Shipping and removals to Hong Kong tend to be straightforward. The city is one of the world’s busiest ports, so shipping firms are plentiful and deliveries arrive quickly.

Hong Kong is a free port, so your household effects clear customs free of duty and tax, no matter their value or quantity. You’ll pay duty only on a short list of goods such as liquor and tobacco, which seldom crop up in a household move.

If you have secured a shipping allowance through your contract, or you simply want the most hassle-free way to get your belongings to Hong Kong, we recommend hiring an international removals company. These firms send someone round to look over your belongings and quote for the size of crate you’ll need.

Newcomers often don’t know that the management companies of older Hong Kong buildings may ask that you book the lift and get sign-off before move-in day. It’s best to sort this out with your building management or estate agent well ahead of time.

Shipping household goods to Hong Kong

Before shipping household goods to Hong Kong, work out what is genuinely worth bringing and what you can replace more cheaply once you arrive. Furniture is the obvious place to start. Anything bought for another city may not fit into a Hong Kong flat (which will likely be smaller), and precious family heirlooms may be safer at a family member’s home or in a storage unit than on a long voyage across the sea.

IKEA has several stores across Hong Kong where you can pick up good-quality furniture, and it runs a delivery and installation service for anyone whose toolkit didn’t make the journey. Departing residents also offload furniture on local secondhand marketplaces and community noticeboards, sometimes for a small fee and sometimes just the cost of collection.

What you pay to ship the rest depends on the volume of your shipment, the method you choose, the distance it travels, and whether you insure it. Air freight is faster but far pricier than sea freight, so to keep costs down, split the shipment. Send whatever you’ll need straight away by air (or pack it in your flight luggage), and let the rest follow by sea.

Expat employees on a relocation package should try to negotiate a shipping allowance into their contract. Typical offers include both an air freight and a sea freight allowance. These usually cover the move out to Hong Kong and the journey home when the contract ends.

Relocation Companies in Hong Kong

Shipping pets to Hong Kong

Hong Kongers love their animals, and shipping pets to Hong Kong is a common practice. Even so, think hard about whether the move really suits your animal before you commit. Hong Kong flats are small, green space is not always close at hand, pet-friendly rentals can be hard to find, and dogs are barred from many of the city’s public parks. 

Some areas are far kinder to pet owners than others. Discovery Bay is a long-standing favourite with dog owners, and in the greener parts of the New Territories, such as Sai Kung, animals have room to roam.

Beyond finding the right home, you’ll want to get the costs and paperwork straight, and this starts with quarantine. Whether your pet has to go into quarantine depends on where it travels from. 

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) sorts countries and places into four risk groups. Pets from the lowest-risk group, which includes rabies-free countries such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, usually avoid quarantine altogether, provided you meet all the permit conditions. Pets from higher-risk groups must complete a minimum quarantine period, and government kennels are often fully booked well in advance, so start the process early.

Before travel, your pet must be microchipped to the recognised international (ISO) standard and vaccinated against the usual infectious diseases. Rabies rules are strict, and some pets require a rabies antibody blood test and a waiting period before they can fly. Your pet will also need a Special Permit from the AFCD before it travels. The permit is valid for six months and covers a single consignment, so time your application to line up with your move.

Some breeds won’t be allowed in at all. The AFCD bans several fighting-dog breeds and their crossbreeds: the Pit Bull Terrier (also called the American Staffordshire Terrier), the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Braziliero. Savannah cats are off the list too, and Bengal cats are allowed only with documents that prove at least five generations of distance from their wild ancestor.

Useful links

• AFCD: Import of Dogs and Cats

The standard of education and schools in Hong Kong is high. While public schools are well regarded academically, the curriculum is mainly taught in Cantonese. This can be a dealbreaker for some families, especially those staying only a short time or those whose children are too old to pick up the language quickly.

Another concern parents may have about public schooling in Hong Kong is its reputation for rote learning. The government has considerably reformed the curriculum in recent years, so the system is now more modern and well rounded.

To ease the move, most expat families enrol their children in private international schools instead. Because Hong Kong is so international, expat children have plenty of schools and English-speaking teachers to choose from.

Public schools in Hong Kong

The government fully funds public schools in Hong Kong and offers free education to all children. It has also introduced language and cultural support programmes for non-Chinese-speaking children, which are most effective when a child is young enough to pick up the language quickly. Older children have less of that head start, so picking up the language can take them longer.

Education in Hong Kong is compulsory from primary school to junior secondary school, although most students complete senior secondary school too. The system is divided into four stages:

• Kindergarten (ages 3 to 6)
• Primary (ages 6 to 12)
• Junior secondary (ages 12 to 15)
• Senior secondary (ages 15 to 18)

Families settling in Hong Kong for the long haul can benefit from the cultural integration that local schools offer. Most expats still choose international schools, though, particularly those on a limited-term assignment.

Useful links

• Education Bureau

International schools in Hong Kong

Many international schools in Hong Kong teach the curriculum of their founding country, or an internationally recognised programme such as the International Baccalaureate. American and British curricula are the most common, but you will also find schools following the Canadian, French, German, and Japanese systems.

Fees are typically high, and families whose relocation package does not include a school allowance can find them a real stretch. Demand is high, so securing a place can be tricky, especially for children arriving mid-year or beyond kindergarten age.

English Schools Foundation

Some expat families enrol in schools run by the English Schools Foundation (ESF), which operates more than 20 international schools across Hong Kong. All of them follow the International Baccalaureate curriculum. ESF schools have traditionally been cheaper than other international schools, thanks to a government subsidy that is now being phased out, so the price gap is narrowing. They are not academically selective, and admission is not tied to where you live, so getting a place is more straightforward than elsewhere, although waiting lists can still be long.

International Schools in Hong Kong

Special educational needs in Hong Kong

International schools differ sharply in how they handle special educational needs in Hong Kong. Some cater only for mild learning difficulties, while others run more extensive support systems for a wider range of needs. A few try to keep children with additional needs in mainstream classes where possible, while others admit only pupils with special educational needs.

Expat parents who want quality provision should take time to research their options. The aim is a genuine fit between school and child, so look for somewhere with the right experience and resources to meet your child’s particular needs. Local special needs associations are a good place to gather recommendations and get to grips with the system.

Specialist providers include the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School, an ESF-run, English-medium special school for school-age children with more complex needs. Alongside it, several local charities run early intervention centres that carry out assessments and provide therapies for younger children.

Useful links

• Integrated Education and Special Education Online
• ESF Jockey Club Sarah Roe School

Homeschooling in Hong Kong

The laws around homeschooling in Hong Kong are vague, but families who plan to homeschool are generally expected to notify the Hong Kong Education Bureau first. The Bureau assesses each case individually and may ask parents for a detailed education plan covering their aims, teaching methods, how they will assess progress, and their own suitability to teach. Several local homeschooling groups can point you in the right direction.

Useful links

• Hong Kong Education Bureau
• Hong Kong Homeschool Association
• HK Homeschool Community

Tutors in Hong Kong

Plenty of families hire tutors in Hong Kong, where schooling is intensely competitive. More than half of the city’s secondary students take private tutoring, and among those in their final year, the share is higher still, above 70 percent. A tutor can also help an expat child settle into an unfamiliar system.

You can hire a tutor for anything from general help with school subjects to keeping up a child’s mother tongue or building their Mandarin. Because their previous school covered different ground, expat children sometimes arrive behind in a subject or two, and a tutor is a good way to close the gap.

Tutoring here is big business, so you will be spoilt for choice. Research your options thoroughly before settling on anyone, and ask your child’s school for recommendations, as they can often suggest someone reliable. Larger tutoring groups include the i-Seven Education Center and British Tutors.

Useful links

• i-Seven Education Center
• British Tutors

Expats rarely run out of things to see and do in Hong Kong, a city whose energy is hard to match anywhere else in the world. The city is always changing, and expats find this former British colony all the more fascinating for the ongoing influence of mainland China. New restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries open all the time, and there is already a long list of established attractions to work through.

English is one of the city’s official languages and is widely spoken, so expats can ask for directions and find their way around without much trouble.

Recommended attractions in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Disneyland

Millions of visitors pass through Hong Kong Disneyland each year, and it is one of the city’s biggest family attractions. Whether you are young in years or just young at heart, there is plenty to keep you entertained, from themed rides and restaurants to parades and photo opportunities with much-loved Disney characters.

Hong Kong Museum of History

New arrivals who want to learn more about Hong Kong’s transition from a fishing settlement to a global financial hub can spend a rewarding afternoon at the Hong Kong Museum of History. Its permanent exhibition is full of recreated street scenes and interactive digital displays, and entry is free.

Aberdeen Harbour

On the southern shore of Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen is known for its Tanka boat-dwelling families. A small number still live on the water, and from the promenade you can see their houseboats and sampans moored among fishing trawlers and gleaming private yachts. Behind them, the shoreline is packed with high-rises. A short sampan ride is the best way to take in the harbour, and the elderly Tanka boatwomen along the Aberdeen Promenade tend to find you before you find them.

Victoria Peak

Expats who ride the Peak Tram to the summit of Victoria Peak get some of the finest views in Hong Kong, out across the skyline and Victoria Harbour. It is the ideal way to get your bearings in your new home and take in the chaotic beauty of the place. Up top, you can browse the shops in the Peak Tower or grab a bite at one of the restaurants with views over the city. The tram is the oldest funicular in Asia, and queues can be long, so many expats ride up and take a bus back down, or vice versa.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Worshippers flock to Wong Tai Sin Temple, one of the most popular in Hong Kong, to leave offerings for a Taoist deity said to have healing powers and to grant the wishes of sincere petitioners. The temple is best known for kau cim, a form of fortune-telling. You shake a bamboo cylinder until a single numbered stick drops out, then swap it for a paper slip and take that to one of the readers in the fortune-teller arcade for an interpretation. Wong Tai Sin MTR station on the Kwun Tong line is a short walk away.

Newcomers’ experience of local culture in Hong Kong may prove gentler than they expect, especially if they come from an English-speaking country. As a former British colony, the territory still does much of its business, courts, and government in English, so you’ll find the language widely used, even if everyday fluency varies from one resident to the next.

Hong Kong is cosmopolitan and religiously diverse too, and most newcomers settle in without much friction. With a population of roughly 7.5 million packed into one of the world’s densest urban areas, Hong Kong can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve arrived from a smaller town.

The bigger adjustment tends to be sensory. A vertical wall of high-rises, the neon glow, the crowds, and the relentless pace of the streets can unsettle even seasoned travellers, who still need time to find their feet.

Language barrier in Hong Kong

Most Hong Kongers speak both Cantonese and English, and their command of Mandarin has grown as ties with the mainland have deepened. That easy bilingualism can make Cantonese harder to learn than you’d think, since locals tend to switch straight to English the moment they spot a foreigner attempting a few words, whether out of politeness or to practise their own. Cantonese is a tonal language, so a small change in pitch can turn one word into something else entirely, which trips up many beginners.

English is common in offices, on public transport and in most shops, although it thins out among older residents and in traditional wet markets or family-run corner shops. Even then, you’re rarely stuck for long, since a little pointing and the figures on a calculator screen usually settle a purchase.

You’ll also pick up some distinctly local English. Hong Kongers pepper their speech with ‘add oil!’ ( ‘keep going’), a direct rendering of the Cantonese gaa yau, and the phrase became so common that the Oxford English Dictionary adopted it in 2018. 

Written Chinese here uses traditional characters, so the script looks different from the simplified version found across the border.

Cultural differences in Hong Kong

You’ll encounter countless unspoken rules in Hong Kong, and most of them sink in simply by living here. 

Personal space is the first thing to recalibrate. In one of the most crowded corners of the world, the Western idea of a personal bubble barely exists in public, and you can expect to stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers on the MTR, in lifts and along the pavement. Nobody will apologise for the odd bump, since stopping to say sorry for each one would bring the crowds to a standstill. None of this signals an invitation to get familiar, though, as locals are fairly reserved with strangers and rarely strike up conversation on the train.

Queuing, by contrast, is treated with real seriousness. Orderly lines form for buses, bakeries, and cash machines alike, and cutting in – or pushing onto a train before passengers have stepped off – will earn you a sharp word or two in public.

Meeting and greeting in Hong Kong

First encounters in Hong Kong tend to be understated. Hong Kongers will generally greet you with a light handshake and a small nod when first introduced, and you may notice that locals have a more measured approach to physical contact and eye contact than many Westerners.

In business settings, colleagues usually address one another by title and surname until invited to do otherwise. Younger and more international crowds move to first names quickly.

Business cards matter more here than you might assume. When someone offers theirs, accept it with both hands and take a moment to read it before putting it away, since treating the card carelessly reads as a slight to its owner.

Socialising in Hong Kong

You’ll get much further socially in Hong Kong once you understand ‘face’ as a concept. Face amounts to a person’s dignity and public standing in the eyes of others, and it can be given, saved, or lost. Criticising someone in public or losing your temper in front of others will make them lose face, and such a slip can sour a relationship for good.

You give face in the other direction through sincere compliments and visible respect. That instinct connects to guanxi, the web of relationships and favours behind much of daily life and business here. Grabbing the dinner bill is a classic way to build it, and rather than splitting the tab, hosts often compete to pay the whole thing. As the guest, make a genuine show of trying to pay, even when you’re destined to lose the tussle.

Tea is central to social life here, from a quick catch-up to the leisurely weekend ritual of yum cha, which loosely means ‘drink tea’. Keep an eye on the cups around you, because an empty one gets refilled almost at once, and when you top up your own, you fill your companions’ first. When someone pours for you, tap two fingers on the table to say a silent thank you – a gesture said to date back to a Qing dynasty emperor whose servants couldn’t bow without giving away his disguise.

Eating in Hong Kong

Meals in Hong Kong are usually communal spreads of shared dishes in the middle of the table. Hong Kong meals come with a few rituals, although you’ll mostly encounter them at formal occasions. 

Let the host or the eldest person start first, and leave a little food on the serving plates. Avoid taking the very last morsel, since it hints that the host underfed the table.

Nearly every restaurant beyond the smallest will bring you a knife and fork on request, but it’s still worth learning to handle chopsticks properly while you’re living here. A few basic courtesies go a long way:

• Try not to fiddle with your chopsticks while you talk.
• When you pause between bites, rest them neatly on the chopstick holder.
• Never stand them upright in a bowl of rice, as the pose echoes the incense burned for the dead and reads as inviting death to the table.
• Avoid pointing or gesturing at anyone with them.
• With a whole fish, resist flipping it over to reach the underside, which local lore likens to a boat capsizing; slide the top fillet aside and lift the bone away instead.

