If you are thinking about moving to Hong Kong with your kids, you might be wondering if it is a family-friendly city. Be assured that expats with families usually enjoy living in this vibrant autonomous territory of China. Keep reading for more information on what expats think about moving to Hong Kong and raising their children there.
What to consider
Moving to Hong Kong alone or with your spouse requires some careful planning but moving with kids involves additional consideration and preparation. You will never feel completely out of your element with a large, friendly expat community, and with today’s technology you can easily stay in touch with friends and family back home.
Safety
When you move anywhere with kids, you want to consider the safety levels of where you are going. Hong Kong has a good police presence, decreased drug use, and minimal violent crime.
When you compare Hong Kong with most U.S. cities, it has much lower homicide rates. Hong Kong is much larger than Washington D.C. yet it has less than half the homicide rate when compared to D.C.’s homicide rate over the last few decades, which is typically in the triple digits.
Housing
The population density in Hong Kong requires buildings to be constructed as high as possible, so most people live in high rise condos. New condos are constantly being constructed so you can get brand new and stylish housing, but the downside is newer condos are built with less square footage and have costly rents. Clubhouse facilities can make up for the small living space, or you can get more square footage with fewer amenities from a condo built 20 to 30 years ago.
Schools
With limited space to increase school facilities and a constantly growing population, good schools are becoming harder to get into in Hong Kong. That is why you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to apply.
Expats typically send their children to a carefully selected international school. Not only will they be in the company of quite a few other expat students, but they will receive a world-class education. Take a look at this American international school in Hong Kong to get an idea of what is available. This is an excellent school that provides high quality education for all pupils.
Social aspect
Kids have fewer responsibilities when moving, but older children might complain about leaving their house, friends, school, and everything that is familiar to them.
Luckily, Hong Kong is a place with just about anything your kids could want. They will readily adapt once you enroll them in school and get them involved in their favorite clubs. Meeting many other expat children, some local kids, and others from around the world, will broaden your children’s minds and they will soon make new friends.
Hong Kong is a bustling city with plenty to offer families. A secure environment, new housing, exemplary schools, and friendly residents make it a place where you can adapt and flourish in no time. Just remember to plan ahead thoroughly and do your research about housing and schools before you make the move.
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