A Smooth Transition Ahead: Moving Hacks for Hong Kong Expats
Hong Kong, Asia’s most developed city and home to 7.4 million people, is a popular destination for expats. Some notable reasons why Hong Kong is a favorite among expats include cultural diversity, delicious food, career development opportunities, a global community, and a modern feel.
While moving to Hong Kong may be a bit daunting for some, the process doesn’t always have to be a headache. In this blog post by Pacific Prime Hong Kong, we will be going over some moving hacks for expats moving to Hong Kong to ensure a hassle-free transition.
Language
Thanks to the wide usage of the English language, Hong Kong is a popular destination for expats. Additionally, English is also one of two official languages for the city, along with Cantonese. Most people will be able to speak fluent English and business dealings are generally done in English.
On the other hand, Cantonese is spoken by local citizens. While English is widely used, it’s advisable that you either study some basic Cantonese or bring along a friend or family member to serve as a translator.
This will especially come in handy if, for example, you’re doing grocery shopping, taking public transportation, or seeking healthcare at a local hospital or clinic and you need to communicate with non-multilingual staff.
If you do not speak Chinese and you would like to seek healthcare in Hong Kong, you will be happy to hear that private healthcare in Hong Kong will allow access to not only less-crowded hospitals with shorter waiting times, but also multilingual medical staff.
While private healthcare is more expensive than its public counterpart, the additions such as free specialist and hospital selections as well as multilingual staff makes up for it. An excellent way to get access to coverage in private healthcare facilities is health insurance.
Culture
Local citizens in Hong Kong are ethnic Chinese and the government observes most of China’s traditions and customs. This includes public holidays and the use of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
However, due to British colonial history, Western traditions such as Christmas and Easter are also warmly embraced. For this reason, Hong Kong has one of Asia’s most open societies where anyone can safely practice their own traditions and customs.
Weather
Hong Kong has four main seasons – spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Spring (March-May) is warm and humid while summer (June-August) is hot and wet. Autumn (September-November) is moderate in temperature and winter (December-February) is cool and dry.
Temperature will range from an average of 16°C in January to 29°C in July, though temperatures in Hong Kong generally remain in their 20s for the majority of the year.
The average rainfall in Hong Kong is considerably less settled and there is typically a 50% chance of rain accompanied by occasional thunderstorms between May and September. However, from November to March, Hong Kong experiences a long period of settled weather with almost no rain.
Additionally, Hong Kong’s typhoon season lasts from May to November. In the event a typhoon is approaching, there will be warnings on TVs and radios. Most businesses and shops will close down, and flights may be cancelled during this time.
By knowing weather expectancies, expats can efficiently plan their daily routine. For instance, if heavy rainfall affects traffic, expats can instead opt for public transportation such as the train to avoid time-consuming traffic congestion.
Additionally, knowing weather expectancies can also help expats prevent heatstroke amidst excessive heat during the summer.
Food
Hong Kong cuisine parallels that of the Guangdong province and southern China. Food is generally ordered and eaten together, meaning all dishes are shared among the group.
While there are numerous restaurants offering local cuisine, there are also first-class restaurants featuring a wide range of international cuisine. With so many options to choose from, expats can comb through cuisine choices as they would like.
Transportation
Despite the high population density, getting around Hong Kong is straightforward thanks to the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) system. The MTR is a major public transport network in Hong Kong, encompassing heavy and light rail as well as feeder bus services.
The public transport network serves the urbanized areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. As mentioned before, taking the train will allow expats to avoid time-consuming traffic congestion in the event of traffic accidents or heavy rainfall.
Living Costs
Hong Kong is one of the most expensive places to live due to the scarcity of land, making property expensive for high-demand areas. The cost of property in Hong Kong will vary depending on the property type (such as high and low-rise houses or condos, or penthouse suites) and the location.
For instance, a property under 40 square meters at Hong Kong Island is approximately HKD $164,716 while a 40-69.9 square meter apartment in Hong Kong Island will cost around HKD $162,685 per square meter.
Groceries
While property prices in Hong Kong are expensive, Hong Kong features competitive market prices when it comes to groceries due to the thriving retail industry and competition among retailers. For this reason, expats can enjoy affordable groceries without compromising quality.
Grocery stores such as convenience stores or supermarkets are also conveniently located in every neighborhood, allowing access to groceries. From local items to international imports, grocery stores in Hong Kong cater to various preferences, ensuring there’s something for everyone on store shelves.
Conclusion
While property prices in Hong Kong are overwhelmingly expensive, other factors such as convenient access to groceries, the moderate weather, the wide use of English as a spoken language, delicious food, and public transportation makes up for it.
By doing your research on crucial factors such as the weather in each month as well as property and grocery prices, expats can seamlessly transition to a fresh start in Hong Kong in no time!
As an international health insurance broker, Pacific Prime Hong Kong has helped match both expats and locals to a health insurance plan that suits both their budget range and specific healthcare needs.
Whether you’re a local citizen in Hong Kong yourself or an expat, our team of specialists are more than happy to help you out. And if you have any further questions, please get in touch with us.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts, Media & Communication major (concentration: Creative Content) from Mahidol University International College (MUIC). During the compulsory major elective period in the summer of 2021 and voluntarily during the summer of 2022, he also interned as a video and photo editor at Mbrella Films.
He has experience working as an English Content Writer at a real estate buying/renting/selling platform in Thonglor. There, he crafted company blog posts on a multitude of topics. Topics include market trends, legal issues and disputes in property businesses, financial guides, expat guides, home insurance, home decoration and maintenance, and weekly real estate news quick-recaps. Occasionally, as part of the blog-writing process, he would also translate existing Thai blogs to English.
In his free time, Guy enjoys doing scriptwriting and storytelling for comic strips, watching movies, and listening to music (particularly film scores).
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