Fresh food shopping can be its own culture shock. Traditional wet markets trade in live seafood and just-butchered meat from open stalls, and regulars build a rapport with a favourite fishmonger or butcher who then sets aside the best cuts for them.

Superstitions in Hong Kong

A few old superstitions still surface in everyday surroundings. In Cantonese, the word for ‘four’ sounds almost like the word for ‘death’, so many residential and office towers skip every floor numbered 4, and you’ll sometimes step into a lift where the buttons jump from 3 straight to 5, or from 12 to 15. The number eight sounds like the word for wealth, and locals will often pay a premium for phone numbers and addresses with it.

During the seventh month of the lunar calendar, usually falling across August and September, locals observe the Hungry Ghost Festival, and you’ll come across offerings of fruit and burning joss paper left on pavements and outside buildings at dusk. Don’t be surprised if friends postpone a house move or an evening swim until the month has passed.

Time in Hong Kong

Time management is important in Hong Kong, especially in the workplace. It’s disrespectful to turn up late to a meeting, so give yourself some margin, especially when the MTR is packed. The working culture is fast paced, and Hong Kongers often stay well past the role’s official hours, which can surprise arrivals who are used to a firmer line between work and home.

Timekeeping is far more relaxed outside of work, though, and it won’t raise eyebrows if you’re running 10 or 15 minutes late for a casual dinner with friends.

Bureaucracy in Hong Kong

Dealing with bureaucracy in Hong Kong is refreshingly straightforward by regional standards. Government departments are efficient, corruption is rare, and most forms and services are available in English as well as Chinese, often online. Soon after you arrive, you’ll register for a Hong Kong Identity Card. It quickly becomes the document you reach for when opening a bank account or signing a lease.

Weather in Hong Kong

There are few things in Hong Kong that will test new arrivals as harshly as the humidity. Come spring, a phenomenon that locals call Hui Nan Tian, or ‘returning south’ weather, blows in the warm, wet sea air. Humidity can climb above 90 percent, and it condenses on cool indoor surfaces and leaves your walls, floors, and windows dripping.

Hong Kong’s typhoon season lasts roughly from May to November. When the Hong Kong Observatory raises Signal No. 8, the territory effectively pauses – schools shut, most offices send staff home, shops pull down their shutters, and public transport winds down. Your first ‘T8’ at home, when a busy metropolis suddenly falls quiet, becomes something of a rite of passage, so it’s worth knowing your employer’s bad weather policy before the season starts.

One piece of local wisdom is worth adopting early: invest in a good dehumidifier. It becomes essential through the damp spring months, since it keeps mould off your clothes, shoes, leather goods, and electronics.

LGBTQ+ in Hong Kong

Hong Kong ranks among the more open places in the region for LGBTQ+ residents, with an established community and long-running annual events. Homosexuality is legal, and daily life in the city’s more international districts is generally relaxed. Same-sex marriage and civil partnerships are not legally recognised, though, and anti-discrimination protection is still limited, so acceptance still varies and tends to be more reserved among older and more traditional residents.

LGBTQ+, Diversity and Inclusion in Hong Kong

Women in Hong Kong

Women moving to Hong Kong generally find it a comfortable and safe base, with low levels of violent crime and easy freedom of movement around the clock. Plenty of women hold senior roles across business, law and public service, even as a pay gap and thinner representation at the very top persist. Everyday harassment is relatively uncommon by regional standards, although the packed rush-hour MTR calls for the usual big-city awareness.

Gender Equality and Women in Leadership in Hong Kong

You can sum up the expat lifestyle in Hong Kong with a phrase often used for the world’s biggest cities: ‘work hard, play hard.’ Nearly everybody does both. There are always restaurants to dine at, bars for a drink, clubs to dance in, and sights to see.

Expats working in Hong Kong often live their social lives at the same pace and with the same efficiency expected of them in the business world. After long, demanding days at the office, locals and foreigners alike have a wealth of options, from ostentatious luxury to the city’s great outdoors and cultural life.

Wealthy foreigners have long been drawn to Hong Kong by lucrative salaries, country club memberships, domestic helpers, and glamorous homes, so expats lucky enough to live in luxury have no shortage of options. Full expat packages have become less common, but those on more realistic payslips can still stay fit, entertained, well fed, and culturally engaged.

It isn’t always necessary to pay top dollar. The nightlife and shopping aimed at expats can be pricey, but there’s an endless supply of reasonably priced local equivalents. If you have a sense of adventure, this subtropical city also has plenty of outdoor options, from hiking trails and beaches to public barbecue sites.

Shopping in Hong Kong

The shopping in Hong Kong is legendary, and it’s easy for high-income expats to quickly become aisle-cruising addicts in an Asian hub with no sales tax and an impressive inventory of designer boutiques.

Flashy designer labels are extremely popular, especially with Hong Kong locals and mainland Chinese shoppers. Developers have kept pace, and parts of the city can feel like one endless chain of shopping centres.

The Landmark, IFC Mall, Harbour City, Pacific Place, Elements, and Times Square are just a few of them. Big names such as Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci are everywhere, and high-street brands such as Zara and American Eagle are available as well.

Locals and tourists love the markets, and so do expats. Ladies’ Market, Jardine’s Crescent Market, Temple Street Night Market, and Stanley Market are among the best known. Haggling isn’t accepted everywhere, so watch what other shoppers do before you try to negotiate. Where it is fair game, you’ll usually have more luck bargaining over a bulk buy than over a single small item.

Eating out in Hong Kong

Part of the fun of eating out in Hong Kong is the sheer variety of cuisines from all over the world. More than 75 restaurants have Michelin stars. Some of the best meals, though, come from the cooked food centres and dai pai dong (open-air food stalls) at markets such as Kowloon City Market, Bowrington Market, Queen Street Cooked Food Market, and the Java Road Cooked Food Centre, where the fare is excellent and the prices low.

For high-end dining, look to Central, The Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Wan Chai. Diners in these areas get harbour and ocean views on the side. The bill will be high, so if you’re planning on luxury bites, budget carefully.

Nightlife and entertainment in Hong Kong

You’ll find plenty of nightlife in Hong Kong once the sun goes down, from luxury lounges to hole-in-the-wall craft beer spots. For trendy clubs, head to Lan Kwai Fong, where the crowds spill out of buzzing nightclubs and swanky rooftop terraces onto the pavement below.

An occasional big night out is good fun, but some expats want something more refined. Live music bars and jazz clubs are dotted around the city. Lan Kwai Fong can feel heavily geared to tourists and expats, so many longtime residents point newcomers towards SoHo and Peel Street, or the Star Street area over in Wan Chai, for a more local, music-led night.

Best Attractions and Sightseeing in Hong Kong

Outdoor activities and sports in Hong Kong

Outdoor activities and sports in Hong Kong are easy to come by, whether you want to break a sweat or make friends.

Many expats use the facilities at the city’s private membership clubs, which have pools, gyms, tennis courts, and squash courts. You can also sign up for a standalone gym or a specialist club, such as a yoga studio or a boxing gym. Whatever your sport, there’s a place to do it.

Hong Kong has little spare land, but hiking is hugely popular all the same, and the contrast between the green hills and the towering glass-and-steel buildings is spectacular. The Hong Kong Trail is a 31-mile (50km) route across the forests and ridges of Hong Kong Island. It starts at Victoria Peak, ends at Big Wave Bay, and passes through five country parks along the way. Another popular option, the Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail, is a well-trodden path from near the University of Hong Kong up to Victoria Peak.

If you want to get out on the water, you can try windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Windsurfers head to the beaches at Stanley and Sai Kung, as well as Cheung Chau, which is famous as the home of Olympic windsurfing champion Lee Lai-shan. Waterskiing and wakeboarding lessons are on offer around Tai Tam and Sai Kung. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department also runs several water sports centres where you can hire equipment and take courses.

Watching sport is a social event in its own right. The biggest fixture is the Hong Kong Sevens. Every spring, fans in fancy dress fill the stands for the three-day rugby tournament, which moved in 2025 to the new 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. The stadium is the centrepiece of Kai Tak Sports Park, which was built on the site of the old airport. Midweek, expats and locals pack Happy Valley Racecourse for Wednesday-night horse racing, one of the city’s best-loved evenings out.

Meeting people and making friends in Hong Kong

Socialising can feel daunting at first, but meeting people and making friends in Hong Kong is easier than it looks. Newcomers tend to connect through shared interests, whether that’s a hiking group, a sports team, a volunteering drive, or a business networking event. Expat clubs and online platforms such as Meetup are a good first port of call, and you’ll find clubs and societies for just about every nationality and hobby.

Read more about how to Meet People and Make Friends in Hong Kong and the Best Clubs and Societies in Hong Kong.

The weather in Hong Kong is subtropical. You can expect mild, dry winters and hot, humid summers. The rainy season is a long one, from spring into summer, and most of the year’s rain falls in these months.

Spring in Hong Kong, from March to May, is marked by rising temperatures and increased humidity as summer approaches. Days are often mild and pleasant, but spring is also the dampest stretch of the year. Warm, moist air blows in from the sea and cools over the still chilly ground, so thick fog and drizzle are common, and visibility can be poor. Most people here rely on a dehumidifier to keep mould off clothes and cupboards.

Summer runs from May to September, and it is the hottest, stickiest season in Hong Kong. Daytime highs are around 91°F (33°C), and hotter days are common. Air conditioning is a fact of life indoors, and nights are warm too, often above 77°F (25°C). You can expect thunderstorms, heavy showers, sudden squalls, and typhoons.

Autumn in Hong Kong, from October to early December, is the finest season of the year. By now, the humidity has dropped, and the skies are clear. Days are warm and sunny with a light breeze. Rain is uncommon, and temperatures are comfortable rather than stifling.

Winter runs from December to February in Hong Kong, and temperatures are usually between 59°F and 68°F (15°C to 20°C). Every so often, a cold front arrives from the mainland, so keep a jacket handy. Snow is all but unheard of, and frost forms only on the highest ground, such as Tai Mo Shan.

Typhoons in Hong Kong can strike from May to November, and July to September is the peak. Apart from gale-force winds, the biggest hazard is rain. Downpours can last for days at a time, and the flooding and landslides that follow can be dangerous. The Hong Kong Observatory tracks each storm and broadcasts warnings on radio and television, as well as on its website and the MyObservatory app.
 

Kids and families in Hong Kong might not seem an obvious match at first. Moving here with children can seem daunting; expats may picture hurried office workers, crowded MTR trains, towering skyscrapers, and packed street markets, and then dread the thought of bringing little ones into such a hectic place.

In reality, Hong Kong can be an extremely friendly and safe place to raise a family. While expat life in Hong Kong can be frenzied, foreigners will be pleasantly surprised by how kindly their children are treated. Strangers often stop to help a child tie a shoelace or steady a wobbling toddler on a crowded train.

Set this friendly attitude alongside everything there is for families to do, and it is hard to deny that Hong Kong is a genuinely child-friendly city.

Health and safety for expats with kids in Hong Kong

Health and safety are two of Hong Kong's strongest suits for expat families. Violent crime is rare, and parents can feel fairly relaxed about letting their children out to play. Hong Kong is regularly rated one of the world's safest major cities, and most residents are comfortable walking around after dark. Older kids who can manage the public transport system on their own do so without giving their parents much cause for worry.

Hong Kong is one of the healthiest places in the world in terms of life expectancy and infant mortality. The territory has two parallel healthcare systems. A heavily subsidised public network under the Hospital Authority is open to anyone with a Hong Kong ID card, whatever their nationality. Most expats also use the large private sector, which they reach through employer insurance. Standards are high on both sides, though at public hospitals you can wait a long time in A&E for anything that isn't urgent.

Air quality in Hong Kong is something worth watching. The main local source of pollution is roadside traffic, and the skies turn hazy when regional smog blows in from the mainland. Keep an eye out for damp and mould, which older flats are prone to. Some expat parents run air purifiers at home. If your child has asthma or a similar condition, speak to your doctor about managing it before and after you arrive.

Public Transport in Hong Kong
Healthcare in Hong Kong

Family-friendly housing in Hong Kong

Space is the big adjustment when it comes to family-friendly housing in Hong Kong. The city is densely populated, and most families live in high-rise flats far smaller than the houses they left behind. On a rainy day, you feel every square foot, especially when the kids are cooped up indoors.

On the island, it is fairly uncommon for families to have a garden as most living is done vertically, and personal space comes at a premium.

In the New Territories and outlying islands, there is more room to breathe. Families can buy or rent homes with proper gardens and sea views, and the pace is far more rural than on Hong Kong Island. Some expats settle out here to escape the crush of the city. The trade-off is the commute, which gets longer the further out you live, so families weigh the extra space against the daily journey before committing.

Areas and Suburbs in Hong Kong

Education in Hong Kong

Good schools are plentiful, but education in Hong Kong is competitive, and parents snap up the sought-after places early in the year, so start your research as soon as you can. The registration process can be stressful, and you will need to pull together a fair amount of paperwork.

International schools in Hong Kong charge fees at several points along the way. There's an application fee up front, then a registration or entry fee once your child has a place. In addition to tuition, expect an annual capital levy (sometimes called a building fee) for campus upkeep and development. Many of the sought-after schools also run debentures or nomination rights. These are large, one-off payments. Some are refundable when your child leaves, others are not, so read the terms before you commit. Whatever route you take, keep an eye on payment deadlines, because schools enforce them strictly.

Education and Schools in Hong Kong

Entertainment for kids in Hong Kong

Country hikes, ferry rides, museums, and camping trips into the New Territories are all part of the entertainment for kids in Hong Kong, on the island and off it. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park are the obvious headline draws, and families never run out of things to do around them.

Once you have worked through the big-ticket attractions, plenty remains for expat kids in Hong Kong. Most districts have youth sports leagues, public swimming pools, playgrounds, and mothers' groups. The government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department runs much of this, from the beaches and public pools to hundreds of playgrounds across the city.

What to See and Do in Hong Kong

Clubs and societies in Hong Kong are extremely popular with expats, and many are centuries-old institutions.

For expats, these clubs often become a home away from home. They typically have bars, restaurants, gyms, and swimming pools, and many run a regular calendar of social events. Joining one is an excellent way to meet like-minded expats and make friends in Hong Kong.

