选择新加坡还是香港. (转贴,好贴)

2005-11-24 · 1215 阅读

Author Topic: Hong Kong or Sinapore? 
coming to asia
unregistered <v:shapetype><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" extrusionok="f"></v:path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></v:shapetype><v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 29-07-2005 01:01 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000000&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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My employer, a large multi-national, has offered me a good job which will be based in Asia. As they have large offices in both locations, they have given me a free choice of Hong Kong or Singapore. In theory they will cost of living adjust my current salary plus pay a housing allowance so there should be no direct financial advantage in one over the other. I appreciate that this is a very broad question (and this board may not be the best place to ask it) but can i possibly ask for views and/or comments as to the relative merits, or demerits of each? I am married, with two small children, one of whom is at pre-school. I currently live in Epsom, in Surrey and commute to work in central London. 
Thank you all very much in advance. 
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exhker
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 29-07-2005 03:35 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000001&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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This topic has been covered a lot in the past so you might be able to find it if you do a search.
We had 10 yrs in HK and now 2 yrs in Singapore and much prefer it here. The standard of housing is better (living in a condo is like a resort and houses are nice too), as is the air quality, and amount of grass underfoot for your kids. Whilst it may lack the buzz of HK at times, there is plenty to do and it's nice being able to drive up to Malaysia and not feel stuck on an island! Good luck 
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lived in both
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 29-07-2005 03:39 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000002&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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If you were single or professional couple with no kids then I would advise HK however as you have young kids then i would say Singapore. 
you will get different opinions from others however MY reasons for this being the following..... 
in HK the pollution is bad, some days you can't even see across the harbour therefore it is best with young children to live away from the city... then you would have further to travel for work and also for a more lively social life, transport is excellent and cheap but just adds time to your day better spent elsewhere. 
Singapore pollution is only slightly bad a couple of months a year when they are burning the crops in nearby islands. 
HK is more seasonal, very wet April - June some days schools are closed then you have typhoons in July - Sept.... from April to Sept temp is approx 30 - 36 with humidity of high 90's most days...then from Sept to Dec the humidity drops to a more pleasant 60 ish and temps of high 20's....dec-feb is cold going down to 8 degrees some weeks.....coming from the UK you will think 8 degrees is nothing BUT houses have NO heating and are concrete built so do not store any heat. you have to buy oil heaters or if you have reverse air air con then you can use that to give the room a quick boost of heat but your bills would be very expensive. 
Singapore temp is always the same 24 -34 with some days having a heavy shower ONLY for an hour....the wet season is Dec-Feb and that is when it can rain just like HK for days on end...

