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Archive for the ‘Living in HK’ Category

HK LIFE – Navigating HSBC’s New ATM Card Farce

Date: 2013.05.11 | Category: Blog, Living in HK | Response: 8

Travelling this summer? Expect a financial farce courtesy of HK’s banks if you’ve any intention to access your cash…

Why is my ATM card a piece of crap now?
Several major banks forced customers onto the UnionPay ATM network this year, instead of the internationally recognised, VISA-backed ‘Plus’ system. The mainland government-backed UnionPay network is operated under the People’s Bank of China, leading some conspiratorial HK Netizens to become suspicious of the changeover, as documented over on BadCanto Blog.

My card doesn’t work in foreign ATMS!
There are not many UnionPay-friendly terminals outside of Asia. Even if you find one, it may not have been updated to cope with new chipped cards. You can check on the Union Pay ‘globalisation’ pages to see if the card is accepted anywhere in your destination country (the site is reassuringly riddled with grammar and spelling errors).

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HK LIFE – Hong Kong’s Cheapest Mobiles: Top 4 Places

Date: 2013.04.30 | Category: Blog, Living in HK | Response: 0

Hong Kong is arguably the cheapest place in the world for new and used cell phones. Below is an unbiased guide to the four main options for bagging an affordable device in HK…

AST Global - Although they have a limited range, the cheapest deals for new, unlocked phones (and lots of other tech) is AST Global. They are online only and can deliver to your nearest MTR station. Customers can pay online or in cash and still receive the usual year-long manufacturer’s warranty. Their website isn’t the slickest, and be sure to inspect your goods before handing over cash, but all products include a 3-day money-back guarantee if you keep the packaging. This store is unbeatable on cameras too – cheaper than any of the arcades in Mongkok or Sham Shui Po…

Sin Tat Plaza – Many Hong Kongers head straight to Sin Yat Plaza on Argyle Street in Mongkok. Walk straight along the road out of MTR exit D2 – it will appear on your left (no English signage). Once it was notorious for rip-offs and fake models, but things have been cleaned up in recent years, and – along with Sham Shui Po – it is a great place for second hand mobiles too.

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HK LIFE – Comprehensive Map of HK Markets & Hidden Malls

Date: 2012.12.19 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 0

Best viewed over at Google Maps, this map shows some of HK’s popular and lesser-known markets and malls. Blue represents general shopping, pink is electronics, orange is living things, and green is food/medicine…

Posted with permission from Reddit-user Jort, the map will slowly expand to include more shopping hotspots and wet markets. Many of the electronics arcades may not be news to locals, but – for humble foreigners – these malls can be hard-to-find and often lack English signs.

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HK LIFE – How to Bypass the South China Morning Post Paywall

Date: 2012.12.09 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 3

Traditionally, the new South China Morning Mouthpiece‘s semi-porous paywall allows non-subscribers 4 free articles before locking them out…

To bypass this limit, simply open SCMP.com in an ‘incognito window’ in Google’s Chrome browser. Again, you will be limited to just four articles, but you can reset this by closing the window and re-opening another incognito window…

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HK LIFE – Accessing BBC iPlayer from Abroad

Date: 2012.04.30 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 0

Since last year, I’ve been testing a free VPN called ‘Expat Shield’ with some scepticism. It has, however, worked perfectly from the outset for unlimited iPlayer viewing, though occasionally it is necessary to pause the video for buffering (just for a minute or two). Otherwise the speed is superb, it’s free, legal and easy to use.
1. Download the Expat Shield software. It may insist you run a ‘download manager’ beforehand.
2. Run the installer, select ‘English’ and click through the next pages until you are offered some additional, bundled software. Untick and reject the ‘community toolbar’, and click next to install.
3. When installed and running, you will see a shield in the bottom-right hand corner of the screen. When the UK connection is live, it will be green – when it’s red, you just have your regular, direct connection. Right-click on the shield and ensure ‘show on restart’ is unticked - we needn’t have the programme permanently running and slowing down your computer.
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HK LIFE – Flat-hunting Tips for Hong Kong

Date: 2011.11.05 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 0

As land is scarce, HK is home to the world’s most expensive property rental market. Whilst most ex-pats opt for the traditional HK Island-side haunts around the central business district, those on more modest budgets will find better value and larger options on Kowloon-side and in the New Territories. Liveable shoebox apartments will start at around HK$5,000pm, though – for a decent area and a more civilised measure of floor space – it’s best to aim more towards HK$10-15,000pm. A good starting point for gauging what your money gets you is gohome.com.hk which details rents, floor space and photographs posted by local property agents. [Those on more generous ex-pat packages may prefer the options listed at the bottom of the page, where rents begin more around the HK$50,000pm mark.]