Club membership in Hong Kong

There are two broad tiers of club membership in Hong Kong. The most exclusive clubs operate waiting lists, and membership depends on being nominated and seconded by existing members. The monthly or annual fees at these clubs can be pricey, and some run a debenture system where the sums can be substantial. Membership can sometimes be passed on to friends or family. Some companies negotiate fast-track membership for relocating staff as an added employment perk.

At the other end, a few sporting and social clubs have far more affordable packages and more relaxed membership policies. For most expats, a club makes more sense as a family investment than a solo one, since much of the value lies in the pools, sports facilities, dining, and children’s activities.

Clubs in Hong Kong

The Aberdeen Marina Club

This invitation-only club has several restaurants, a private marina, sports and leisure facilities, and a full programme of member activities.

The American Club Hong Kong

Expats meet for business and social occasions at the American Club, which runs both a Town Club in Central and a Country Club at Tai Tam. The club keeps a distinctly American atmosphere, and membership is open to all nationalities.

The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club

The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club has a wide range of facilities, from golf, tennis, squash, and swimming to dining and shopping, and sporty expats are spoilt for choice.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club

Founded in 1943 and housed in a historic former dairy depot in Central, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club is one of the most famous press clubs in the world. Its members come from the media, business, the diplomatic community, and the wider professional community, and it is a good venue for meetups.

Gold Coast Yacht & Country Club

On the Castle Peak Bay waterfront, the Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club has a full range of social programmes and dining venues. The clubhouse is built in a Mediterranean style and has sea views.

The Hong Kong Cricket Club

Founded in 1851, the Hong Kong Cricket Club is the oldest cricket club in East Asia. Members have access to a wide range of sporting facilities, although the focus is naturally on cricket. The club also runs junior cricket and community programmes that are open to non-members.

Hong Kong Football Club

Founded in 1886 and set beside the Happy Valley Racecourse, the Hong Kong Football Club is about far more than football. Members play a wide range of competitive and recreational sports, from rugby and hockey to squash, tennis, and lawn bowls.

Ladies’ Recreation Club

One of Hong Kong’s most family-friendly clubs, the Ladies’ Recreation Club started life in 1883 as a women-only institution and now welcomes men and children of all nationalities too. It has 10 tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pools, squash and badminton courts, a gym, and a spa.

Relocating to any destination has its advantages and disadvantages, and Hong Kong is no exception. The more prepared prospective expats are for the less appealing aspects of life abroad, the more successfully they can adapt. The good news is that most expats in Hong Kong find far more to love than to complain about.

Here is our list of some of the pros and cons of living in Hong Kong.

Accommodation in Hong Kong

+ PRO: A steady supply of new apartments

There’s always something new being built in Hong Kong. You won’t be short of places to view. In fact, apartment hunting in Hong Kong is a numbers game: view as many places as possible until you find the best fit. Rents are still below their 2019 peak, so tenants often have room to negotiate. Unfortunately, the melodious sounds of drills and jackhammers are part of the deal.

- CON: Small apartments

The size of flats is shrinking, so the newest buildings are often the smallest. Tenants get more space for their money in buildings from the 1980s and 1990s, although the apartments may look a little more tired. Older blocks also rarely have facilities such as a gym or pool. Choose a newer building, and you’ll probably get clubhouse facilities and a brand-new apartment for the price of cramped rooms.

+ PRO: Custom-made furniture

Pretty much anything can be custom made in Hong Kong. Most shops will customise sofas, beds, dining tables, and so on, so buyers can have the exact specifications they want. Suppliers usually take one to two months to complete made-to-order pieces.

- CON: Little middle ground for furniture and homeware

Mid-range options are hard to find in Hong Kong. Furnishings are usually either stylish and pricey, or cheap in both look and price. Shoppers pay a fortune for decent bedding and towels, and the budget alternatives tend to be poor quality. If you have the space in your shipment, bring good bedding and towels from home.

Accommodation in Hong Kong

Lifestyle in Hong Kong

+ PRO: A friendly expat community

Hundreds of thousands of expats live in Hong Kong, and most remember what it’s like to be new, so they’re happy to help the newcomers settle in. The community is incredibly friendly, and unlike many cities, where residents have established circles of friends, expats come and go so often that they rarely form cliques. The flipside is that friends often leave to go back home, so goodbyes are a regular part of expat life here.

+ PRO: Varied nightlife

The lifestyle in Hong Kong has something for everyone. Expats can go for a night out on the town one week and settle into a quiet dinner party the next. There are restaurants and bars everywhere, so there's always something new to try.

+ PRO: Easy access to outdoor activities

Around 40 percent of Hong Kong’s land area is protected country park, so the outdoors is never far away. Trails such as Dragon’s Back and the MacLehose Trail are weekend favourites, and many expats join sports clubs or take up watersports like sailing and dragon boat racing.

Lifestyle in Hong Kong

Cost of living in Hong Kong

- CON: High rental costs

Many expats are taken aback by the cost of living in Hong Kong. The city is frequently ranked as the most expensive in the world for expats, and rent is usually the largest expense in the budget. The trouble is that apartments at these prices are famously small. Salaries tax is capped at around 15 percent, though, and most newcomers feel the trade-off is worth it.

- CON: Grocery shopping is pricey

Supermarket prices are high, and the range is often disappointing. The cost of familiar Western brands can be a real shock. The vast majority of food in Hong Kong is imported, and much of the fresh produce is from mainland China. Shoppers who want organic goods or imported brands usually pay a premium.

Cost of Living in Hong Kong

Education and schools in Hong Kong

+ PRO: Wide variety of high-quality international schools

Parents looking to send their children to one of the many international schools in Hong Kong will be spoilt for choice. Most expat families find a school that teaches a familiar curriculum, or at least an internationally recognised one.

Various national curricula are available, including those from the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. The International Baccalaureate is also widely offered. Popular schools have waiting lists, and some give priority to holders of debentures or nomination rights, so parents should apply early.

International Schools in Hong Kong

Weather in Hong Kong

- CON: Humid summers

Summer weather in Hong Kong is hot and humid. It is often around 90°F (32°C) or higher, and most residents find it uncomfortable to spend long outdoors. For much of the rest of the year, though, the weather is pleasant. Autumn is the pick of the seasons because the days are warm and the humidity is low.

Summer is also the season for typhoons. That may sound frightening, but Hong Kong is well equipped to deal with extreme weather. When a typhoon approaches, the Hong Kong Observatory issues a numbered signal to show how severe the storm is, so residents know whether to batten down the hatches or carry on with their day. When the Observatory raises the signal to T8 or above, most offices close and trains and buses stop running.

Weather in Hong Kong

Eating out and groceries in Hong Kong

+ PRO: Great selection of restaurants

Nearly every cuisine has a home in Hong Kong, and diners can choose anything from cheap and cheerful canteens to Michelin-starred fine dining. Few cities in the world have as many starred restaurants.

- CON: Supermarkets can be a bit of a headache

Stock at the big supermarket chains, ParknShop and Wellcome, is inconsistent. A product on the shelf one week may be gone the next. Shoppers usually adapt by using wet markets and speciality grocers for anything that’s missing from supermarket shelves. It takes some adjustment, but there are affordable eateries everywhere, so eating out is often the easiest option.

Transport and driving in Hong Kong

+ PRO: Fantastic public transport

Residents value the public transport in Hong Kong for how modern and clean it is. MTR trains are frequent and punctual, and there are rarely delays. Best of all, the fares are low by international standards, especially for such an efficient system. You can pay for journeys on the MTR, buses, trams, and ferries with a rechargeable Octopus card, and use the same card in plenty of shops.

+ PRO: Cheap and abundant taxis

There are taxis everywhere in Hong Kong. They are cheap by Western standards, although still pricier than public transport. Because Hong Kong is small, taxi journeys are quick, and finding a cab is usually easy. The exception is a rainy day, when free cabs are suddenly much harder to come by. Cabs are colour coded by area: red for urban Hong Kong, green for the New Territories, and blue for Lantau. Many drivers speak little English, so it helps to have your destination written in Chinese.

Public Transport in Hong Kong

Working in Hong Kong

+ PRO: Easy to network

Most expats find networking easy when working in Hong Kong. The community is compact, and industries are tightly knit, so it rarely takes long to get introduced to the right contacts.

When searching for work, many jobseekers print business cards to hand out, since social gatherings in Hong Kong are often networking opportunities in disguise. LinkedIn is widely used for job hunting too.

- CON: Limitations for English-only speakers

Expats tend to work in finance, property, technology, and law. As a result, these sectors are the easiest to break into without Mandarin or Cantonese. Other lines of work are possible, but opportunities for English-only speakers are limited outside these industries. Anyone who learns even basic Cantonese or Mandarin finds many more options open to them.

Working in Hong Kong

Healthcare in Hong Kong

+ PRO: Healthcare is world-class

Expats moving to Hong Kong can expect first-rate medical care, since hospitals are well equipped and staff are highly qualified. Many private hospitals hold international accreditations, and public hospitals also provide excellent care. Public treatment is heavily subsidised for residents, and although the government raised charges in 2026, they are still fairly modest by international standards. Public hospitals can get crowded though, so many expats prefer to go private.

+ PRO: Most employers will sponsor healthcare for expats

Although the standard of healthcare in Hong Kong is high, private treatment is expensive, but most employers cover health insurance for expats hired on employment contracts. Check the small print, though, because insurers often exclude dental and outpatient treatment.

Many expats move to Hong Kong each year to pursue new career opportunities. If you’re planning to join them, you’ll find that there are several work visa options.

General Employment Policy visas in Hong Kong

Well-qualified and experienced professionals who want to work in Hong Kong typically apply for General Employment Policy (GEP) visas. These visas have no quota restrictions and aren’t industry-specific. To apply, you must have a confirmed offer of employment and an employer sponsor.

Under the GEP, your initial stay is 36 months or the length of your employment contract, whichever is shorter. The visa is then typically renewed on a 3+2-year pattern. GEP holders can apply to renew their visa up to 90 days before it expires.

These work permits are relatively straightforward to obtain if you can demonstrate a high level of education or possess a specialised skill set that adds value to Hong Kong’s economy and isn’t readily available locally. Employers generally want candidates with strong qualifications and professional experience, as well as skills that are hard to find in the local labour market. The offered salary must also be competitive with local standards.

Useful links

• General Employment Policy (GEP) visa: Hong Kong Immigration Department

Technology Talent Admission Scheme visas for Hong Kong

Technology specialists in a frontier discipline like quantum computing or cybersecurity may find their route into Hong Kong through the Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) visa. Eligible companies that urgently need technology talent can fast-track visa applications for a wide range of R&D roles.

The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) sets quotas for TechTAS, which eligible companies have 24 months to fulfil. Companies can submit quota requests and visa applications simultaneously. Once the paperwork is complete, the Immigration Department normally handles these applications within two weeks. At the quota stage, companies must show the ITC that the skills they require are in short supply locally. Non-local talent is admitted only where there is a real gap.

Expats who enter Hong Kong through TechTAS can also bring their dependants. It is a family-friendly route for technology professionals.

Useful links

• Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS): Innovation and Technology Commission

Top Talent Pass Scheme visas in Hong Kong

High-achieving professionals are the target of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). If you have a distinguished educational background or remarkable career achievements, this scheme could be the one for you. The TTPS has three main categories:

• Category A is for professionals who earned a high income, above a set annual threshold, in the year before applying.
• Category B is for graduates of a qualifying top-ranked university (Hong Kong updates the eligible list each year) who have at least three years’ work experience in the past five years.
• Category C is for recent graduates of those universities (within the past five years) who have less than three years’ work experience. It is capped by an annual quota.

You do not need a job offer to apply for the TTPS. The initial stay is 24 months for Categories B and C, and 36 months for Category A. TTPS holders can submit renewal applications up to 90 days before their visa expires.

Successful applicants can switch jobs or sectors freely and bring a spouse or partner and unmarried dependent children under 18. Those dependants may usually work in Hong Kong too.

Useful links

• Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS): Hong Kong Immigration Department

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme visas in Hong Kong

Talented individuals are the focus of the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS). Unlike other work visas, the QMAS does not require applicants to have a prearranged job offer, and successful applicants can bring their dependants.

Before assessment, you must be at least 18, hold a recognised university degree, have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants, and have a clean criminal and immigration record. QMAS applicants then go through one of two assessment routes:

• General Points Test (GPT): You are checked against 12 criteria grouped into six aspects (age, academic qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, annual income, and business ownership), and you need to meet at least six of them.
• Achievement-based Points Test (APT): This route is for applicants with exceptional achievements, such as international award winners. It is all-or-nothing, and the bar is high.

The QMAS currently runs without an annual quota, so all applicants who qualify can be approved. Immigration authorities can also directly invite top-tier global talent to apply through the Proactive Talent Invitation route.

Useful links

• Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS): Hong Kong Immigration Department

Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) visas in Hong Kong

International students who have studied at Hong Kong universities are encouraged by the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) scheme to stay in the city and join the workforce after graduation. To be eligible, you must have completed an undergraduate or higher qualification through a full-time, locally accredited programme at a Hong Kong institution.

If you apply within six months of your graduation, you don’t need a confirmed job offer and can stay in Hong Kong for up to 24 months while you look for work. If you are a returning graduate applying after that six-month window, you will need an employment contract.

You can extend your stay once you have secured employment or established a business. From there, IANG can be renewed on a 2+2+3-year pattern, and you can apply for permanent residency after seven years of continuous residence.

Useful links

• Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG): Hong Kong Immigration Department

Working Holiday Scheme visas in Hong Kong

Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) visas allow expats from certain countries aged between 18 and 30 to work in Hong Kong for up to 12 months. There are annual quotas for each participating country, among them the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and France. Quotas differ by country. Australia has the largest at 5,000 visas, followed by Japan at 1,500, the UK at 1,000, and New Zealand at 400. These quotas are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early is wise.

WHS participants can take up any temporary employment. Popular roles include hospitality and tourism, retail, education (such as language tutoring), administrative support, and food and beverage services.

Depending on your nationality, you may be required to change employers after three, six, or 12 months. Most participants are also permitted to study in Hong Kong.

To be granted a WHS visa, you must show sufficient funds in your bank account to support yourself while in Hong Kong and provide proof of valid medical insurance. Insurance requirements vary by country, but most applicants need cover for medical care, hospitalisation, repatriation, and personal liability. You’ll also need to hold a return air ticket or demonstrate that you have the financial means to purchase one.

