Medical standards and the health care system differ hugely from Hong Kong to the mainland of China, and are arguably far better. The outbreak of the SARS virus still haunts Hong Kong in terms of reputation, as over 250 people died in the city. However, having been free from the virus for over seven years, the health of the city is high; in fact it enjoys the second highest life expectancy in the world (at 86 years old for women and 80 years old for men).

Public healthcare

The set-up of healthcare in Hong Kong includes over 40 public hospitals and 74 primary care clinics serving Hong Kong's seven million people. Training and teaching is of a high quality and expats tend to choose to be treated at public hospitals rather than at private facilities. To access the public health care system in Hong Kong, expats need to obtain a local ID card to gain various benefits. The 74 clinics generally offer walk-in appointments, rather than having to book in advance and GPs are available here. This is a bonus for Hong Kong and often better than healthcare services in the US and even the UK.   more ...

The 'Special Administrative Region' of Hong Kong is special for more than the relative autonomy from mainland China that it enjoys. For one, it is one of the most densely populated territories on the planet. This situation has led to some of the most in-demand upscale residencies in the world (see Causeway Bay for more information on this score), and also to some of the most tightly compressed, labyrinthine low-income residences, like the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City. While, as a professional expat, you are much more likely to find housing in something like the former district than the latter, it is understandable that you might have other concerns besides just securing a living space.

Quality education in the region, though widely available, is still a highly coveted thing given the sheer number of residents: classroom sizes easily exceed the median class sizes in British or North American schools, and even as such there are still students who will miss out on the opportunity to attend the school of their choosing. Finding education for a child, or oneself, is something to 'get on' sooner than later if you plan to relocate to Hong Kong.   more ...

Depending on the situation in your country of origin, you may find several pleasant surprises related to medical care in Hong Kong. Quality is high and costs can be quite low relative to other developed countries. Public options are very affordable and luxurious private options are available for a hefty price.

If you have a Hong Kong ID—and all resident expats must have one—you qualify for public healthcare. This means you can use clinic and hospital facilities across Hong Kong. There are 41 hospitals, 49 specialist outpatient clinics, and 74 general outpatient clinics organized in seven clusters in Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories, and outlying islands.   more ...

The Hong Kong property market is vibrant, just like the city itself. With the Hong Kong dollar pegged to the US dollar, the property market somewhat follows US trends. At the very low current interest rates, along with very low supply, housing demand and prices are high.

It is possible for an expat to buy property in Hong Kong, but there are a number of barriers to entry. First is a factor that affects all potential buyers: the scarcity of properties available. Hong Kong is partly a small mountainous island after all, and the territory already has sections that have the densest population in the world (Mong Kok with 340,000 people/sq mile), so unoccupied land and properties are limited.   more ...

Many expats arrive in Hong Kong without ever having had domestic help—especially live-in. And they’ve never held the role of private employer, so they aren’t aware of their legal obligations as employers. While there are many differences of opinion about the benefits and concerns regarding hiring a helper or amah, we’ll focus here on the preparation and requirements so that the hiring process can be done correctly and efficiently and the ongoing relationship will comply with Hong Kong law.

The best way to find a helper is through a referral from another expat family that is leaving Hong Kong and wants to be sure the helper finds another “good family.” It may be possible to do this research long-distance via the Internet and then meet candidates on a househunting trip before your move. The helper you select may need to make a trip to her home before the start of the new contract with you. If this recruiting path isn’t possible, agencies in Hong Kong always have a candidate pool of helpers whose contracts have expired and are looking for placement before they are obligated to leave Hong Kong.   more ...