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Kids and families in Hong Kong might not seem an obvious match at first. Moving here with children can seem daunting; expats may picture hurried office workers, crowded MTR trains, towering skyscrapers, and packed street markets, and then dread the thought of bringing little ones into such a hectic place.
In reality, Hong Kong can be an extremely friendly and safe place to raise a family. While expat life in Hong Kong can be frenzied, foreigners will be pleasantly surprised by how kindly their children are treated. Strangers often stop to help a child tie a shoelace or steady a wobbling toddler on a crowded train.
Set this friendly attitude alongside everything there is for families to do, and it is hard to deny that Hong Kong is a genuinely child-friendly city.
Health and safety for expats with kids in Hong Kong
Health and safety are two of Hong Kong's strongest suits for expat families. Violent crime is rare, and parents can feel fairly relaxed about letting their children out to play. Hong Kong is regularly rated one of the world's safest major cities, and most residents are comfortable walking around after dark. Older kids who can manage the public transport system on their own do so without giving their parents much cause for worry.
Hong Kong is one of the healthiest places in the world in terms of life expectancy and infant mortality. The territory has two parallel healthcare systems. A heavily subsidised public network under the Hospital Authority is open to anyone with a Hong Kong ID card, whatever their nationality. Most expats also use the large private sector, which they reach through employer insurance. Standards are high on both sides, though at public hospitals you can wait a long time in A&E for anything that isn't urgent.
Air quality in Hong Kong is something worth watching. The main local source of pollution is roadside traffic, and the skies turn hazy when regional smog blows in from the mainland. Keep an eye out for damp and mould, which older flats are prone to. Some expat parents run air purifiers at home. If your child has asthma or a similar condition, speak to your doctor about managing it before and after you arrive.
Public Transport in Hong Kong
Healthcare in Hong Kong
Family-friendly housing in Hong Kong
Space is the big adjustment when it comes to family-friendly housing in Hong Kong. The city is densely populated, and most families live in high-rise flats far smaller than the houses they left behind. On a rainy day, you feel every square foot, especially when the kids are cooped up indoors.
On the island, it is fairly uncommon for families to have a garden as most living is done vertically, and personal space comes at a premium.
In the New Territories and outlying islands, there is more room to breathe. Families can buy or rent homes with proper gardens and sea views, and the pace is far more rural than on Hong Kong Island. Some expats settle out here to escape the crush of the city. The trade-off is the commute, which gets longer the further out you live, so families weigh the extra space against the daily journey before committing.
Areas and Suburbs in Hong Kong
Education in Hong Kong
Good schools are plentiful, but education in Hong Kong is competitive, and parents snap up the sought-after places early in the year, so start your research as soon as you can. The registration process can be stressful, and you will need to pull together a fair amount of paperwork.
International schools in Hong Kong charge fees at several points along the way. There's an application fee up front, then a registration or entry fee once your child has a place. In addition to tuition, expect an annual capital levy (sometimes called a building fee) for campus upkeep and development. Many of the sought-after schools also run debentures or nomination rights. These are large, one-off payments. Some are refundable when your child leaves, others are not, so read the terms before you commit. Whatever route you take, keep an eye on payment deadlines, because schools enforce them strictly.
Education and Schools in Hong Kong
Entertainment for kids in Hong Kong
Country hikes, ferry rides, museums, and camping trips into the New Territories are all part of the entertainment for kids in Hong Kong, on the island and off it. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park are the obvious headline draws, and families never run out of things to do around them.
Once you have worked through the big-ticket attractions, plenty remains for expat kids in Hong Kong. Most districts have youth sports leagues, public swimming pools, playgrounds, and mothers' groups. The government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department runs much of this, from the beaches and public pools to hundreds of playgrounds across the city.