WHS visas are usually valid for 12 months and cannot be extended. If you want to stay longer, you’ll have to use one of the other routes, like the GEP, TTPS, QMAS, a student visa, or IANG.

Useful links

• Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) visa: Hong Kong Immigration Department

Visa regulations are subject to change at short notice, and you should contact your respective embassy or consulate for the latest details.

The best places to live in Hong Kong

Expats have several popular residential areas to choose from in Hong Kong, and each one suits a different lifestyle.

Families with young children tend to favour the southern part of Hong Kong Island, while single expats and young couples prefer Mid-Levels. More affluent expats often rent a pricey apartment or a townhouse on The Peak.

Here are our recommendations for expat-friendly areas and suburbs in Hong Kong.

Accommodation in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island

Wan Chai

Wan Chai is both a major commercial district and a trendy residential area. It has plenty of lively bars and restaurants, and it’s one of the best places to live in Hong Kong for those who want to be in the centre of the action. It has traditionally been one of the cheaper places to live as an expat, although prices have climbed as the area has become more fashionable. For all its nightlife, Wan Chai is one of Hong Kong’s safer districts in terms of reported crime.

You can browse plenty of cheap clothing shops in Wan Chai, and there are tasty bargains to be found at the wet markets nearby.

Mid-Levels

Barely a 10-minute drive from The Peak and just south of Central and Wan Chai, Mid-Levels is one of the most popular places for single expats and young couples to live in Hong Kong.

Young expats are drawn here by the proximity to the city centre’s nightlife. Mid-Levels also suits expat families. There are good private schools nearby, along with outdoor attractions such as the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system, connects the area with Central below. It runs downhill during the morning rush, then reverses to head uphill for the rest of the day. You’ll find both colonial-era apartments and modern, newly built developments here.

North Point

Expats after more reasonably priced accommodation and a sense of integration with locals should consider renting in North Point. The neighbourhood has no large-scale shopping malls, but you’ll find supermarkets, traditional wet markets, a few good restaurants, and the well-known Chun Yeung Street market, where trams trundle right through the stalls. The apartments here are affordable and generally in good condition. Transport links are good, and Kowloon is within easy reach. North Point and neighbouring Quarry Bay have grown popular with expats who can’t afford the areas closer to Central.

Repulse Bay

Contrary to its name, Repulse Bay is an attractive area, although the high rents may put some off. The neighbourhood is inhabited by many wealthy Hong Kong businessmen and their families. It’s an idyllic spot for expat families, who love the pleasant, palm-fringed beach and the proximity to international schools. Repulse Bay has no MTR station, so residents rely on cars or the frequent buses that run along the coast to Central and Admiralty. The nearest station is Ocean Park on the South Island Line.

The Peak

Highest of all on Hong Kong Island, The Peak is also its most affluent residential area. Height restrictions keep the low-rise buildings from spoiling the views or blocking the cool evening breezes.

Many housing complexes in the area have communal swimming pools, tennis courts, gymnasiums, and landscaped gardens, and there are pleasant walking trails nearby. In contrast to Mid-Levels, where high-rise apartment living is the norm, The Peak has townhouses and single-family homes.

The highly rated German Swiss International School runs its Peak Campus here for its upper primary and secondary students; younger children attend a separate campus in Pok Fu Lam.

German Swiss International School

Happy Valley

Happy Valley is an upmarket Hong Kong neighbourhood favoured by many expats, and is best known for the Happy Valley Racecourse, as well as its proximity to the shopping and nightlife hub of Causeway Bay.

Expats in Happy Valley can choose between classic low-rise complexes and tall, modern apartment buildings, and short-term serviced apartments are also available to rent. The area suits those who want somewhere quieter and greener but still close to the buzz of the city centre.

French families are often drawn to Happy Valley for the easy access to the French International School.

French International School

Jardine’s Lookout

On the hillside above Happy Valley, Jardine’s Lookout is an exclusive residential enclave. It’s home to an elite community in large detached houses and luxury apartment complexes. The area has plenty of amenities, along with wooded hills and sweeping views over Victoria Harbour. There are also international schools nearby for expat families.

Kowloon

West Kowloon

Although expats once regarded the Kowloon Peninsula as an inconvenient, less developed place to live, perceptions have changed, and these days many expats happily settle into the high-rise apartments of West Kowloon. Much of the change has come from the West Kowloon Cultural District, home to the M+ museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and from the high-speed rail terminus that connects the district to mainland China.

Most of the newer complexes have good facilities and communal amenities, although the older apartment blocks are less well equipped. Shopping centres are plentiful, and the MTR runs through the area, so commuting into town is quick.

Kowloon Tong

Many expat families have also begun to settle in Kowloon Tong, as it now has a handful of well-respected international schools. Homes here come with space, a real rarity in Hong Kong, and the neighbourhoods are quieter too. This high-end residential area is made up of colonial-style houses, low-rise apartments, detached villas, and a smattering of gated communities. The district has Festival Walk, a ritzy shopping centre, and the MTR links it to the city centre.

Parents have plenty of international schools to choose from in and around the area, including the American International School, Australian International School, Yew Chung International School, and Beacon Hill School.

American International School
Australian International School
Yew Chung International School
Beacon Hill School

The New Territories

Sai Kung Town

Sai Kung, a small fishing village, is a popular place for expats and locals alike, and its appeal is easy to see. Seafood restaurants line the streets, and you can sit on the many benches along the front to gaze out over the sea and watch fishermen sell the day’s catch against a backdrop of hills. Sai Kung includes the Sai Kung East Country Park, a haven for backpackers, parasailers, hikers, cyclists and campers.

The main drawback of living in Sai Kung is the commute to Hong Kong Island. Sai Kung has no MTR station, so the daily journey to work is a long one; most residents take a green minibus to Hang Hau or Choi Hung station and change to the MTR there.

Even so, many expats choose Sai Kung for its proximity to good schools, and they find the longer commute is offset by cheaper accommodation and greener surroundings.

Lantau Island

Lantau Island is an enormous chunk of land, nearly twice the size of Hong Kong Island. It is home to Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong International Airport, the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping, and Lantau South Country Park, the largest country park in the territory. Several residential areas on Lantau are popular with expats, especially Discovery Bay and Tung Chung, where families like the larger homes and international feel.

Lantau is far greener than Hong Kong Island, and the authorities have kept development in check with strict planning controls. More commercial ventures and housing projects have emerged in recent years, but the island is still relatively sparsely populated.

Most Lantau residents travel off the island for work, but it’s well connected to the rest of Hong Kong by the MTR and by frequent ferries.

Doing business in Hong Kong is generally straightforward. The economy is highly respected, and by some measures it is among the most open and transparent markets in the world. Little wonder the region is one of Asia’s great financial hubs, where Eastern and Western business meet. It is a magnet for global capital and multinational firms. This Asian tiger may feel familiar in some respects, but expats who want to do well and earn respect here should get to grips with the finer points of doing business in Hong Kong.

As a Chinese Special Administrative Region run on the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong is still distinct from mainland China in important ways, although less so than it once was. It has its own common-law courts, a freely convertible currency, low, simple taxes, and separate immigration and customs controls. On the security side, the authorities now hold broad powers. They can demand access to electronic devices and passwords from residents and visitors alike. Business travellers should take the usual care with sensitive company data, and check their employer’s guidance before carrying it into or through the territory.

Fast facts

Business hours

Official hours are usually Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, and some firms open for a half day on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. In practice, those hours are often just a starting point. Long days are common in Hong Kong, and many employees, especially in senior roles, stay well into the evening.

Business language

Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. The larger the company, the more likely it is that English is spoken. Written Chinese in Hong Kong is in traditional characters, so cards and documents set in the mainland’s simplified script will look out of place.

Greetings

A light handshake is standard, and Westerners are not expected to bow. Address your counterparts as Mr or Ms plus their family name (in Chinese names, the family name is written first). In a group, greet whoever is most senior first.

Dress

Conservative dark suits are the usual business attire for men, and women dress with similar formality in tailored suits or smart dresses. Light-coloured shirts and blouses are a safe bet. Red is considered lucky, and white is linked with mourning, so steer clear of all-white outfits.

Gifts

Gifts are expected to be reciprocated, and you should give and receive them with both hands. Keep the value modest, since recipients can feel awkward about anything too lavish. If you are giving to a group, choose items of equal value unless one is meant for a senior figure. Your host will usually set a gift aside to open later, so do the same.

Gender equality

Women have made real headway in Hong Kong business, and they are especially well represented at senior levels in finance and the professions. There are still gaps all the same. Men still fill most top management roles, and women earn less than men on average. In meetings, expats may notice that colleagues defer to the most senior man in the room.

Business culture in Hong Kong

Expect a conservative, formal tone from business culture in Hong Kong. Business people dress in formal suits and conduct themselves professionally at all times. Locals place a high value on punctuality, mutual respect, deference to seniority, and long-term relationships.

That last one even has a name, guanxi: the web of personal connections and mutual favours behind much of what gets done. Hong Kongers prefer to deal through trusted contacts, so time spent building those ties is rarely wasted.

Saving face

Saving face matters a great deal in Hong Kong, so anything that might embarrass a business associate is best avoided, and you should never confront or contradict someone in public. Bad news is better delivered in private.

It also helps to keep your emotions in check. Anyone who openly shows anger or irritation makes a poor impression and causes everyone present to lose face. Silences and pauses are a normal part of conversation here, so they should not be read as displeasure.

Communication

The words you choose matter in Hong Kong, and so does your tone. Confrontational or vulgar language, especially swearing, is a fast route to losing face. Get the words or the tone wrong, and you can lose a business relationship. You may not notice at the time, and only realise later, when your calls go unanswered and meetings never quite get arranged.

Communication tends to be indirect. A ‘yes’ often means ‘I hear you’ more than firm agreement. A flat ‘no’ is rare to hear, too. You are more likely to hear that something ‘may be difficult’, which is usually a polite way of declining. Day to day though, the workplace can feel fast-paced and even brusque, and colleagues can be blunter in person than you might guess. 

Physical contact is another thing to watch. Among friends, it can be common, even between those of the same gender, but in business, a handshake is usually the limit, since many locals dislike being touched by strangers. Locals also tend to stand closer in conversation than some expats expect.

Meetings

Meetings in Hong Kong usually begin with small talk before things turn to business, and negotiations tend to be slow, so rushing rarely helps. Try to book meetings well in advance, and steer clear of Chinese New Year and other major public holidays, when many companies close for the break.

Business cards are exchanged with both hands, and it is customary to read one for a moment before setting it down. Stuffing a card into a back pocket or scribbling on it comes across as rude. Have your own cards printed in English on one side and Chinese on the other.

Your associates will probably invite you out, usually for lunch or dinner, and these invitations are worth accepting. Personal relationships matter a great deal here, and a shared meal is one of the better ways to build a business connection.

Attitude towards foreigners

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most international cities, and expats are integral to its economy. You are unlikely to meet prejudice or hostility, although good manners and a little cultural awareness go a long way towards being treated as an equal. Plenty of expats are drawn by the low taxes, the safety, the everyday convenience, and the easy meeting of East and West, even if the long hours take some getting used to.

Dos and don’ts of business in Hong Kong

• Do make casual conversation, but keep off personal, financial, political, and religious topics
• Don’t expect to get much business done over Chinese New Year
• Do have your key documents prepared in both English and traditional Chinese
• Don’t build the number four into gifts, dates, or floor and seat numbers. In Cantonese, four sounds like the word for death and is considered unlucky, whereas eight is considered lucky.

Accommodation in Hong Kong is expensive. Real estate prices here are among the world’s highest, so expats should budget carefully when looking for a home here.

Although there are various quality options, space is a limited commodity in Hong Kong, and apartments in the city-state tend to be small. Unless expats have large budgets to work with, they should be prepared to downsize. In particular, many expats struggle with tiny bedrooms at first.

Areas and suburbs in Hong Kong

House-hunters can choose from a wide range of areas and suburbs in Hong Kong across the city’s 18 districts. Homes here tend to be small, but several areas and suburbs have larger properties. The trade-off is that most of these larger homes are older builds.

Kowloon Tong is one of the neighbourhoods with larger properties. The district is popular with families for its colonial-style houses, leafy streets, gated communities, and good international schools. Jardine’s Lookout and The Peak are other favourites among expat families.

Young professionals and single expats tend to settle in neighbourhoods like Wan Chai, Mid-Levels, Sheung Wan, and West Kowloon. These areas are close to the main business districts and to amenities such as shopping malls and restaurants.

Areas and Suburbs in Hong Kong

Types of accommodation in Hong Kong

The two broad types of accommodation in Hong Kong are ‘old’ and ‘new’ builds. Older accommodation is often a bit rough around the edges, but if you are willing to put in some work to make it feel like home, it can be a good option when space and a central location are your priorities.

There are plenty of high-quality, modern apartments in the popular residential areas, but that lifestyle comes at a price, and the spaces are typically much smaller. Those on a budget who want modern living should consider adding a few extra stops to their commute and looking at some of the newer residential areas that are developing outside the Hong Kong city centre.

Furnished vs unfurnished

Most apartments in Hong Kong are unfurnished. A fitted place usually includes basic kitchen cabinets and appliances such as a stove, oven, and washing machine, plus sometimes a dishwasher. It is fairly simple for expats to find furniture, dishes, linen, and utensils at shops like IKEA.

Those after a furnished apartment are better off looking in the serviced apartment and short-term rental market. These come with everything from beds and appliances to cutlery.

Short lets

The short-term rental market in Hong Kong is booming. Expats who are in the city for the short term or who want to get a feel for different neighbourhoods before signing a lease can rent a serviced apartment or a short-term let on platforms like Airbnb. These are often fully equipped with everything expats need for their stay. The rate typically includes utilities and internet, and it works out cheaper than a traditional hotel.

Useful links

• Airbnb
• Booking.com

Finding accommodation in Hong Kong

Most expats finding accommodation in Hong Kong choose to rent rather than buy, since assignments here tend to be short.

For those whose employer is not handling the search, the best option is to enlist a reputable real estate agent. These agents know the local property market inside out and can help expats find a place that fits their needs in terms of size, quality, price, and location.

In Hong Kong, the standard agency commission is half a month’s rent from the tenant and half a month’s rent from the landlord, and it is payable once the formal tenancy agreement is signed. 

Some expats moving here are lucky enough to have a relocation company act on their behalf. The firm assesses their preferences and draws up a shortlist for them to view.

