Simple and Sustainable Forums: fed up - Viewing Profile - Simple and Sustainable Forums

Mr Medved, on 15 May 2012 - 09:46 AM, said:

I live in HK and have been many times to Singapore to stay with people who live there but have also lived in HK. I have investigated and asked lots of questions about the possibility of moving there because we have twice been told that was going to happen, but it didn't eventuate. I also have many friends here in HK who lived previously in Singapore.

Singapore is quite a nice place to live and is cleaner (air wise) and has a bit more space than HK in terms of the actual living areas. HK has a lot of green but living is quite compact with the space being walking trails over lots of green hills (most visitors don't see that part). The heat is relentless in Singapore but in HK you at least get some seasonal changes which are a welcome relief.

It seems pretty much unanimous among those that have lived in both that they prefer HK. It's just a more vibrant and fun place and definitely preferable for singles.I'm not sure about the stats but it certainly seems like there are a lot more single expats here. If you like a drink and want to meet people there are a multitude of little bars and restaurants where it is normal to turn up and start talking to the people sharing your table. Singapore appears much more family orientated and people complain a lot about the lack of good places to go out. Eating of course is good in both.

This could be a big incentive - No tax on alcohol in HK so you can buy wine from Australia and the rest of the world at very reasonable prices. Wine is very expensive in Singapore. Also better food ingredients here in HK. There's a supermarket called Great and it's great. You can get the best of the best from the four corners of the globe. It's not cheap but neither is Singapore for food. Generally I'd say food is cheaper here.

English is more widely spoken in Singapore so that could be advantageous employment wise.

The two places have similar tax regimes and are also keen to encourage entrepreneurs to start up businesses. I did a bit of investigation on starting a business here and it seems that if you can demonstrate that you're adding some value to the local economy and might employ people down the track then there are few barriers to entry. I'm not sure about the situation in Singapore but I do know a couple of people who have started businesses there so it's certainly doable. In terms of being employed by a firm, I think you need to be sponsored in both places.

I gather there are huge numbers of IT personnel over the border in China who will work for a knock down price but I would think many companies would prefer the skills of a western trained IT person who understands how western businesses operate - same as it is in banking and other fields. I guess it depends on your target market for work.

I'm sure that both would offer comparable business/work choices so maybe the decision comes down to which one has an available opportunity. However, work can't be the only consideration and socially I would highly recommend HK over Singapore, particularly for a single.

Aussie bankers losing jobs but working for European banks mostly.

Yes but so many of the wealthy here have businesses in China.

Husband bus not hk centric.

Of course anecdotal

Same in Honkers

Not seeing this in HK, all still seems buoyant. Husband's financing bus up 100% over budget this 1st qtr. I'm still bearish longer term.