The majority of expatriates who have spent any time living and working in Hong Kong will speak very favourably of their time in the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.  You’re likely to learn that Hong Kong is an extremely exciting place to live and work, that the pace of life can be quite frenetic but that on many important levels Hong Kong manages to offer a true balance between east and west, ancient and modern, a fast pace of life and a relaxed attitude to life.

It’s this unique symbiosis of dramatically variant values and states of being that make Hong Kong a great place to live for an international expatriate seeking a totally new way of life and a refreshing new experience.  Furthermore there’s a wealth of employment options available to expatriates determined to relocate to Hong Kong and a great international community already in situ making the transition that much smoother for expatriates and their families.

The very first issue to address when discussing moving to live full time in Hong Kong is one of entry, residence and work visas and permits.  For the most comprehensive and bang up to date information and advice the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s immigration website is excellent.  It details each and every condition and exception to each and every visa type available and you can also download all your application forms from the site and learn about where you can apply for the visa type applicable to your own situation.

A very quick and brief overview of the main criteria and restrictions that apply to those planning on living and working in Hong Kong is as follows – basically you have to abide by the rules, in many countries around the world temporary immigration policies are quite easy to work with but in Hong Kong don’t try and beat the system!  Those with an offer of employment and who have a degree or at least extensive experience in the field in which they will be working and whose employer can prove that they cannot find a local citizen to fill the post in question will be granted a work visa and their dependents can accompany them on a dependent’s visa. 

Citizens of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand can apply for visas under the working holiday scheme and those travelling to Hong Kong for a holiday or to seek work can begin by applying for a visit visa.  The current address to send applications to is The Immigration Department, 24/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong - although as stated a close eye should be kept on Hong Kong’s immigration website as specific details can change at any time.

The most pressing concern for those moving to Hong Kong will initially be securing employment.  The main sectors employing international professionals are IT, banking and finance, telecommunications and the import and export business.  Temporary assignments are often taken by expats in the fields of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) as rates of pay in Hong Kong tend to be far more favourable than elsewhere in the Middle East and Asia, and other areas favoured by those looking for short term or lesser skilled employment are child care, retail and domestic work.

Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China in 1997 and ever since China began opening its doors successfully to international trade and utilizing Hong Kong more and more as a re-export centre it has become important in Hong Kong to speak Mandarin and any expatriate who can do so will be greatly advantaged.  Having said that English is spoken and widely understood in Hong Kong and it is the official language next to Chinese with Cantonese the most spoken dialect.  Expatriates who make an effort to learn Cantonese will find life easier and more enjoyable in Hong Kong.

The second most pressing concern for those relocating to Hong Kong will be securing housing – which is not always easy!  Because space on Hong Kong Island is literally at a premium rental rates can be extortionate.  Those looking to get more for their money will explore options such as house sharing or moving out to the New Territories.  Most expatriates rent property in Hong Kong and the majority of rental contracts are for two years although some landlords will offer shorter tenancy agreements; there are other alternatives available to those who don’t plan on staying in Hong Kong for so long such as serviced apartments and informal flat sharing arrangements for example.

With the major concerns and issues aside it’s time to get down to enjoying life in one of Asia’s most vibrant and exciting cities where expatriates can either choose to embrace a fast pace or step away from the crowds and the invigorating buzz of the city and the unfortunate pollution levels and enjoy the city’s extensive parks, the waterfront or even a fairly deserted stretch of beach.