There are plenty of online property portals, and they are a useful research tool, but the best flats in Hong Kong get snapped up fast. Often, by the time a prospective tenant enquires about a listing, an agent has already let it. It is still worth using the portals to research apartment types, prices, and availability before relocating.

Useful links

• Property.hk
• Hong Kong Homes
• Squarefoot

Renting accommodation in Hong Kong

Making an application

Once expats have found a suitable home in Hong Kong, they will need to sign a provisional tenancy agreement and start negotiations with the landlord. Those working with an estate agent will have the agent handle these discussions.

Leases

Rental contracts in Hong Kong are usually two years long. Most include a break clause after the first year, which allows either party to end the lease early with notice. Landlords typically use a standard government lease. Stamp duty is payable on the tenancy, and the landlord and tenant usually split it equally. Because landlords can add their own clauses, expats should read the contract carefully and check for any hidden costs.

Deposits and fees

A security deposit of two or three months’ rent is standard, and the landlord returns it once the tenant moves out. On top of that, expats also pay one month’s rent in advance and, if applicable, an agency commission of half a month’s rent. Expats should take a detailed inventory of the home and its contents with the landlord at the start and end of the tenancy, which helps avoid charges for damage beyond normal wear and tear.

Terminating the lease

The break clause is the usual way out before the two years are up. After the first year, either the tenant or the landlord can end the lease by giving the notice set out in the contract, typically one or two months’ notice. Leaving before the break-clause date may result in forfeiting the deposit, so check the wording before signing.

Useful links

• GovHK: Renting a Domestic Property
• Rating and Valuation Department: Tenancy Matters

Utilities in Hong Kong

Rent in Hong Kong rarely includes utilities, so be sure to budget for them separately. Unless they are in a serviced apartment, most expats have to set up the connections themselves.

Electricity

HK Electric and CLP Power supply the electricity in Hong Kong. HK Electric covers Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, while CLP Power covers Kowloon, the New Territories, and the outlying islands. The two run as separate companies, but their networks are linked so that supply continues in an emergency.

To set up a connection in their own name, tenants can fill in an online form or download it and complete it, then email it to HK Electric or CLP Power’s customer service team. This should be done at least a day before moving in to be connected on time. A deposit must be paid to start the connection.

Electricity bills are sent monthly and can be paid by autopay, online, or at convenience stores and ATMs.

Gas

The process for connecting gas in Hong Kong is similar to the one for connecting electricity services. Towngas provides mains gas in the city-state, while residents in rural areas typically use bottled gas. Expats can either fill in an online form or visit a Towngas customer service centre to transfer an account to their name.

Newcomers should take meter readings when they move in and submit them to Towngas to help avoid being overcharged. They then pay a security deposit that covers the final bill when they close the account. Gas bills are sent every two months and usually show a breakdown of usage.

Water

Most of Hong Kong’s fresh water comes from the Dongjiang River in mainland China, and the rest comes from local reservoirs. The Water Supplies Department manages the supply. Download an application form and take it, along with your Hong Kong ID, to a local customer service office. Water bills are sent every quarter.

Bins and recycling

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department manages waste collection in Hong Kong. Household waste in Hong Kong is collected daily at public waste collection points. Some residential housing units hire private companies to collect their waste and provide large bins for their residents.

Residents are encouraged to sort their recycling and drop it in separate bags at a collection point. Through its Green@Community network, the Environmental Protection Department runs recycling points across all 18 districts. These accept common recyclables such as paper, plastics, metal, and glass. Smart food-waste bins have also been rolled out, so residents can recycle food scraps too.

Internet

Arranging home internet in Hong Kong is straightforward, and fibre is available in most flats at a reasonable price. Setting it up is much like arranging the other utilities.

For internet providers and plans, see Keeping in Touch in Hong Kong.

Useful links

• HK Electric
• CLP Power
• Towngas
• Water Supplies Department
• Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Whether you need a visa for Hong Kong depends on your nationality and the purpose of your stay. Visa requirements are not as stringent as in many other countries, and the application process is relatively straightforward. Citizens of many countries can enter visa-free for short visits, which is covered in more detail below.

Visit visas for Hong Kong

Not every traveller requires a visit visa for Hong Kong. Before you travel, check whether your nationality requires one.

Citizens of roughly 170 countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa for a limited time, among them the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, and most European nations. How long you can stay depends on your passport: the visa-free period is usually between 7 and 180 days, and British passport holders get the full 180.

If you do need an entry visa, you can apply at your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate. Your passport should be valid well beyond your planned stay. You will also need to show that you can fund your trip and submit a travel itinerary with your application.

Useful links

• Hong Kong Immigration Department

Work visas for Hong Kong

Most newcomers who take a job in Hong Kong apply under the General Employment Policy (GEP), the main work visa for skilled professionals who have a confirmed job offer from a local employer. The government also offers talent admission schemes for high earners and highly qualified professionals who want to relocate without a job offer first. Two examples are the Top Talent Pass Scheme and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.

The Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) is another popular route. Young adults aged 18 to 30 from partner countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland can spend up to a year in Hong Kong and take short-term work to help fund their trip. Permanent employment is not allowed under the scheme.

The Immigration Department does not issue a standalone residence permit. Whatever visa you hold, whether for work, study, a talent scheme, or as a dependant, you also have the right to live in the city, and the limit of your stay is how long you can remain.

Read more details on Work Permits for Hong Kong.

Useful links

• Working Holiday Scheme: Official Site

Dependant visas for Hong Kong

You can use a dependant visa for Hong Kong to bring close family members to join you. Eligible dependants include your spouse and your unmarried children under 18. The Immigration Department recognises same sex spouses and civil partners, provided the union is legally recognised where it took place. Once you become a permanent resident, which usually takes seven years of continuous residence, you can also sponsor parents aged 60 or above.

You will need to prove your relationship to each dependant and show that you can support and house them while you live in Hong Kong. A dependant visa is valid for as long as your own visa. All documents should be in English or Chinese; for anything in another language, you will need to provide a certified translation. Dependants can usually work or study in Hong Kong without a separate visa. The Immigration Department normally takes about six weeks to process a dependant visa application.

Visa regulations can change at short notice, so you should confirm the latest details with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate, or with the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Hiring domestic help in Hong Kong

One of the real luxuries of expat life in Hong Kong is being able to hire low-cost, full-time domestic help. The pace of life here is fast, and a live-in helper takes on much of the household routine, from the cleaning and laundry to cooking, childcare, and the daily errands. In some homes, helpers also turn their hand to gardening, washing the car, looking after pets, and helping with elderly relatives.

The helpers who do this work come from across Asia. Hong Kong has one of the world’s largest populations of foreign domestic helpers, and several hundred thousand are employed across the city. Most come from the Philippines, and Indonesians make up the next largest group. A smaller number arrives from Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Visas, eligibility and costs

A helper hired from abroad is recognised as an overseas domestic worker rather than a Hong Kong permanent resident, and their visa is tied entirely to the current job. The employer sponsors it by signing the Standard Employment Contract (form ID 407), which the Immigration Department requires before issuing the visa.

To take on a helper, you need to be a Hong Kong resident with a monthly household income of at least HKD 15,000, or assets of a comparable amount to cover the two-year contract.

The employer also covers the upfront costs of hiring. These include the visa application, the medical examination, insurance, and the helper’s airfare from home to Hong Kong.

Labour laws in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong government sets out a range of labour laws to protect domestic helpers, and employers should get to grips with the main ones before taking someone on.

• Foreign domestic helpers can only be employed full time, and they must live in their employer’s home, in suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy.
• The government sets a Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) for domestic helpers, and employers who pay below it may face fines or imprisonment.
• Employers must provide three meals a day, or a food allowance in their place. The government sets the minimum allowance.
• Helpers are entitled to at least one rest day a week and to all statutory holidays.
• A helper earns seven days of paid annual leave after the first 12 months of continuous service, then one extra day for every further year, up to a maximum of 14 days after nine years. Leave in that first year is at the employer’s discretion, and any leave still owing when a contract ends must be paid out.
• The contract must be signed for a minimum of two years.
• When a contract is renewed, the helper must first return home for a break of at least seven days before starting the new term, and the employer pays for the trip.
• Either party can terminate a contract early with one month’s written notice, or a month’s wages in lieu.
• After an early termination, both parties must notify the Immigration Department in writing within seven days, and the helper may stay on in Hong Kong for up to two weeks.
• At the end or termination of any contract, the employer pays the helper’s return airfare to their home country.
• A helper who completes five years of continuous service, and whose contract then ends without renewal, is usually owed a long-service payment, unless the reason is serious misconduct or redundancy.
• During the contract, the employer must cover the helper’s medical care, including any hospital stay and emergency dental treatment.
• Employees’ Compensation Insurance is compulsory for every helper. An employer who fails to arrange it commits a criminal offence, and the premium cannot be deducted from the helper’s wages. Many go further and take out comprehensive medical cover as well, which several insurers offer in packages for domestic workers.

Useful links

• GovHK guide to hiring foreign domestic helpers
• Immigration Department foreign domestic helper FAQs
• Labour Department foreign domestic helper employer’s corner
• Immigration Department standard employment contract terms

Life with a domestic helper in Hong Kong

As long as employers treat them well, most foreign domestic helpers settle happily into life in Hong Kong. The pay is decent and the work stable, and the city’s large Filipino and Indonesian communities make homesickness easier to bear. Plenty of helpers stay with the same family for years, and long-serving employers on expat forums often speak of someone who has become part of the household. The arrangement is far from perfect, though, and advocacy groups continue to campaign for a higher food allowance to keep pace with rising costs.

Some employers invest in their helper’s development by paying for classes where they can pick up skills such as cooking, childcare, first aid, and elderly care.

It's best to set clear expectations early. Sit down with your helper to agree on the main duties, working hours, rest days, and house rules, and put it all in writing so that as little as possible is left to guesswork. It also helps when your helper feels able to raise concerns as they arise, because small problems are far simpler to resolve before they grow into bigger ones. Employers who respect their helper’s weekly rest day and privacy at home tend to enjoy a more settled, longer-lasting arrangement.

Expat parents looking for good international schools in Hong Kong have plenty of options. The city has a variety of international schools offering respected curricula from around the world. Parents looking to send their child to an international school in Hong Kong that teaches the American, British, or International Baccalaureate curriculum will have the greatest range of choice, but there are also Australian, Canadian, French, and German options. Spaces at the best international schools in Hong Kong are limited, and competition is fierce, so it’s well worth applying early to secure a spot.

Beyond the academic benefits, international schools in Hong Kong let expat children continue with their home curriculum. This gives them an anchor of familiarity during the upheaval of relocation. Small class sizes are another advantage, and they help teachers give each child more individual attention.

When choosing a school in Hong Kong, weigh up the quality of teaching, the facilities, the sporting and extracurricular programme, and how far your family is willing to commute. A growing number of long-term expats send their children to bilingual schools, particularly those that teach in both English and Chinese.

A few of the top international schools here offer boarding for students whose families travel or live further out. Hong Kong is also regarded as safe and family friendly, and children often make their own way to and from school on public transport.

Most international schools in the city are located on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, so expat parents looking to reduce their commute time should consider searching for accommodation in these areas and suburbs. Alternatively, some international schools in Hong Kong offer shuttle buses, usually at an additional cost.

Below is a list of some of the best international schools in Hong Kong.

International schools in Hong Kong

Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong

NAIS Hong Kong is a premium international school with students of more than 40 nationalities. It has four campuses, one for each stage from Early Years to Sixth Form. Its new Sixth Form Centre in Hung Hom, which opened in 2026, offers A-Levels alongside the IB Diploma. Alongside globally recognised curricula, the school teaches in English, Mandarin, Spanish, and French, so students can build their language skills.

NAIS Hong Kong creates a nurturing and engaging environment for its students while allowing parents to plug into a warm and welcoming community. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: British (English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and A-Levels) and International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 3 to 18

American International School (AIS) of Hong Kong

The American International School (AIS) offers a high standard of education alongside a varied extracurricular programme. Staff are highly qualified, and a low student-teacher ratio allows them to give each child ample attention. Founded in 1986, the school is based in Kowloon Tong and has excellent facilities.

Most students are American, but AIS also draws learners from more than 30 other nationalities, and its community is international in character. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: American 
Ages: 3 to 18

Australian International School Hong Kong

Australian International School Hong Kong (AISHK) is a not-for-profit school and the only one in the city to follow an Australian curriculum. The school has more than 1,100 students, but classes are kept small, at no more than 25 pupils each. Students graduate with either the New South Wales Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: Australian and International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 4 to 18

Beacon Hill School

Founded in 1967, Beacon Hill School is now an established primary school with around 540 pupils. The most common student nationalities include Hong Kong Chinese, Canadian, British, Australian, and American. Beacon Hill is part of the English Schools Foundation network of 22 schools. It is an inclusive school, and pupils who need extra help are supported within mainstream classes by learning-support teachers. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) 
Ages: 5 to 11

Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS)

Founded in 1991, CDNIS is a non-profit international school in Aberdeen, on the south side of Hong Kong Island. It offers a strong academic programme, and its students graduate with both the International Baccalaureate Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. CDNIS is also one of the few international schools in Hong Kong to offer all three levels of the IB programme. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: Canadian (Ontario) and International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 3 to 18

Carmel School of Hong Kong

Carmel School of Hong Kong was established in 1991 to serve the city’s Jewish community. Although teaching is done through the lens of Judaism, non-Jewish students can attend the high school. There are three Carmel campuses: two in Mid-Levels and one in Shau Kei Wan.

