[gofer067]

Question for foreign nationals

Why do people come to hk (for work)? Is it basically the pay that entices people to come here in the first place?

Just curious...

[smudge]

for me the incentive was cultural. The pay and conditions are ok but nothing to get over excited about. The tax scheme is attractive, but unless your running a limited company there isn't much that is tax deductable.

For expats working with the locals - be prepared for bland, unimaginative robots. There are exceptions of course but my experience with the local work force on the whole is less than inspiring.

I am an open midned guy and I respect their home culture, but when I have to give a basic management instruction 10 times before a local MBA understands that they have to complete a management report on time - I really start to wonder what I'm working with.

[Sleuth]

Yes the pay, the expat benefits.

But for me it is the "living in another culture" feature, plus the travel. I will be close to all of SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand. If I were to head to Australia on vacation from Atlanta, it would take 2 days and--being an American--that is almost 1/2 the vacation period.

[Expatriate]

Any job is better than no job. And the salary is not too bad. The foreign culture is an additional incentive.

[Nutta!]

Coming from the west I like the level of 'respect' there is in society.

[Laughing_Monkey]

Originally Posted by Nutta!

Coming from the west I like the level of 'respect' there is in society.

Lol, how i've missed sarcasm

[lowlight]

I'm not an 'expat' but I came here because I love the city, love the culture, love the food, the shopping. And I want to have a good 'home base' from which to travel.. I already booked my first trip! To Taiwan

[goodkarma]

Some of us come here and get stuck because after opening businesses found the work culture here to be so inept that we can't leave. Our businesses are hard to sell because we should have been able to do triple the business.

It is the most dissappointing part of my life in Asia. Boring if not just plain ornary staff.

[HKNewBi]

I moved here from London mainly because I have a young daughter. I wanted her to grow up in a safe environment, with good weather, exposure of a new culture and to have a big garden and access to the beach.

I also really enjoy the ease in which stuff gets done over here. I am operating in what is to most people a second language and have 1/10th of the hassle I had back in London. For example, after I called up all my utility companies, banks, local council in England to say I am emigrating and need to settle my affairs, I have received no less than 5 court summons, or threats to summon, due to admin errors in not cancelling direct debits, accounts, following instructions. I just haven't come across such institutional incompetence over here.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by goodkarma

Some of us come here and get stuck because after opening businesses found the work culture here to be so inept that we can't leave. Our businesses are hard to sell because we should have been able to do triple the business.

It is the most dissappointing part of my life in Asia. Boring if not just plain ornary staff.

Hehe a poor workman always blames his tools!

Not sure why you think the work culture is so inept though, You ever tried working in U.K? now theres a bunch of slackers if ever I saw. At least with here money talks and can and will get things done a lot quicker if you know the right contacts.

The reason why I came over here is plainly due to the fact there are a lot more opportunties out here than in London for example.