Want to live and work in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is consistently listed among the world's most expensive cities. Housing is the major weight: a one-bedroom apartment in central neighborhoods (Central, Mid-Levels, Sai Ying Pun, Causeway Bay) costs between HKD 18,000 and HKD 28,000 per month (around USD 2,300 to USD 3,600), with small floor areas (20 to 35 m2). In Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, and Kowloon Tong, prices drop to HKD 13,000 to HKD 20,000. In the New Territories (Tai Po, Sha Tin, Yuen Long), HKD 9,000 to HKD 14,000.

Local food is cheap. A meal at a cha chaan teng (traditional diner) or food court costs HKD 50 to 80. Dim sum at a popular restaurant runs HKD 100 to 150 per person. Eating at Western or hotel restaurants is expensive, with dinner between HKD 400 and HKD 1,500. Premium supermarkets (city'super, ThreeSixty, Marketplace) charge Western prices; ParknShop and Wellcome are more affordable.

The MTR is efficient and cheap (HKD 5 to HKD 30 per trip). The Octopus Card covers transport and small purchases. Electricity is reasonable (HKD 500 to HKD 1,200 per month), peaking in summer due to air conditioning. Residential internet costs HKD 150 to HKD 300. A private health plan for expatriates ranges from HKD 800 to HKD 5,000 per month depending on coverage.

Basic education in Hong Kong is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 15. Public schools offer bilingual instruction in Cantonese and English, with several using English as the primary language in advanced years. There are also international private schools (American International School, German Swiss International School, French International School, Hong Kong International School) with high tuition fees, serving foreign families.

Higher education is internationally recognized. Universities such as the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) rank among the top 100 in the world. Most courses are in English, especially at the postgraduate level.

For international students, specific study visas are available, with limited work authorization during studies and up to 24 months to seek employment after graduation (the IANG scheme, Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates). Scholarships exist on academic merit and through international partnerships. Hong Kong is a popular destination for students from mainland China, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and increasingly from Europe and Latin America.

Hong Kong is frequently cited as one of the safest cities in the world. Violent crime is rare, and it is normal to see people walking alone on busy streets at any hour. Women and children routinely use public transport without concern. The most common crimes are petty theft in crowded places, tourist scams, and online fraud.

Neighborhoods like Central, Mid-Levels, Mid-Levels West, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Discovery Bay are traditionally safe. Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po are denser areas with an active nightlife, but maintain a good level of safety. Safety is also high in more remote parts of the New Territories, with smaller communities.

The emergency number is 999. The Hong Kong Police act professionally and provide English-language service in international areas. Sporadic protests occurred with greater intensity between 2019 and 2020, and the National Security Law changed the political landscape since then. For day-to-day life, this has little impact on foreign residents who are not involved in activism.

Hong Kong is perhaps the world's finest example of the fusion between Chinese tradition and Western influence. Ancient temples like Man Mo, Wong Tai Sin, and Po Lin coexist with rooftop bars in Central. Traditional street markets (Ladies' Market, Temple Street Night Market) and luxury malls in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central exist side by side.

The cuisine is one of the most recognized in Asia. Dim sum (yum cha) is an essential part of social life, with families gathering on weekends at restaurants like Tim Ho Wan, Maxim's, and Lin Heung Tea House. Wonton noodles, char siu, roast goose, egg tarts, milk tea, and bubble tea are everywhere. There is also a strong international dining scene, with high-end French, Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants.

Hong Kong cinema had its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s with names like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, John Woo, and Wong Kar-wai. The most important festivals include Chinese New Year (January/February), the Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October, with mooncakes), the Dragon Boat Festival (June), Ching Ming and Chung Yeung (ancestor care). Christmas and Western New Year are also celebrated, a legacy of British colonial rule.

Hong Kong lies on the southern coast of China, on the South China Sea, beside Shenzhen (north) and Macau (west, across the Pearl River Delta). The territory has three main areas: Hong Kong Island (with Victoria Harbour and Central), the Kowloon Peninsula (denser, north of the harbour), and the New Territories, which include around 260 smaller islands, among them Lantau (the largest), Lamma, Cheung Chau, and Peng Chau.

The terrain is mostly mountainous and steep. The highest peak is Tai Mo Shan (957 m), in the New Territories. Hong Kong Island has Victoria Peak (552 m), with its famous harbour view. Lantau holds Lantau Peak (934 m) and the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping. Only about 25% of the territory is built up, with intense vertical development. The rest is Country Parks (protected rural parks) and sea.

The dominant biomes are humid subtropical forest (mountain), secondary forest (hillsides), mangrove (Mai Po Marshes, in the northeast near the Shenzhen border), rocky beaches and reefs (Sai Kung, Lamma), and marine zones of the South China Sea. Built population density is extremely high (more than 27,000 inhabitants per square kilometer in Mong Kok), among the highest in the world.

The General Employment Policy (GEP) is the most common path for professionals with a job offer in Hong Kong. It requires a university degree, an employment contract, and a salary in line with the market. The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), launched in 2022, serves high-earning professionals (above around HKD 2.5 million annually) or graduates of the world's top 100 universities, without requiring a prior offer.

The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) works on a points basis, considering age, qualifications, experience, language, and entrepreneurial profile. Investment as Entrepreneur allows residency through establishing a business in Hong Kong. Students have specific visas and the IANG scheme (24 months to seek employment after graduation). Family reunification covers spouses and minor children.

Since 2020, with changes in relations with the United States, Hong Kong residents are NO longer separately treated as eligible for US E-1/E-2 visas. Hong Kong also has no treaty of its own. For a Hong Kong passport (HKSAR Passport), after 7 years of continuous legal residency it is possible to apply for permanent residency, with effective citizenship tied to Chinese nationality (which has its own rules and generally does not allow dual citizenship).