Carmel School of Hong Kong accepts applications throughout the year and offers a personalised approach to learning with an emphasis on community service. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 1 to 18

French International School

Founded in 1963, the French International School of Hong Kong now teaches more than 2,700 students across four campuses. Students take either the French stream or the English-language international stream. The two streams are closely integrated, so students of all nationalities mix. Most of the international cohort is French, and the rest come from 45 other nationalities. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: French, British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE), International Primary Curriculum and International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 4 to 18

German Swiss International School (GSIS)

Founded in 1969, GSIS runs a German stream and an English stream. Both aim to develop multilingual, multicultural students. The school has two campuses on Hong Kong Island. The Peak campus is for upper primary and secondary students, and the early years are based in Pok Fu Lam. German, Austrian, and Swiss students make up most of the roll, but all nationalities are welcome. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: German, British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE), and International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 3 to 18

Hong Kong Academy

Founded in 2000, Hong Kong Academy (HKA) is a non-profit through-train school in Sai Kung with over 500 students from more than 40 nationalities. Its guiding belief is that every child brings their own talents and strengths, and the school encourages each of them through a personalised, student-centred programme. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 3 to 18

Hong Kong International School (HKIS)

HKIS has more than 2,800 pupils across two campuses on the south side of Hong Kong Island. The school offers an American education grounded in Christian philosophy. It places a high value on academic rigour, character development, self-motivated learning, and service to others, and it ranks among the best international schools in Hong Kong. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: American 
Ages: 4 to 18

International Montessori School (IMS)

Children at IMS learn in a dual-language Montessori setting. Each classroom has two teachers, one English-speaking and one Chinese-speaking. IMS has four campuses across Hong Kong Island: Stanley, South Horizons, Mid-Levels, and Aldrich Bay. It is one of the largest Montessori schools in the world, and it aims to foster independence and nurture each child’s natural abilities. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: Montessori 
Ages: 2 to 14

Kellett School

Founded in 1976, Kellett School ranks among Hong Kong’s foremost international schools. It offers a proudly British education and has a low student-to-teacher ratio. Its two campuses, in Pok Fu Lam and Kowloon Bay, have high-quality, purpose-built facilities. Kellett fosters academic excellence and also encourages all-round development through a wide range of extracurricular activities. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: British (English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE and A-levels) 
Ages: 4 to 18

Yew Chung International School (YCIS)

YCIS offers a bilingual education that brings together Eastern and Western values, and it teaches globally recognised curricula, including the British curriculum and the International Baccalaureate. Every classroom is led by two teachers, one Western and one Chinese, in the school’s distinctive co-teaching model. YCIS has eight campuses in Kowloon Tong and a ninth in Tseung Kwan O. Read more

Gender: Co-educational 
Curriculum: British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate 
Ages: 6 months to 18 years

Diversity and inclusion in Hong Kong owe a great deal to the territory’s history as a meeting point for Chinese and Western cultures. Hong Kong is known for its financial services, late-night streets, and dramatic hillside-and-harbour views, and it attracts people from across the globe.

Many newcomers feel welcome here, although how at home you feel often depends on how far you step outside the expat bubble. Those who pick up some Cantonese and settle into local neighbourhoods tend to connect faster than those who stay in expat-heavy pockets like Central or Discovery Bay.

The sections below cover accessibility, LGBTQ+ life, gender equality, mental health, workplace bias, and safety for those living and working in Hong Kong.

Accessibility in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the most wheelchair-friendly cities in Asia, and accessibility here is strongest on public transport. Pavements in busy areas usually have ramps, although crowds can make them hard to use. The MTR metro system is well built for step-free access. Nearly all stations have ramps or lifts to street level, and staff operate stair lifts at the few that do not.

Staff can provide gap ramps on request to help passengers board and leave trains. Stations have tactile guide paths on the floor for visually impaired passengers, along with tactile layout maps.

Most city buses and ferries have low floors and wheelchair ramps. The historic double-decker trams and public light buses (minibuses) do not, since both have steps and narrow doors.

Eligible older residents and people certified as disabled can apply for a heavily subsidised government fare concession scheme for public transport. The Transport Department oversees the Rehabus service, a large fleet of vehicles adapted for passengers with disabilities.

You can bring folding wheelchairs or crutches into most taxis at no extra charge. Taxi doors frequently have Braille signage, and many meters talk. A limited number of accessible taxis have wheelchair ramps, and you should book these well in advance.

The MTR is excellent, but street level is a different story. Pavements are often narrow, crowded, hilly, and cluttered with poles or parked vehicles. Many wheelchair users find that a companion helps for this reason.

Useful resources

• Rehab Society
• Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth
• Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation Access Guide

LGBTQ+ in Hong Kong

It’s legal to be LGBTQ+ in Hong Kong, and public support for equality is on the rise. Same-sex activity has been legal since 1991, and most residents now support same-sex marriage. Hong Kong has no law against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, however. Employers follow only a voluntary code of practice, and legal protection in housing, employment, and the provision of goods and services is thin.

Through a series of court rulings, judges have granted couples who marry or register a partnership abroad limited recognition on matters such as spousal visas, tax, inheritance, and public housing. A 2018 ruling opened the door to dependant visas for the same-sex partner of a foreign worker. The territory’s top court went further in 2023 and ordered the government to set up a framework that recognises overseas same-sex partnerships by October 2025. Lawmakers rejected the government’s proposed bill, so no such framework exists yet, and marriage is still defined as a union between a man and a woman.

Central has a cluster of well-known gay bars and clubs around Soho and Lan Kwai Fong. The community also marks several dates throughout the year, including the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Hong Kong became the first Asian city to host the Gay Games in November 2023, the international sporting and cultural festival held every four years.

Transgender individuals face the greatest hurdles of all. Everyday attitudes are fairly conservative outside expat and nightlife circles, so many try to live discreetly. Since April 2024, they no longer need full sex reassignment surgery to change the gender marker on a Hong Kong ID card, but the process is still demanding. Applicants must have undergone certain surgeries, completed at least two years of hormone treatment, and declared that they live permanently in their acquired gender. The ID card has no non-binary option.

LGBTQ+ community groups

Several community groups organise events throughout the year in Hong Kong, and these are among the main ones.

• Pink Alliance/Pink Dot is the umbrella organisation behind Pink Season. The website provides general information on the LGBTQ+ community, the organisation, and its affiliates, and there is also an active Facebook group.
• Big Love Alliance was co-founded by the singers Denise Ho and Anthony Wong Yiu-ming, and several legislative council members backed it. The group hosts community events, including concerts, workshops, and panel discussions.
• Rainbow HK is a non-profit organisation established in 1998. It operates the only LGBTQ+ community centre in Hong Kong and organises over 100 activities annually, including workshops, sports events, camping, and music concerts. The organisation also provides blood testing, counselling, education, legal support, and an outreach programme.

Gender equality in Hong Kong

Over the past three decades, more women in Hong Kong have entered the workforce and become financially independent. Men and women now have broadly equal standing across social, economic, political, and legal life. Although the number of women in the workforce continues to rise, inequality is a significant issue. A gender pay gap of about 20 percent still exists, and women earn noticeably less than men on average.

Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, employers in Hong Kong may not discriminate on the grounds of gender, marital status, pregnancy, or, since 2021, breastfeeding. These protections are not always enforced in practice, and women can still meet career obstacles as a result.

Useful resources

• The Women’s Foundation
• Women’s Commission
• Equal Opportunities Commission

Women in leadership in Hong Kong

Women hold prominent leadership positions across Hong Kong in fields such as politics, finance, education, and healthcare. Women have equal access to higher education, so they have ample opportunity to enter the workforce and rise to senior roles.

There’s a glass ceiling at the very top, and few women reach C-suite posts. Most senior leadership roles still go to men, although there has been real movement lower down the ladder, and women now hold roughly a third of general management positions. The stock exchange required every listed company to appoint at least one female director by the end of 2024, and, as a result, Hang Seng Index companies with all-male boards are now rare.

Useful resources

• International Women’s Forum Hong Kong
• 30% Club

Mental health in Hong Kong

Expats face a heightened risk to their mental health, with depression and anxiety being the most commonly reported conditions. Stress, loneliness, and burnout are usually the main drivers.

Mental health stigma still exists in Hong Kong. Many people fear being labelled as ‘crazy’ or ‘weak’, and believe a person should cope with challenges alone. Many people struggling with mental health problems are reluctant to seek help as a result, and that reluctance can deepen isolation and worsen their health over time.

Attitudes are shifting, though, as more people seek professional support for their mental health needs. Employers have grown more attentive too. Many now cover mental illness properly under their staff health schemes and run in-house workshops to build awareness and cut stigma.

Public healthcare in Hong Kong is slow and understaffed, so most expats use private healthcare services instead to avoid delays. Expats should check that their international health insurance covers psychological and psychiatric care.

The Social Welfare Department runs a clinical psychology service, although it is generally accessed by referral through a social worker rather than by walk-in. English-speaking expats usually turn first to NGOs instead, and several are listed below.

Useful resources

• Mind HK
• OCD and Anxiety HK
• Mental Health Association of Hong Kong

Unconscious bias education in Hong Kong

Colleagues and employers alike act on unconscious bias in both social and working life in Hong Kong. Left unchecked at work, it can drag down employee performance, morale, retention, and recruitment. These ideas develop subtly over time, and individuals sometimes end up holding unconscious biases toward groups they rarely or never encounter. These ideas are often inaccurate and based on assumptions.

Local employers in Hong Kong often look for native Chinese speakers, and employers in some industries preferentially hire men. Employers often insist on Cantonese or Mandarin speakers, which can rule out qualified foreigners who might otherwise be well suited to the role.

Age is another significant factor. Hong Kong employers tend to favour younger candidates, and professionals arriving in their 40s or 50s often find themselves passed over for cheaper local talent, however strong their experience.

Many companies are beginning to institute unconscious bias training, in a bid to build a better work environment.

Useful resources

• Project Implicit
• Non-Profit Ready

Diversification of the workforce in Hong Kong

The diversification of the workforce in Hong Kong owes a great deal to the territory’s long ties with both China and the UK, which have left it with a varied pool of skilled workers. Employers here rely on an East-meets-West business culture that suits international dealings well. Many multinationals base their regional headquarters here, and these firms recruit worldwide.

Expats can therefore expect a fairly mixed workplace, although the expat-versus-local dynamic still plays into hiring. Local firms may screen on language, while multinationals have historically leaned towards Western hires for senior posts, which sometimes creates friction with local staff.

Safety in Hong Kong

Residents and expats alike rate safety among Hong Kong’s biggest draws, and the territory is among the safest big cities anywhere. Violent crime is rare, murder rates are among the lowest in the world, and most residents think nothing of walking home alone late at night.

Fraud is the real catch. You are far more likely to run into scams here than to run into pickpockets. Deception now accounts for close to half of all reported crime in Hong Kong. Scammers regularly send fake customer-service, delivery, and bank messages on WhatsApp and Telegram, so treat online shopping deals and investment or crypto offers with real scepticism before you part with any money.

Authorities have allowed far less room for public dissent since the 2019 protests. Beijing imposed a National Security Law in 2020, and Hong Kong passed its own national security legislation in 2024 under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Both laws set out broad offences, including sedition, subversion, treason, and collusion with foreign forces. Expats should be mindful of what they post online, keep clear of protests, and think carefully about any ties to foreign political organisations.

Useful resources

• Anti-Deception Coordination Centre
• Hong Kong Police

Calendar initiatives in Hong Kong

4 February, World Cancer Day 
8 March, International Women’s Day 
24 March, World Tuberculosis Day 
April, Stress Awareness Month 
Third Thursday of May, Global Accessibility Awareness Day 
June, Pride Month 
10 September, World Suicide Prevention Day 
October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month 
10 October, World Mental Health Day 
14 November, World Diabetes Day 
November, Men’s Health Month (‘Movember’) 
1 December, World AIDS Day

Getting around Hong Kong is easy thanks to its excellent public transport system and compact layout. Driving here is a luxury rather than a necessity, and in some cases, it can even be a bit of an annoyance because of traffic jams and expensive parking. Even expats who live off-island do not need to invest in a private vehicle. Kowloon is almost as compact as Hong Kong Island and just as densely populated, so its public transport network is more convenient than a car.

Public transport in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s public transport system is a well-integrated network of trains, buses, trams, and ferries. All four modes of public transport can be accessed using a contactless smartcard known as an Octopus card, which you tap on a reader as you travel. 

Contactless bank cards and phone wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, are now accepted across most of the network, so a physical Octopus card is no longer essential. It is still the handiest option, though, since you can also use it on minibuses and in many small shops.

Mass Transit Railway (MTR)

The most popular mode of transport in Hong Kong is the MTR, the city’s rapid transit system. It is extremely efficient and clean, and has added perks like air conditioning and consistent mobile phone reception underground. Commuters also have the advantage of avoiding the street-level congestion above.

The MTR system consists of light and heavy rail. The heavy rail network has around ten lines and roughly 100 stations across Hong Kong.

When riding the MTR, expats should keep in mind that Hong Kongers are perpetually in a hurry. It’s best to keep pace with the crowd and move quickly, particularly at busy interchange stations.

Buses

Buses are a popular mode of transport in Hong Kong, particularly for residents who don’t live near an MTR line. They are usually less packed than the MTR, but are subject to the same slow-moving traffic as private vehicles.

Fares are payable on board. You can tap an Octopus card or a contactless bank card, or pay with exact cash, since drivers give no change. The four major franchised operators are Kowloon Motor Bus, Citybus, New Lantao Bus, and Long Win Bus.

Public light buses, or minibuses, are a common sight as well. Green minibuses run fixed routes and fares, while red minibuses set their own routes and fares and will stop on request.

Trams

A limited network of historic trams is available along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, plus a short loop through Happy Valley. While they’re worth riding once or twice for the novelty, they are a slow mode of transport and don’t make for a good daily commute. You pay the same flat fare, however far you travel. As with the bus, have exact change ready if you are paying cash, since no change is given.

Ferries

The ferry is an essential mode of transit for expats living in Discovery Bay, Lamma Island, Park Island, or any of the other outlying islands favoured by foreigners.

Ferries are subject to Hong Kong’s occasionally extreme weather, and services can be suspended altogether during a typhoon. When the Observatory raises Typhoon Signal No. 8 or higher, most public transport stops running, ferries included, and employers usually send staff home early. If you get stranded in a storm, it helps to have somewhere nearby to wait it out.

Useful links

• Octopus
• MTR
• Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB)
• Hong Kong Tramways
• Star Ferry

Taxis in Hong Kong

Taking a taxi in Hong Kong is relatively cheap compared with cities like Tokyo or parts of Western Europe. Many drivers speak little English and may not recognise destinations given in English, so it helps to have your address written in Chinese or ready to show on your phone. 

There are three types of taxis: red, green, and blue, each of which serves a particular area.

• Red taxis service most of Hong Kong, except the south side of Lantau Island and Tung Chung Road.
• Green taxis operate in the New Territories.
• Blue taxis only operate on Lantau Island.

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber also operate in Hong Kong and can help you get around language barriers. Hong Kong has now passed laws to license and regulate ride-hailing platforms, vehicles, and drivers, and the new system is being phased in through 2027.

