[esque]

Hello

I'm planning to move to Hong Kong in January. For the first few weeks, I'll be living in a serviced apartment, but after that I'll need to look for a rental apartment. I was wondering if there are any areas of Hong Kong that are less polluted than others. I realise it's all going to be pretty bad, but is there anywhere that significantly better, relatively speaking?

I'm not sure where I'll be working yet, but my husband will be working in Central, so we don't want to be too far from the thick of things. Hoping to find a good balance.

Totally appreciate any advice you can offer - this forum is such a great resource.

[larac]

Its really hazy right now and everyone is telling me that from Now until Jan is when it really clears up but even so HK is far less polluted than I thought it would be and the streets are always kept really clean. All the shopping malls are aircondiitoned and there are heaps of raised covered walkways and pedestrianised streets so you aren't in the traffic that much. So choose your accomodation based on what you want to do because central is where its all happening but the parks and over by Stanley and Shek O is where its more spacious. With the excellent transport system you can easily go anywhere anytime from central.

[Katanga]

If pollution is your concern and you want to be close enough to central try the South side e.g. Stanley, Repluse Bay, Tai Tam etc. With the Peak between the mainland and the South side, the latter is less polluted.

We live in central and though you can see the constant haze you don't really feel the pollution !

[Sazzy]

We used to live on a hill behind Causeway Bay and as you walked down the hill, you could smell the car fumes.

[vicenta]

all of Hk is polluted, you cannot escape, it's not a matter of living in central or stanley. the pollution comes from the pearl river delta. just choose the place suits more your life style. Central is active, in stanley you will be a bit isolated! people with children tend to live in the south side

[timklip]

I agree with Vicenta...while there may be days when one area is more hazy than another area, and given that the heavy traffic areas have more roadside pollution, your never really in a clean environment. Just get used to the inevitable shortening of your lifespan, and breathe deep of the noxious soup that passes for air here. (Man do I miss ice cold Canadian air!)

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by timklip

Just get used to the inevitable shortening of your lifespan

How do you reconcile this assertion with the fact that life expectancy in HK is higher than in the UK, US, Canada or Australia? (Source: CIA World Factbook http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/xx.html )

[Lammarite]

Originally Posted by PDLM

How do you reconcile this assertion with the fact that life expectancy in HK is higher than in the UK, US, Canada or Australia? (Source: CIA World Factbook http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/xx.html )

Soybean products.

[boonboon]

Maybe you can consider discovery bay or lamma island. Both of ship directly to Central.

[timklip]

Thanks for the info PDLM...I had no idea that breathing in airborne particles and carbon monoxide would actually increase my lifespan. i'm moving outta my house in the NT and maybe I can pitch a tent roadside in Central...see you in a hundred years! I think I'll take up smoking while I'm at it.... lol

Seriously tho, maybe the life expectancy thing is related to diet. God knows us North Americans (on average) eat like pigs.