cases here, the HK are generally condescending of the mainland residents as well.
6. What would be the roles of unpaid wives and girl friends of male elites in expatriate communities?
-family raising, general boredom, etc... I really cannot answer that because i dont know enough about how an expat family works.

[fioneyiu]

I am so surprised to receive your reply.

Thanks for AnotherAmerican's and Golfduke's sharings.

^^

[JJexpat]

I would like to know:
1. What are the important factors considered by you as an expatriate in your choice of where to work and live?
Work has to do with the opportunity that presents itself....living has to do with the experience of someplace very different..I deliberately have NOT gone the expat route and living in an old Chinese building at Fa Hui (admittedly, the flat itself is very nice) Having done this for three years, a change may be in order, but I so not want a stultifying club life.

2. How do gender and gender relations shape your incentives to move to HK?
Not at all.

3. What are the comparative advantages of Hong Kong in attracting and keeping the expatriates?
Pros: lots of energy, an exciting city that pulses with the possible...except a lot of locals don't see that
Cons: cost...and the concept of equal pay for equal work is unknown. THis is an ongoing irritant for me. It's not a gender thing...the idea that two people doin the same work at the same rank get different packages because one started a year before the other is just plain ridiculous...and very fixed in the local mindset. Why should an expat come to face equal work for less compensation? Also, Hong Kong does not recognize same sex relationships, or common law realtionships (generally) and in any case bars spouses from working...it would seem expat families (or any sort) are not really welcome. Also, finding an English speaking part time Amah is difficult - not much option in that it is illegal to hire a part time non-landed Amah or in any case have a live out one. Not interested in a live in helper - and don't have room for that.

4. If provided with a chance, will you choose to go to HK again or other cities?
I do enjoy Hong Kong, but Hanoi is beautiful and cheap, Shanghai is fascinating, Chiang Mai intriguing, Kata peaceful, Bangkok energizing, etc. etc. I expect I'l spend time in all of them ongoing visiting friends of just travelling.


5. Whether ethic identities and associated cultural endowments affect their career and personal plan? Say, ethnic Chinese family backgrounds
Not a factor for me...but I am amazed that the multiple ethnicities in Hong Kong seem to be completely ignored in favour of "Chinese" and "Not Chinese-white" and "Other". Does HK realize how important and what significant contributions have been made by its many ethnic populations?


6. What would be the roles of unpaid wives and girl friends of male elites in expatriate communities?
I beg your pardon?! Ladies who lunch! Tai tais. By law, they can't even do volunteer charity work!


Thanks so much.
You're welcome - hope I don't sound negative - love HK but the place boggles the mind at times.
Nice to meet you here.
U2.
Cheers,
Fione[/quote]

[gorilla]

very interesting "Q & A" section!
at least hk is a "safe" place to live!

[emperorau]

[quote=fioneyiu]"Life of expatriates in Hong Kong"

Hello friends,

I am curious about the life of expatriates in Hong Kong. As a historical key trade hub of economic activities in East Asia, Hong Kong became a centre for many transnational corporations working to expand their activities in the region for a long time. Everyday, we can see lots of people with different race and nationality living or working in Hong Kong. I wonder what factors influencing their stay in there.


What is your thinking as well?

I would like to know:
1. What are the important factors considered by you as an expatriate in your choice of where to work and live?

I worked in Hong Kong for two years before deciding to work in China. I think taxes is one of the most important thing. Canada just tax so much but it is a good cause though. But when you are young, you want to adventure and make good money. Hong Kong is fill with action. Where can you see people still on the streets at 4 am in the morning. Also, you can see movie stars and singers in HK in a small city. I have seen so many in Hong Kong. Hong Kong never usually gets cold. They have the best Chinese New Year festival in any cities that I have been through. HK is not that dangerous as what I hear.


2. How do gender and gender relations shape your incentives to move to HK?

Nothing though. No idea


3. What are the comparative advantages of Hong Kong in attracting and keeping the expatriates?


Well, it didn't keep me around so I don't know. For me at first was less taxes. A lot of mixture of people working in HK. You can hire an Amah in HK. But in Canada, you wouldn't see as many Amah for sure. Amah seems to be a novelty. Even if you not that rich, you can hire a Amah. It is like a status symbol.

4. If provided with a chance, will you choose to go to HK again or other cities?

For my children, I will choose Vancouver, Canada instead. I think children in HK study too hard in public schools though. I don't want my children to be so crazy. But anyway, HK always a good place to travel and shop though. But too bad the amount that Canadians are allowed to bring back is not much. That sux.

I live with my Aunt in HK so I don't make enough to get a good place to live by myself. Rents in HK are too expensive. For example, making 5000 to 9000 HKD really can not really rent a good place to live. But heck in some Chinese cities in China 5,000 RMB is very good already. If have 10,000 HKD/month, ok. But if want to live in a more comfortable environment, your salary needs to be 20,000 HKD/month at least.