Useful links

• Hong Kong Transport Department taxi fares
• Uber Hong Kong

Driving in Hong Kong

For most new arrivals, driving in Hong Kong is more hassle than it is worth, and buying a car is rarely necessary. The region is small, and the costs of buying and parking a car are high. That said, it is still a common mode of transport for expats, especially those who choose accommodation further from the city centre.

Hong Kong has a good road safety record, but expats are advised to take extra caution when driving. Traffic jams are frequent, so be prepared to spend a significant amount of time on the road.

Driver’s licences

Expats from countries with exchange (direct issue) agreements can convert their foreign driver’s licence to a local one without a test. You generally need a full licence from an approved country that is still valid (or expired no more than three years ago). You will need to produce your Hong Kong ID card, proof of address, and your original overseas licence, plus a certified translation if it is not in English or Chinese.

Those who are not from countries with licence-exchange agreements can apply for a temporary driver’s licence and will usually need to pass a Hong Kong driving test to obtain a full local licence.

Useful links

• Hong Kong Transport Department

Walking and cycling in Hong Kong

Walking around Hong Kong is relatively safe, and pedestrians tend to keep to the marked crossings and their signals. Cycling is a tougher proposition because the city is not especially bicycle friendly. Cyclists mostly share the roads, which can be dangerous on highways and after dark. 

If you plan to walk or cycle, keep an eye on air pollution levels and avoid prolonged outdoor exercise when they are high. You can check the government’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for guidance on when the general public should ease off outdoor exertion.

Useful links

• Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

Early history

• Prehistory: People settle the area now called Hong Kong from the Stone Age onward, and more arrive under the Han Dynasty. You can still visit the Han-era Lei Cheng Uk tomb in Kowloon.
• 618–907: Under the Tang Dynasty, people here live off salt, pearls, fishing, and trade with nearby Guangzhou. Tuen Mun, in today’s New Territories, is a busy port and naval base; the Tang court garrisons it in 736 to guard the coast, and its salt is valuable enough to attract smugglers.
• 16th century: Portuguese mariners are the first Europeans to reach the area by sea. Jorge Álvares lands at Tuen Mun in 1513, and Portuguese traders run a post there until the Ming navy drives them out in 1521. The British do not arrive in force until the Opium Wars, three centuries later.

Opium Wars

• Early 19th century: Britain has a large trade deficit with China, because British buyers want Chinese tea, silk, and other goods while China wants little from Britain in return. To close the gap, British merchants flood China with opium from British India. Many Chinese people become addicted, and when the Qing government tries to stamp out the trade, Britain goes to war to keep the drug flowing. These become the two Opium Wars.
• 1842: Under the Treaty of Nanjing, China cedes Hong Kong Island to Britain, which turns it into a free port. Merchants and migrants soon arrive from across the world.
• 1860: Britain wins the Second Opium War and forces the Qing Empire to cede the Kowloon Peninsula.
• 1898: Britain leases the New Territories from China for 99 years. Because that lease is due to end in 1997, Britain and China eventually have to negotiate the return of the whole territory.

British rule

• 1841: British forces raise the Union Flag at Possession Point on 26 January. That day is now remembered as Hong Kong’s founding. About 7,450 people live on the island, and most are Tanka fishing families or Hakka charcoal burners in a handful of coastal villages.
• 1850s: During the Taiping Rebellion, large numbers of Chinese people move south into Hong Kong. Others come to escape floods, typhoons, famine, and the fighting on the mainland.
• 1941–1945: Japan occupies Hong Kong for what residents still call the ‘three years and eight months’. By the end, only about 600,000 people are left, down from 1.6 million in 1941, after mass starvation, disease, executions, and forced deportations to the mainland. Much of the city is in ruins.
• 1945: British forces return in August, and civil government follows the next year. Many who fled the occupation return, and the population is back to a million again within a year, as the government sets about rebuilding.
• 1949: The Communists win the Chinese Civil War, and the defeated Nationalist government retreats to Taiwan. Industrialists from Shanghai and other mainland cities move their capital and machinery to Hong Kong to avoid the new government, and others follow them south, from professionals to labourers. Perhaps a million migrants will settle in the colony over the following decade.
• 1950s–1970s: The Shanghai industrialists and their workforce build Hong Kong into a manufacturing powerhouse. Workers turn out textiles, plastics, toys, and later electronics, while traders keep the harbour busy as an entrepôt between China and the West. By the 1970s, finance is as central to the economy as manufacturing.
• 1980s: Britain and China open talks over what will happen when the New Territories lease ends. In 1984, the two governments sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Under it, China agrees to take Hong Kong back in 1997 as well as to leave its economic and legal system in place for 50 years.
• 1990: China’s legislature passes the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution. In it, China guarantees ‘one country, two systems’ until 2047. Long-term residents and investors now keep an eye on that 2047 deadline when they weigh up the city’s future.

Handover and after

• 1997: Britain hands Hong Kong back to China on 1 July, under the formula of ‘one country, two systems’. Beijing promises to preserve the territory’s autonomy, courts, currency, and capitalist economy for 50 years.
• 1998: Voters go to the polls in the first Legislative Council elections since the handover.
• 2003: Around half a million people march against a proposed national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law. The government shelves the bill soon afterwards.
• 2006: Tens of thousands march again to demand universal suffrage and a firm timetable for full democracy.
• 2014: For 79 days, protesters occupy major roads to demand the right to elect their own leader, in what becomes known as the Umbrella Movement. Beijing makes no concessions, and the occupation ends without political change.
• 2019: When the government proposes a bill that would let suspects be sent to mainland China for trial, enormous crowds come onto the streets; organisers claim as many as 2 million marchers at the June peak. The clashes turn violent through the year. Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets, and some protesters throw petrol bombs and vandalise targets they link to Beijing. The government withdraws the bill in the autumn, but the wider protests carry on for months.
• 2020: Beijing imposes a national security law. Under it, secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces become criminal offences, and the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. The government says the law is to restore order after the 2019 unrest, but critics at home and abroad call it a rollback of the autonomy promised in 1997. Police go on to arrest many opposition politicians, activists, journalists, and publishers under the law.
• 2020–2023: Hong Kong is one of the last places outside mainland China to hold to a strict ‘zero-Covid’ approach. The government seals the borders early in the pandemic and, for a time, sends even mild and symptom-free cases into hospital or government isolation. It later lets people isolate at home instead, and only drops the last compulsory isolation orders in early 2023, well after most of the world has relaxed Covid rules.
• 2024: Hong Kong’s legislature unanimously passes a home-grown national security law, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, under Article 23 of the Basic Law. This is largely the same legislation that the government dropped in 2003 after half a million people marched against it. Under the new law, treason, sedition, espionage, and the theft of state secrets become offences, alongside those already set out in the 2020 law. Although the government presents it as the final piece of the security framework, rights groups and several Western governments read it as a further narrowing of dissent.
• Today: Hong Kong is calmer and more tightly controlled than it was a decade ago. The organised opposition has largely gone, and people weigh their words more carefully under the security laws. Tens of thousands had left during the upheaval and Covid years of the early 2020s, many of them middle-class families and British passport holders who resettled in the UK. But the government has since drawn in new arrivals through its talent schemes, most of them from mainland China, and by the mid-2020s, some international professionals are moving back as well. Hong Kong is still a leading global financial centre, its taxes are among the world’s lowest, its economy is ever more tied to the mainland, and its character is changing along with its population.

Keeping in touch with friends and family back home is a breeze for expats living in Hong Kong. This fast-paced business hub has some of the world’s most sophisticated telecommunications, and staying connected is both simple and easy on the pocket. The internet, mobile phones, postal services, and English-language media are all easy to sort out.

Internet in Hong Kong

You can get internet in Hong Kong almost anywhere. Most residents use fibre to get online, although cable and DSL are also available. Internet speeds in Hong Kong are among the fastest in the world.

Landlords rarely include internet in the rent, but the sign-up process is quick, and there are several reputable providers to choose from. Be warned that some providers charge by usage rather than a flat monthly fee. There are also thousands of public WiFi hotspots dotted across the city.

Internet censorship

There is little internet censorship in Hong Kong, especially compared with mainland China. You can still use Google, WhatsApp, YouTube, and international news and social media sites as normal. As in most countries, the authorities block obscene and pirated material.

The main thing to be aware of is the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, known as Article 23, which Hong Kong’s legislature passed in 2024: more online activity can now count as a national security offence, and residents need to be careful about posting politically sensitive content. Everyday browsing and streaming are otherwise unaffected.

If you cross the border into mainland China, keep in mind that WhatsApp, Google, and many other Western apps are blocked behind the Great Firewall there, so it is worth arranging a VPN or a roaming plan before you go.

Mobile phones in Hong Kong

Mobile phones are everywhere in Hong Kong. There are more active mobile connections than people, and many residents carry more than one SIM. Spend an afternoon out, and you will notice that if someone is old enough to talk, they are old enough to have a phone here. Most people rely heavily on messaging apps such as WhatsApp and WeChat.

Phones are often free or discounted when you sign a new contract, and most contracts are two years long. Signing up is straightforward. You usually need nothing more than proof of address and identity: a passport or Hong Kong ID card will do.

If you would rather not be tied to a contract, prepaid SIMs are sold in convenience stores across the city, and eSIMs are widely available too. These are usually the cheapest and simplest ways to make calls and get online. Every SIM card must be registered to a named user before it will work. That includes prepaid cards and eSIMs, so you will need to show ID to activate one.

Useful links

• CSL
• 3 Hong Kong
• SmarTone
• China Mobile Hong Kong

Postal services in Hong Kong

Postal services in Hong Kong are reliable, and Hongkong Post runs an efficient operation. A locally posted letter is usually delivered the next working day. International post is slower: allow one to two weeks for airmail, or a couple of months for the cheaper surface mail. Sending post abroad is reasonably priced, and generally cheaper than posting from the US.

Useful links

• Hongkong Post

English media and news in Hong Kong

Getting hold of English media in Hong Kong is no trouble at all. The Standard, a free weekday paper, and the South China Morning Post are the two main English-language newspapers, and both cover local and international news. There are several other English-language papers and magazines on sale here, and international business titles such as the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal are easy to find.

Cable and satellite packages in Hong Kong include a wide range of channels, and you can pay a small extra charge to add popular foreign ones. Many residents stream from international streaming platforms rather than pay for a full cable package. Either way, English-language shows and news are easy to find.

Useful links

• The Standard
• South China Morning Post

Living in Hong Kong as an expat

Expats moving to Hong Kong will discover deep tradition at the foundations of the city’s lofty skyscrapers and neon lights. East meets West here, and the two have combined into something that is distinctly Hong Kong. Some things will feel familiar to newly arrived Westerners, while others will be entirely new to them.

Life comes fairly easily to most expats living in Hong Kong, and the city’s efficient infrastructure and amenities are a big part of the reason. The former British colony has one of the world’s most successful economies and was one of the original Four Asian Tigers, alongside Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

New arrivals can struggle with the fast pace of working life and the crush of the city centre. More than 7.5 million residents share the territory, and you soon learn to treasure a little elbowroom among the crowds.

The air quality has markedly improved over the past decade as both governments have tightened their emissions rules, although hazy days still blow in from mainland factories. When the city feels like too much, fresh air is never far away; country parks cover about 40 percent of the territory, and hikers will be spoilt for trails.

Working in Hong Kong

For many expats, working in Hong Kong often means jobs in finance, trade, logistics, or professional services, and the city is one of Asia's major business centres. A major attraction is the salaries tax, which ranges from 2 percent to a standard rate cap of around 15 percent, a rate that is much lower than that found in most Western countries.

The job market is competitive, as banks, insurance companies, law firms, and shipping companies all recruit from an entire globe of talent. The government has also introduced schemes such as the Top Talent Pass to allow skilled migrants to go to Hong Kong first and then look for work once they have arrived.

Finding a Job in Hong Kong
Visas for Hong Kong
Work Permits for Hong Kong

Lifestyle in Hong Kong

The lifestyle in Hong Kong is marked by the contrast between dense urban life and coastal charm. One minute you’re hemmed in by skyscrapers and neon; the next, you’re on a ferry to a quiet outlying island.

The main nightlife areas are Lan Kwai Fong and Soho on Hong Kong Island. You can eat anything from cha chaan teng comfort food to fine dining cuisine at some of Asia’s best restaurants. For shopping, you have street markets in Mong Kok at one end and designer malls in Central at the other. When you want to escape the city, the beaches, country parks, hiking trails, and outlying islands are all close.

Entertainment in Hong Kong

Cost of living in Hong Kong

Rent will be the single biggest factor in the cost of living in Hong Kong, and the generous expat packages of the past are largely gone. As rents and prices climb, only senior earners tend to build real wealth here. You’ll pay premium rates for flats that feel small by Western standards, so try to negotiate a housing allowance into your package, or at least weigh the cost of renting carefully before you sign a lease. Public transport, at least, is excellent and cheap, and it softens the blow of the other bills.

Cost of Living in Hong Kong

Finding accommodation in Hong Kong

Nothing tests newcomers’ expectations quite like finding accommodation in Hong Kong. You’ll find yourself paying a lot more for a lot less than you’re used to: a 400-square-foot (37sqm) place is a normal home for a couple. Expat residents typically rent rather than buy. Most rentals are handled by estate agents, and it pays to start your search online before you arrive.

Where you look comes down to your priorities. Central, the Mid-Levels, Soho, and Sheung Wan will put you close to work and nightlife but are the most expensive. Families often head for Discovery Bay on Lantau or the greener Sai Kung in the New Territories, where more room and a slower pace come at the price of a longer commute.

Accommodation in Hong Kong

Living in Hong Kong with children

Newcomers often find that living in Hong Kong with children is easier than they expected. The city is safe, violent crime is low, and it’s easy enough to get around on the MTR with a pushchair. Families go hiking in the national parks, swim at the beaches, visit the large theme parks, and on rainy days they fill up the museums and playgrounds.

For parents, the most important assurance is the healthcare system. Hong Kong has a dual public and private healthcare system, and the standards in both are high. The public hospitals, which are heavily subsidised, are very affordable for residents, while the private clinics provide shorter waiting times and have staff who speak English.

Healthcare in Hong Kong

Finding a school in Hong Kong

Finding a school in Hong Kong takes planning, and the earlier you start, the better. Most expat families choose international schools, which teach global and foreign curricula such as the IB, British, American, Canadian, and French curricula. Demand is high, and you may wait a year or more for a place at a popular campus. Many schools also ask families or employers to buy a debenture or nomination right. This is a large payment (sometimes refundable) in exchange for priority on the waiting list.

