10 Reasons to Live in Hong Kong

We previously shared our seven reasons to live and work abroad and now were going to tell you the 10 reasons to live in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong, which translates to ‘fragrant harbour’, is a vibrant and exciting city. The frenetic mix of modern skyscrapers and vast mountains makes this place truly unique and mesmerising.

As a major international financial centre, its low taxation and high standard of living have long attracted people from all over the world. So here are out top 10 reasons we think you should live here:

1. Travel

Hong Kong is the springboard to Asia and in a short amount of time you can catch affordable flights to a multitude of destinations including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, just to name a few! With approximately 15 bank holidays a year you can enjoy long weekends in places from Vietnam to Bali to Borneo. Need we say more?

2. Safety

Hong Kong has one of the lowest crime rates in the world despite the territory having one of the most densely populated urban regions. Often described as one of the safest cities in the world, low crime rates make Hong Kong the perfect place for you to settle down.

3. Landscape

Unbeknownst to some, Hong Kong is not just an urban jungle; it has plenty of outstanding countryside! Full of areas of exquisite natural beauty, this juxtaposition of the city and nature is truly breath-taking. Within 15 minutes you can be out of the city and on a beautiful beach or in the mountains. Take a breath from the hustle and explore the outlying islands, quaint villages or mountain trails.

Photo by Francis Kwan on Unsplash

4. Outdoor Playground

Hong Kong is composed of around 70 per cent green space, over 250 islands and more than 300 hills. With a wealth of outdoor activities on your doorstop you certainly won’t get bored. You can enjoy walking, hiking and running mountain trails, camping, climbing, cycling, beach barbeques, public swimming pools and let’s not forget about junk boat trips!

Water sports are also very popular in Hong Kong and you can get involved in sailing, wakeboarding, surfing, paddle boarding, windsurfing and kayaking.

Photo by Alejandra Ezquerro on Unsplash

5. Food

Hong Kong is renowned for being the ‘culinary capital of Asia’ and with over 11,000 restaurants to choose from you certainly won’t be going hungry.

Food in Hong Kong is varied and you can expect to find Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Lebanese cuisines as well as plenty of American, Italian and French restaurants in addition to the Cantonese delicacies. You can indulge in street food that costs a few Hong Kong Dollars or stunning Michelin star restaurants. Some say the food alone is reason enough to come to the city!

6. Transport

The transport system is modern, clean and most importantly, reliable. There is a variety of choices to get you from A to B and for a fraction of the price it would cost you anywhere else. These include taxis, MTR (tube/ subway), trams and buses. Hong Kong’s transport system is very efficient making it extremely convenient to get around

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7. Nightlife

Hong Kong certainly knows how to party and caters to all tastes! Drinking venues range from British style pubs and karaoke haunts through to upmarket cocktail bars.

Synonymous with partying, the bustling streets of Lan Kwai Fong are home to hundreds of bars and restaurants and just a short walk from LKF is the more sophisticated area of Soho which has something to suit all. Wan Chai offers live music bars, fantastic restaurants and there are still some hostess bars. If you head over to Kowloon side you can have fantastic views of the city’s neon skyline whilst enjoying a cocktail or two.

8. Taxes

Tax in Hong Kong is low, with personal income tax being capped at 17 per cent. Both residents and expats are taxed at either a progressive two per cent to 17 per cent depending on their income level, or a standard rate of 15 per cent. It’s not difficult to see why so many professionals from overseas move to Hong Kong.

9. Networking

The expat community in Hong Kong is incredibly friendly and it’s practically impossible not to network and socialise. If you want to make new friends, meet peers in your industry or find someone who shares similar interests then there will be a meet up group for you! Socialising is a big part of living here and a great way to network and meet people is to get involved with one of the Hong Kong sports clubs. Let’s not forget that FDM hold monthly events for all staff and Consultants in Hong Kong!

10. Culture

Hong Kong is a regarded as a place where ‘east meets west’ and where the old and the new live side by side. Its incense-filled temples, colonial buildings and glass-and-steel skyscrapers, along with its ancient traditions and lively festivals, have made Hong Kong a living cultural experience.

Living in this Asian metropolis can truly be a life-changing experience and these are just a few reasons we think the quality of life in Hong Kong surpasses other cities.

If you are interested in tech career opportunities in Hong Kong then please apply via our website

Featured image credit: Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash 

Updated 20 June, 2019