HK.... on Kowloon side Sai Kung/Clearwater Bay areas are lovely and have many Australian/Brit families living there as well as other Europeans and locals.....schools and nursery nearby with most kids going on private bus....then on Hk Island Repulse Bay/Stanley is also very nice near the beach with many American families there. 
Singapore it does not matter what area you choose to live as schools/nursery have private buses to take the kids and most condos have mini buses to the nearest MRT station for work....taxis are cheap and there is many of them unless it is shift change time or raining (they all disappear in the rain) 
HK supermarkets have come a long way in the last few years with more and more western produce but some of the smaller ones about the size of a corner shop stock about 1/3 western and the rest local items... 
Singapore you can get "most" of your normal weekly shop of items from UK and the meat/fruit and veg is so much fresher and cheaper than Hk. 
HK can be more full on Chinese, the language can also be a problem at times when you get a taxi and he is not familiar with where you want to go and he can't understand you or a repair man to the house might not speak English....it is a bigger culture change for children . 
Singapore is very easy for families with young kids I would say it is the best place to start in Asia if you are moving there for the first time.....nearly everyone speaks English and there is lots of open green spaces and parks for the kids to use up their energy .....and people are friendlier 
then after 3/4 years when the children are slightly older and more aware of the culture HK would be the next move. 
as I said at the start of my rambling.....this is only MY opinion....but I hope it helps 
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singers-lover
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 29-07-2005 07:25 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000003&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Young kids love it here and it is very easy to have a young family here. Pre-schools are wonderful, cheap and plentiful. You can speak English easily pretty much everywhere. Condos are a great place to meet other people and other kids. Western food (as someone else mentioned) is fairly easy to find. My kids will have to be crow-barred onto a plane out of here. 
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Singapore!
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 30-07-2005 04:21 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000004&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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I've lived and worked in Hong Kong as a single woman and now living here as the trailing spouse... 
I definitely prefer Singapore over Hong Kong!!! Especially if we had small children. 
I have yet to meet someone who's lived in both places and say he/she prefers Hong Kong over Singapore... 
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B.D
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 30-07-2005 07:15 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000005&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Well you have not met me. 4 Years Singapore / 1 year in HK. 3 and 2 year old children and there is no way on earth I would move back to Singapore. HK is so much more of a dynamic city compared to Singapore. I remember visiting HK when I lived in Singapore and thinking how vould anyone prefer HK over Singapore but you never know until you actually do live it. I would agree however accomodation standards in HK are not great yet super expensive. If you do not have a top top package I think this would be the decider in chosing Singapore. 
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GP_Hk
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 30-07-2005 08:05 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000006&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Any day Hong Kong. 
Try living in Singapore for a few months and you will know. 
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curiouskat
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 31-07-2005 12:25 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000007&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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I think Singapore is more family friendly, although HK is opening its branch of DisneyLand next month. 
As other posters said, Hong Kong is better if you are single. Singapore has a lot to offer if you have kids. Plus, most Singaporeans speak English. In HK, this is not so. 
The negative of Singapore - definately the weather. HK has cooler months, whereas Singapore stays hot all year long. 
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B.D
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 31-07-2005 04:36 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000008&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Everyone says "Singapore is more child friendly". I will challendge that. Everyone seems to say it but what do you actually mean? Disneyland maybe opening but there is already Ocean Park, many open parks and kids play areas all sorts of things. Add in the better weather I think HK is more child friendly. 
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InMyView
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 31-07-2005 05:23 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000009&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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You are comparing New York and Philadelphia, London and Bradford, Berlin and Koln... 
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expat mom
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 04-08-2005 02:21 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000010&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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I have known a few families that were transferred to Hong Kong. They had very gnerous housing allowances and yet they could only afford a 4 story small row house. On less budget, living in a prime area of Singapore, they had a 5000 sq ft house with a gardener and room for a maid. The house had a very nice kitchen with all of the appliances in the kitchen(no dishwasher on the back porch). In Hong Kong the refrigerator was half the size of what she used to having. 
In Singapore all the streets are labeled in multiple languages, so an english speaking person that read a map can either drive themselves or tell the english speaking taxi driver where they want to go. 
Lack of seasons in Singapore does wear on a person, but it survivable. 
My husband had the choice of where to locate his office when we lived in Singapore. He had travelled in asia for about 20 years and chose Singapore for the ease of living for our family. I did find Singapore very easy to adjust to and I was able to keep my personal independence because of the ease in which I could move around the city. 
Good luck in your decision. 
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LoveSingapore
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 08-08-2005 01:58 AM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000011&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Think about this:
Singapore gets SARS from Hong Kong.
Singapore controled SARS faster than Hong Kong did.
Hong Kong had bird flu before, Singapore did not.
Many strange illnesses comes from Southern China, which is close to Hong Kong. 
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C..K
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 08-08-2005 08:36 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000012&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Yet I know no one that got SARS in either country yet know lots who got dengue fever in Singapore. (Think the stats are something like 1000 cases in Singapore this year and 2 in HK?) 
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Plato
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 09-08-2005 08:08 AM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000013&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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I grew up in London, lived in Hongkers for 6 years and got married and then moved to Singapore 3.5 yrs ago. 
Both are great, but in different ways.
If children then tips the scales and suggest move to Singapore as standard of living is MUCH better for them.
House, school, car, etc. 
Single or young couple then Hong Kong is awesome. 
Make sure you get a club membership and get your names down at Tanglin. 
BTW, forgive me for saying so, but you sound a little too trustworthy of employers plans to ensure cost of living is balanced. Suggest you do your research on boards like this and make sure you get housing, schooling, car, medical and trip home allowance if possible. 
Enjoy the adventure, and make sure in the first 3 months you pay special attention to the wife, as you can easily get caught up in a new job and she will know no-one and likely fin it very stressful. 
Most expats will agree I think. Others will say don't stop at 3 months <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>
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coming to asia
unregistered <v:shape><v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape>posted 09-08-2005 04:11 PM <a href="http://www.expatsingapore.com/cgi-bin/ubb/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Careers,+Jobs+%7CAMP%7C+Employment&number=2&topic=005000.cgi&ReplyNum=000014&TopicSubject=Hong+Kong+or+Sinapore%7CQUS%7C" target="_blank" ><v:shape> <v:imagedata></v:imagedata></v:shape></A>
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Thanks all. Still not made up our minds, but the advice has been very useful and we really appreciate the time taken. 
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