Local public schools are free and well regarded, although most teach in Cantonese, so they are a tough fit for older children who arrive without the language.

Education in Hong Kong

Getting around in Hong Kong

Few parts of daily life win expats over as quickly as the experience of getting around in Hong Kong. The public transport is fast and cheap, and you can reach most of the city on the MTR rail system, while buses, trams, minibuses, and ferries take care of the rest; the Star Ferry across the harbour is worth taking simply for the experience.

Almost everybody uses an Octopus card, which is a stored-value card that you tap at transport stations and in shops. Taxis are available in large numbers and have meters, and ride-hailing apps function well in the area as well. Most expats decide not to own a car at all because parking is both limited and expensive, and driving is rarely necessary.

Public Transport in Hong Kong

Climate and weather in Hong Kong

The climate and weather in Hong Kong are subtropical, so summers are hot and humid, while winters are mild and much drier. In the coolest months, the temperature dips to around 59°F (15°C). Rain is heaviest from spring into summer, roughly May to September. Typhoons are a risk from May to November, so watch the Hong Kong Observatory’s warnings and learn what the storm signal numbers mean before your first big storm.

Climate in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has many layers, and no sooner have you peeled back one than another appears. Some expats settle into the comfortable expat bubble; others dig into the Cantonese rhythms and historical contradictions of this age-old port city. Few find it dull either way.

Fast facts

Official name: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China

Population: Around 7.5 million

Main urban centre: Central, on Hong Kong Island (the government and business hub)

Other key areas: Kowloon, the New Territories, and the Outlying Islands

Borders: Hong Kong shares a land border with mainland China at Shenzhen to the north. The South China Sea is to its west, east, and south.

Geography: Hong Kong comprises more than 250 islands and a mainland section, and most of the land is hilly or mountainous. A large share is undeveloped country park, and much of the built-up area is on reclaimed land.

Political system: Special Administrative Region of China, governed under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework

Major religions: Buddhism and Taoism; about half the population follows no religion

Main languages: Cantonese and English (both official). Mandarin is widely spoken.

Money: The Hong Kong dollar (HKD) is divided into 100 cents. Expats can easily open a local account once they have a Hong Kong ID card and proof of address.

Tipping: Many restaurants add a 10 percent service charge, and no further tip is expected.

Time: GMT+8 (no daylight saving)

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-style (Type G) with three flat blades.

Internet domain: .hk

International dialling code: +852

Emergency contact: 999 for all services (112 also works from mobile phones)

Transport and driving: Cars drive on the left-hand side of the road. Public transport is comprehensive and includes the MTR rail network, buses, trams, ferries, minibuses, and taxis. Around 90 percent of daily journeys are made on public transport, one of the highest rates in the world.

When it comes to banking, money and taxes in Hong Kong, expats are unlikely to have trouble managing their finances in the wealth-driven Pearl of the Orient, one of the world’s most prominent financial centres.

The region’s financial systems are safe and straightforward, so managing your finances is easy. Hong Kong is also highly popular owing to its low taxes, and expats can save more of the dollars they work so hard for.

Money in Hong Kong

The currency in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar, which is subdivided into 100 cents and abbreviated as HKD or HK$. It is pegged to the US dollar.

Newcomers will also notice three different designs for each note, because the HKD 20 to HKD 1,000 notes are printed by the three note-issuing banks (HSBC, Bank of China, and Standard Chartered). The government issues the coins and the HKD 10 note.

The Hong Kong dollar is available in the following denominations:

• Notes: HKD 10, HKD 20, HKD 50, HKD 100, HKD 500, and HKD 1,000
• Coins: 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, HKD 1, HKD 2, HKD 5, and HKD 10

Banking in Hong Kong

For banking in Hong Kong, expats can choose from many major international banks as well as local heavyweights such as HSBC, Hang Seng, Bank of China, and Standard Chartered. Whether an international or a local bank suits you better depends largely on your circumstances, since both options have their pros and cons.

Nearly all banks have internet banking facilities and issue credit cards, and several licensed virtual banks now provide fully digital, branch-free banking. English is a working language of the sector, so most branch staff can serve you in English, especially in expat-heavy neighbourhoods.

Opening a bank account

Opening a bank account in Hong Kong is straightforward if you have a Hong Kong ID and a local proof of address, although newcomers who don’t have these documents may have extra hurdles to overcome. Each bank sets its own minimum balance for each account type, and some accounts have a low-balance fee, so compare your options before you commit.

If you already bank with an international name like Citibank or HSBC, the most convenient option may be to open the local version of your account once you arrive, because transferring money then becomes cheaper and less of a hassle. Local options are also worth considering if your home country bank isn’t represented in Hong Kong.

Requirements differ from one bank to the next, so check with the institution of your choice before you visit. Most banks ask for proof of address and proof of identification, either a passport or a Hong Kong ID, and you can smooth the process by bringing a recent utility bill and a letter from your employer.

ATMs and credit cards

When it comes to ATMs and credit cards in Hong Kong, you can find machines throughout the territory, and most accept international cards. Many local banks add no access fee of their own, although your card issuer at home may charge for overseas withdrawals.

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Hong Kong, although cash is still common for smaller purchases at wet markets, street stalls, small local eateries, and older taxis.

For everyday payments in Hong Kong, residents rely on the Octopus card, a stored-value smart card that was introduced for public transport and is now accepted at convenience stores, cafés, wet markets, and taxis. Newcomers can buy one at any MTR station, or load it onto a phone as a mobile wallet. You can also send money between banks instantly through the Faster Payment System (FPS), using only a phone number or a QR code, and most residents now use it to split bills and pay small traders.

Useful links

• Hong Kong Monetary Authority: Faster Payment System

Taxes in Hong Kong

Taxes in Hong Kong are extremely low by the standards of most developed economies, and the territory has completely done away with sales tax, capital gains tax, VAT, and inheritance tax. Expats in Hong Kong will have to deal with a different tax system from those in most other countries, because citizenship or residency doesn’t affect the amount of tax to be paid.

An added advantage is that salary taxes apply only to income derived from business within Hong Kong, whereas income and assets from overseas are not subject to tax. One caveat is that citizens of countries that tax worldwide income, especially the United States, must still declare their earnings to their home authorities.

Salaries tax is charged at progressive rates from 2 percent to 17 percent, or at a standard rate of 15 percent or 16 percent, and families with children can claim special allowances on top. Even wealthy single foreigners won’t pay more than 17 percent in taxes, which is an important point to factor in when evaluating your salary package.

The tax year is from 1 April to 31 March, and bills are often paid in arrears, so newcomers should set money aside from their first salary rather than spend it all. You will also notice a monthly deduction for the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), a compulsory retirement savings scheme that you and your employer each fund with 5 percent of your salary, up to a capped income level. Expats who leave Hong Kong permanently can withdraw their MPF savings as a lump sum.

The Hong Kong government has signed double taxation agreements with dozens of jurisdictions, so expats should investigate whether their home country is among them. If so, their income is taxable only in Hong Kong or in their home country, but not in both.

If at all uncertain, it’s best to confirm these details with an authorised tax adviser, preferably one who knows the ins and outs of expat tax issues.

Useful links

• Inland Revenue Department: Tax Information for Individuals
• Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority

Expats working in Hong Kong have long found themselves in one of the more attractive destinations for moving abroad, at least regarding employment. The city is packed with multinational companies, and ambitious foreign nationals can still find opportunities in its low-tax, free-market economy.

Competition is stiff, though. Employers hire selectively and watch their costs, so anyone who wants to work in the Fragrant Harbour is up against both locals and fellow expats.

Those who land a job in Hong Kong are usually highly skilled workers in banking and finance. There are also some opportunities for teaching English and volunteering. Local employers still rate degrees from American and British universities, and a stint working in Hong Kong looks good on a CV.

The paperwork is another matter, and it can be fairly tedious. For the standard employment visa, you need an employer to sponsor you, so you’ll want a solid job offer lined up first. The Immigration Department also wants proof that you bring skills the local workforce can’t readily supply. Hong Kong’s talent schemes are the exception; high earners and graduates of top-ranked universities can qualify without a job offer in hand.

Expats accepting a job in Hong Kong should research the market before negotiating a contract, and ensure they secure a salary high enough to support themselves and their family.

Job market in Hong Kong

Most expats in Hong Kong’s job market work in financial services, but a growing number have moved into fields like management and technology. There’s demand for people with experience in areas such as digital advertising, HR, law, and compliance, and investment banks in particular continue to draw many professionals to the city. Lucrative expat packages, though, are getting rarer outside senior roles.

Employers tend to look more favourably on applicants who have some Cantonese or Mandarin, and Mandarin in particular is worth having as more companies do business with mainland China. English is still the main language of business in Hong Kong, so international firms often hire without requiring any Chinese.

Finding a job in Hong Kong

Many expats arrive with a contract already signed, so the hardest part of finding a job in Hong Kong is behind them before they land. The largest and most reputable firms headhunt overseas and offer strong salary packages to attract the best talent.

Even if you aren’t headhunted, you still have plenty of ways to land a good job. It’s easy enough to find recruitment agencies, and there are plenty of online job boards too. Many firms also post vacancies straight onto their websites, and a fair few roles are never advertised at all. 

In Hong Kong, it helps a great deal to know the right people, so plenty of jobs are filled through personal contacts and referrals. Professionals here also use LinkedIn heavily.

Work Permits for Hong Kong
Visas for Hong Kong

Useful links

• Jobsdb by Seek
• Talent.gov.hk
• LinkedIn Jobs

Work culture in Hong Kong

Westerners may find the work culture in Hong Kong a shock at first. For starters, the working week is far longer than many are used to, and it’s common to clock 50 hours or more. Hong Kong is known for its ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos.

Professionalism is taken seriously in Hong Kong. Many local companies have hierarchical structures, which can take some getting used to for expats from flatter, more egalitarian workplaces. Work here is geared towards results, so expats often find themselves under real pressure. Locals also tend to avoid open confrontation to save face, so they rarely give a flat ‘no’ and will hedge politely instead.

You’ll also want to pick up the finer points of doing business in Hong Kong. Business cards, for example, should be given and received with both hands, and the most senior person usually settles the bill at a work meal.

Business Culture in Hong Kong

Healthcare in Hong Kong is world class. Both public and private hospitals are equipped with the latest medical technology operated by highly trained medical staff, many of whom speak good English.

Hong Kong also has some of the world’s highest healthcare costs, so you should arrange adequate insurance cover before you arrive.

Public healthcare in Hong Kong

The Hospital Authority (HA) runs public healthcare in Hong Kong, and the standard of care is generally high. It manages the city’s public hospitals and also provides rehabilitation and traditional Chinese medicine services.

Hong Kong’s public healthcare facilities are excellent, but waits can be long and the service impersonal. Anyone with a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) qualifies for subsidised rates, and that includes most expats once they hold a work or dependant visa. Without an HKID, you can still be treated, but you pay the higher non-resident rates. For non-emergency care, you usually need to book in advance.

Private healthcare in Hong Kong

Most expats rely on private healthcare in Hong Kong, and the city has around a dozen internationally accredited private hospitals. People choose private care for shorter waits, more privacy, comfortable rooms, and readily available English-speaking staff.

You’ll pay a little more than public sector rates at most private hospitals, and far more for luxury services. Either way, arrange health insurance to cover the cost.

Health insurance in Hong Kong

Anyone moving to the city should sort out their health insurance in Hong Kong early on. With an HKID, you qualify for subsidised public rates; without one, you pay market rates close to private-sector prices, which quickly gets expensive.

Many employers fold health cover into the contract, so check exactly what a scheme includes and try to negotiate a healthcare allowance into your package. If you are arranging cover yourself, you can choose from a wide range of providers, but compare quotes before you commit. Hong Kong also runs the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS), a government-certified framework whose standardised plans can qualify for a tax deduction, so weigh these up alongside the rest.

Useful links

• Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme
• Hospital Authority

Hospitals in Hong Kong

Canossa Hospital

Website: www.canossahospital.org.hk 
Address: 1 Old Peak Road, Hong Kong

Matilda International Hospital

Website: www.matilda.org 
Address: 41 Mount Kellett Road, The Peak, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital

Website: www.hksh hospital.com 
Address: 2 Village Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong

Pharmacies and medication in Hong Kong

Most neighbourhoods have a well-stocked pharmacy or two, so finding pharmacies and medication in Hong Kong is rarely difficult. Many open seven days a week, and some are open around the clock. You can spot a registered pharmacy by the ‘Rx’ logo and the words ‘Pharmacy’ or ‘Dispensary’, and it will have a pharmacist on duty. The big chains, Watsons and Mannings, fit this description and have branches all over the city.

Separate medicine shops sell everyday painkillers and cold-and-flu remedies, but they don’t have a pharmacist and can’t hand out prescription drugs. For a few medicines you can buy over the counter in other countries, you’ll need a prescription here; antibiotics, for instance, are prescription only. A pharmacist can still supply many other drugs without a doctor’s visit.

Useful links

• Hong Kong Government Drug Office

Health hazards in Hong Kong

Air pollution is the main health hazard in Hong Kong. Despite government efforts, air quality is still below international benchmarks, and expats with asthma or other chronic respiratory conditions often find their symptoms flare up.

The populations most affected are children, older adults, people with heart or lung conditions, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Even healthy newcomers may notice irritation in the eyes, nose, throat, or chest. Most healthy people exposed to poor air for a short spell come away with no lasting harm.

Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya are mosquito-borne risks, although the chance of catching either in urban Hong Kong is low. Protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially if you head into rural areas or nearby parts of mainland China.

Vaccinations for Hong Kong

No vaccinations are required to enter Hong Kong under normal circumstances, but you should keep routine jabs up to date before you go. These include the standard cover for influenza, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, and chickenpox. Typhoid can spread through contaminated food and water, so a typhoid vaccine is a sensible precaution for a longer stay. Depending on your plans, a travel clinic may also suggest:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Polio
• Rabies

Useful links

• CDC: Hong Kong Traveler Health
• Travel Health Service Hong Kong

Emergency medical services in Hong Kong

Dial 999 (112 on mobile) for an ambulance, the police, or the fire brigade. The Fire Services Department runs the ambulance service, and it is free for everyone, residents and visitors alike.

Ambulances take patients to the nearest public hospital’s accident and emergency (A&E) department, so that is where serious emergencies are handled. Most private hospitals don’t run a full A&E, so for anything life threatening, the public system is your first port of call, whatever cover you have.