A wide range of residential options….
- Most buildings in Kowloon and HK Island comprise of small flats constructed between the 70s and 90s – usually unfurnished with simple, usually tiled, decoration.
- There is a glut of newer, self-sufficient residential developments (often with club houses and pools). Micheal Wolf has a collection of mind-bending photographs of HK’s high density living arrangements, though foreigners often find such developments soulless, devoid of character and somewhat akin to holiday camps. There are often many different price ranges within the same complex.
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HK LIFE – Cheap Flight Links & Tips for Hong Kong

Date: 2011.10.05 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 1

Updated: Feb 2013 – this is a non-biassed, no bullshit independent guide…

Tips for finding cheap flights out of Hong Kong…
- For traditional airlines, use Google’s Matrix software to find out the base prices of your flight – all agencies use this booking engine and the database is for reference only (you cannot book though it). Results include tax. Once you have identified a flight you wish to buy, search for it on the airline’s own website and reserve a seat – usually the price is the same as quoted on the Matrix. Also check with comparison engines Zuji, Webjet and Priceline (beware results rarely include tax).
- Some discount low-cost airlines will not be listed on the search engines. Depending on your destination, consider Cebu Pacific, Dragon Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Jetstar (new for 2013), and, in particular, Air Asia.
- Check Cathay Pacific’s Fan Fares page for last-minute off-peak deals, both long and short-haul. Subscribe by email.
- For further savings, look into flying from Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, but be sure to factor in the time/costs of getting there-and-back. Air Asia and Tiger Airways fly out of Macau – factor in the ferry journey, or find a cheap ticket on Groupon. A Chinese visa is required if transiting through the mainland (except, generally, in Beijing and Shanghai).
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HK LIFE – How to Arrange China Visas in Hong Kong

Date: 2011.09.05 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 1

China visas
- For visas to China, you can apply directly at the Commissioner’s Office in Wan Chai, which also lists the fees for each nationality.
- It opens Monday to Friday: 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. Address: 7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Building, No.26, Harbour Road, Wanchai. You’ll need your passport, the application form and a recent colour photo. Follow the MTR signs to ‘Immigration Tower’, turn right at the end of the bridge and look for the Chinese government emblem.
- Alternatively, China Travel Service will help you with a visa for a fee.
Also on the blog:
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HK LIFE – Hong Kong Job-Hunting Links

Date: 2011.08.05 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 1

Hong Kong Job hunting links (in English):
- JobsDB - the main resource for jobs in HK
- SCMP – also worth buying for the weekend job supplements
- Career Times
- Recruit Online
- HK Jobs
- Ming Pao JUMP
- CareerJet
- Headline Jobs
- Monster
- Government Vacancies – including summer internships
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HK LIFE – Teaching English in Hong Kong

Date: 2011.07.05 | Category: Living in HK | Response: 0

TEFL in Hong Kong:
- Requirements: A degree (in any subject) is often a substitute for a TEFL certificate in HK (and Japan), and training will often be provided. However, it is becoming more common for employers to expect a TEFL qualification in addition to a degree. Entry requirements toughened after the financial crisis sparked a new influx of foreigners to the city. The best TEFL programme available in HK is the Trinity All Saints certificate offered by English for Asia. Savings can be made if you enrol on the Trinity course in Thailand.
- Chatteris: The first option is Chatteris Educational Foundation, I did the 9-month programme back in 2005-6. The wage, around £1000/HK$13,000 a month, is just enough to live on and save a little for travel. Chatteris has its problems and its ‘charitable’ status is somewhat questionable, but they support and train you. You’ll be placed with another British, Canadian, Australian or American in a primary or secondary school. There will be several dozen others who you’ll train with and so you’ll immediately have a big social network – unique to Chatteris. Although they have started a ‘college’ programme, the more traditional primary/secondary school programmes are a better option. With Chatteris, your emphasis will be on oral English with a ‘non-formal’ approach (i.e. games, crafts, ‘fun’ activities), often taking small groups of children out of the class for additional activities. On the downside, management can be eccentric and balancing the expectations of your school and the demanding central office can be exasperating. However, if you can look beyond their terrible c.1992 website, it makes for a great first year in HK – particularly for fresh graduates – and they will support you in continuing a teaching career in HK. If you’re in your early 20s, it makes for an ideal foot-in-the-door.
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