The Student Room Group

Hong kong- a good idea?

Hey there I was having a chat with my mum last night over my future and she told me to look for a job in hong kong after i graduate because the economy is apparently booming since the econmic downturn in 1998-2004 and come back after 5 years or so. She proposed this because:

1. I know english, cantanose and Mandarin (apparently HK has crap english speakers becuase of the emphasis of learning mandarin since 1997)

2. I can live there permanently without a visa and I can live in the family apartment and not pay for accomadation (apparently any person born after 1997 to HK parents can't have a permanent residents card)

3. Apparently UCL is well known in HK and there is a strong demand for graduates there, and thats why so many come to the UK (no particular degree needed)

4. Low TAX !!!! I heard there is only one band which is 15% and theres practically no VAT. Which is particually important because I can recoup as much money as possible so I can get onto the houssing market in the UK without resorting to moving out of the South East. Though I always wondered how i will pay back my top up fees.

5. HK apparently is doing very well economically grew about 7% compared to 1.75% to the UK and unemployment is falling rapidly. Its close links with China is going to ensure that it stays this way unless theres going to be SARs again.

It all sounds good but i don't know if I want to move away from the UK (I heard theres a difference in culture despite being being ruled by Britain for over 150 years). If you were in my position would you do this?

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Reply 1
You're still young right?

Go for it! There's really nothing to lose.
Reply 2
What's your background, how come you know English, Cantonese and Mandarin?

But to stay on topic - of course u should go! You have nothing to lose.

I've been to Hong Kong and it's a vibrant and a beautiful city and VERY cheap if you compare it to the UK.
Reply 3
i'm half english and half chinese. But my dad (english) lived in singapore for like 10 years and made me learn it as a kid as it will be one of the most important languages in the 21st centry.
Reply 4
Have you been over to HK before?

If you haven't, maybe you should think about going over there for a month or two just to experience the whole culture first before you make any big decisions.
Reply 5
Yeah I been there for 3 months..... but that was when I was a little kid (this is pre handover). But im going again this xmas to "victoria island" or is it HK island to look about for a week just to make sure.
Reply 6
I wanna work in HK.
Reply 7
You have listed many advantages but you only really when you go over there this Christmas and see if you can see yourself living and working there.

Good luck and have fun!
Reply 8
thanks everyone
Reply 9
yes hk is an easy place to earn money but mandarin is gna be the next most imporatnt language in HK.. with cEpa and links with china..also..competition for jobs is unbelievable..many many employees are graduates from top schools aroudn the world..

good luck!
Reply 10
oh btw if u wanan noe more about hk u can ask me i study in an international school and i live in hk .
Reply 11
yea its really hard to get a job in Hk..esp with the MASSIVE number of uni graduates in HK. ITs just not enough to be a uni grad anymore...the competition is really keen and lots of companies (i'd say ALL) in all sizes require work experience. Despite the fact that the HK education system is putting more n more emphaisis on Mandarin becuase China's rapid economic growth, English is still seen as one of the most important langauges, if you cant speak english fluently, its really unlikely u'll be able to get anywhere far. I mean in HK, all the people who work for financial institutes, banks and such all speak english fluently so..just make sure if you come to HK..you're well geared and ready to compete.
Reply 12
China is a good place to get settled.

The economy is booming at extraordinary rates, I'd love to live and work there myself.

Soon it'll be the capital of the world, I'd want to retire there :biggrin:
Reply 13
But can you speak to lingo ?
Reply 14
vincente, i envy your linguistic abilities. Both my parents are from hong kong and I can only speak and read and write basic cantonese and am even worse at mandarin.
Yes, it would be a great idea to move to hong kong, as you have the "lingo" but do it only if you like it. Furthermore, you could do what your dad did: spend a couple of years there and then move back to the uk to work here. However, even if you dont go to hong kong, i reckon you will stand a good chance of getting a job in whatever interests you her in the uk. As you said, china and hong kong are growing rapidly and the uk will want to exploit that fact so your knowledge of all these languages will certainly be in demand here too.

If i could speak mandarin and cantonese fluently, I would rather stay put in the uk and look for a job that probably allows you to travel to china to work because in my opinion, the uk is still better.

But whatever you decided to do, good luck with it and have fun in Hong kong, it is a very nice place.
Reply 15
English is still seen as one of the most important langauges, if you cant speak english fluently, its really unlikely u'll be able to get anywhere far. I mean in HK, all the people who work for financial institutes, banks and such all speak english fluently so..just make sure if you come to HK..you're well geared and ready to compete.


I was born in the UK and lived here all my life, it would be shocking not to speak english fluently! I also forgot to point out that (went there recently) I loved the work life style there! My brother absolutely hated the prospect of working 6 days a week and 10 hours a day, but I for some rason didn't mind it (work experience with my aunt).

yea its really hard to get a job in Hk..esp with the MASSIVE number of uni graduates in HK


However my aunt (whom i just mentioned) was immediately given a job as university lecturer (a baptist university in Kowloon) and a civil servant post in education upon graduation. She graduated from Southampton university with a PHD and she told me that she believed that pocessing the permanent resident ID card will give you a strong preference from employers if you also have some work experience. (no need for a Visa and I can stay for an unlimited amount of tme, however in the future my kids can't have it which is gay!)
Reply 16
Your skill set and background suggests that you could go to HK, make some serious money and really enjoy your job. Since you have the appropriate language skills, this is a fantastic opportunity.

However, you do need to consider how you would feel working so far away from home (the UK). Leaving behind friends and family to work abroad can be hard, especially if you have any elderly/sick relatives over here. You definitely sound as if you could hack the job, but how would you cope being separated from your loved ones? If you reckon it wouldn't be a problem, then definitely move abroad.

Wishing you loads of luck with your career plans. Thoroughly jealous. :p:
Reply 17
However, you do need to consider how you would feel working so far away from home (the UK).


This may sound wierd but I was initially really sceptical about going to HK and saw it as being scabby place (I have barely ever been outside of the rural areas). However when I got there I hate to admit that a lot off the things are better there than the UK.......

The place is modern, theres no drinking culture, no typical negative english attitude, society is more traditional and to sum it up taking my grandmother to lunch and paying for it and walking her there whilst holding her arm (she has serious knee problems) commands a lot of respect, whilst this is something people (including me) just won't do in the UK.

But that said I don't think I could live there permanantly though. Even though I have family in HK I will seriously miss the UK and all my friends and family................uurrrghhhh I will think about this some other day.

Thanks for the replies everyone!
i would SO go for it if i was in your position ~ you're lucky!
you've got nothing to lose :smile:
id say give it a try for a year and see how it goes, remember you always have a choice to move:smile:

since i live there i can help you, pm me any questions you may have, and i'll try my best to help you:smile:
tbh i think wherever u go (Esp if its a country you havent lived in before) it can be really difficult, but doesnt hurt to give it a try! my thoughts are exactly the same for london(if i get a job that is) but doesnt hurt to try, and i guess if i dont like it i'll move somewhere else:redface: