Hong Kong has a long history of welcoming expats and foreign workers into its rich cultural heritage. Living in Hong Kong is rewarding: it's seen as an important gateway into world markets for many multinational companies within the tech, finance, advertising and HR industries.
With a long history of colonisation as well as trade and economic leadership, it is no surprise that Hong Kong is at the forefront of expat activity. The astoundingly evolved business infrastructure, coupled with the country's efficient transport system has helped to make Hong Kong a desirable expat destination.
Foreign residents now make up nearly 10 per cent of Hong Kong's 7.5 million population, about half of whom are professionals or technical employees working in a wide range of industries spanning banking, finance, hospitality, health and education.
Culture. Hong Kong is a regarded as a place where 'east meets west' and where the old and the new live side by side. Its incense-filled temples, colonial buildings and glass-and-steel skyscrapers, along with its ancient traditions and lively festivals, have made Hong Kong a living cultural experience.
As long as you can cope with the density of population, a low crime rate, high standard of living, excellent infrastructure and low costs all cement Hong Kong's reputation as one of the world's most hospitable cities for foreign workers.
If we refer to Wikipedia: “Hong Kong people (Chinese: 香港人), also known as Hong Kongers or Hong Kongese, are people who originate from or live in Hong Kong”. The immigration department of Hong Kong states a Chinese citizen” is a person of Chinese nationality under the CNL (Peoples Republic of China).
Among the 1,000 Hong Kong people surveyed in 2022 Cigna 360 Global Wellbeing Survey, nearly nine in 10 (87%) respondents said they feel stressed, and 19% find this stress unmanageable, topping all surveyed markets in APAC and ranking the third highest amongst 15 global markets.
Hong Kong residents are leaving in unprecedented numbers after the territory's chaotic handling of the covid crisis, civil unrest and the new national security laws imposed by Beijing in 2020. “It's not only expats who are going,” says Patrick Groth, General Manager at global mobility company Santa Fe Relocation.
Housing expenses, low wages and an ageing population unable to retire are among the most prominent factors. If nothing is done, poverty will only worsen, jeopardising the city's stability and prosperity. So, what can be done? We must first comprehend the reasons for and causes of poverty in Hong Kong.
The increase narrowed the gap with rival Hong Kong, which saw typical expat packages fall 2% to $278,020. Despite the drop in real terms, Hong Kong climbed three places to become the world's fifth-most expensive place to send expat workers.
You Shouldn't Have a Language Problem
The most common form of Chinese spoken is of course Cantonese, but there are other variations of the language used by minority groups in the city. As English is a co-official language of Hong Kong, expats with no knowledge of Chinese should be able to get along fine in the city.
People in HK generally are cautious, so don't expect a random friendly chat, especially in English. If you need help on directions, they'll gladly help - but expect a very short reply.
Though Hong Kong is home to a number of people of different racial and ethnic origins, the overwhelming majority of Hong Kongers are of Han Chinese descent. Many of whom are Yue–speaking Cantonese peoples and trace their ancestral home to the adjacent province of Guangdong.
Hong Kong is home to one of the largest Australian communities abroad, with around 100,000 Australians residing in Hong Kong. Around 86,000 people born in Hong Kong live in Australia.
In most part this is because Hong Kong is still considered a gateway to China; it's the country's most popular city for international business, Asia's foremost financial centre, and is still regarded as the best place for networking, trading and for accessing the huge mainland China market.
An influx of capital and entrepreneurial talent from Shanghai in the late 1940s and the Korean War trade embargo of China in 1950 spurred the colony's industrial development. Hong Kong is both a key business center and a popular tourist destination.
A great seaport and commercial center, Hong Kong grew to prosperity on the entrepôt trade with China, its location convenient for transshipment of goods to and from the West.
In contrast, overseas-born emigrants often leave permanently to return to their former country of birth because of feelings of homesickness or insecurity. Older emigrants often depart after they retire from the workforce, while widowhood and divorce can also motivate departures among the overseas born.
Hong Kong became a British colony through two wars: the First and Second Opium Wars. The First Opium War broke out in 1839. It is called the 'Opium War' because of one of its major causes: the British were smuggling opium from their Indian colonies into Chinese ports against the wishes of the Chinese government.
No, though more and more people who reside in Hong Kong are learning Mandarin as a second language.
In terms of family income, the top 30% earn HK$40,000 per month. In contrast, the top 10% of Hong Kong's richest families made more than a million per year.
The pros of living in Hong Kong include a lot of career opportunities, a strong transportation system, and a robust educational system. Meanwhile, the cons of living in Hong Kong include high rent and cost of living, high population density, and significant political tension with the mainland.
The average salary in Hong Kong is 439,000 HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) per year. This amounts to USD 55,928 as per the exchange rates in April 2023.