Tai Tam and Redhill Peninsula boast the Hong Kong International Junior and High Schools, and this area has become very popular. The accommodation in this area is new and very well appointed, many with swimming pools and club facilities. There are a number of high-rise and townhouse estates in the district. The area is served by buses and taxis only, as the MTR does not yet travel to the south side of the island. It is a short drive through the Tai Tam Gap to Chai Wan, the eastern terminus of the MTR. There is good shopping nearby for the basics such as groceries and dry cleaning services. The Redhill Plaza has numerous shops, including a large American style supermarket. A car is necessary if you live on Tai Tam Peninsula.
Stanley is also very popular among expats due to its lovely village atmosphere, with fine beaches and a large choice of modern town houses and low rise apartments. Stanley has good restaurants and pubs, and is home to the famous Stanley market - which sells clothes, leather goods and souvenirs. As above, this area is not serviced by the MTR, but there is good access by bus to Central, Causeway Bay and Shaukeiwan.
Chung Hom Kok is located on a peninsula midway between Repulse Bay and Stanley, and is a quiet, predominantly low-rise area. Accommodation here consists of townhouses and luxury low-rises, and commands higher rentals than many areas of the South Side. Many of the villas have pools and private yards. There is a small local supermarket, dry-cleaner's and a doctors' surgery, although most residents travel to Stanley for shopping, about five to ten minutes' drive away. The area is well served by public transport, but not MTR, with routes to Central and elsewhere. Both campuses of the Hong Kong International School are nearby.
Repulse Bay and South Bay, both have stunning sea views, good beaches and a broad range of modern high rise and colonial low rise apartments. The area boasts a combination of luxury high-rises and townhouses, many with commanding views over the bay and the South China Sea beyond. Expatriates with young families often choose Repulse Bay because of the clean air, outdoor space for the children, and proximity to the Hong Kong International School's junior and senior facilities. Well stocked supermarkets are close by. Commuting time to Central is approximately 25 minutes by taxi or car, and 35 minutes by bus to Central.
Deep Water Bay is located at the foot of Shouson Hill, on the south of the Hong Kong Island right next to the Repulse Bay. This neighbourhood is a small exclusive one, with large houses facing the water or the Deep Water Bay Golf Course. Accommodations are predominantly townhouses and large detached houses with private gardens. There are also a few high-rise apartments with facilities. Offering accommodations with combination of sizes, styles and views, this quiet community is linked to the north side of the Island by the Aberdeen Tunnel and the Repulse Bay Road. Several bus routes serve as alternatives to travel to other parts of the city. Supermarket, provision stores and other amenities are only a short trip away. The tantalizing Deep Water Bay Beach lies just around the corner. International schools are abundant around the area. Located on South Bay Road is the Hong Kong International School; on Nam Fung Road is the South Island School. The Singapore and the Canadian International Schools are on Nam Long Shan Road nearby. Like Repulse Bay, there is no MTR from Deep Water Bay. Allow around 20 minutes each way if commuting by taxi or car, and about 30 minutes each way if commuting by bus to Central..
Shouson Hill, on the south side of the island near the Aberdeen Tunnel, is a green and luxurious neighbourhood with many low-rise apartments and up-market villas and townhouses which extend up the hill from Deep Water Bay. There are views of Aberdeen, tree-lined hillsides and the South China Sea from many of the dwellings here. The location is perfect for a morning jog along the hilly road. Access to the north side from here is very easy with the Aberdeen Tunnel and the Deep Water Bay Road providing quick routes. There are several bus routes that serve the area, but like all areas in the south, there is no direct MTR access. Amenities are also a little scarce here, but it is a short trip to the shops of Repulse Bay or to Hong Kong Parkview which has services. Allow about 20 minutes commute time each way if travelling by car or taxi, and about 30 minutes each way by bus to Central.
Ap Lei Chau is dotted with large public housing complexes; on the north-western corner overlooking harbour views, however, is the South Horizons, a large scale residential development with its own shopping and entertainment complex known as, the Marina Square. Though not served by trams or the underground railway, these coastal areas are conveniently linked by good highways with easy access to bus and minibus. Causeway Bay and other downtown areas are only 15-min drive away through the Aberdeen Tunnel. Aberdeen Marina Club and Hong Kong's very own theme park - Ocean Park - are located in Wong Chuk Hang. In addition, one of Hong Kong's most well known tourist attractions, the Jumbo Floating Restaurant, is also located in this area. Commute time is around 25 minutes each way by car or taxi, and 35 minutes by bus to Central.
Pokfulam is situated on the western side of Hong Kong island, and has a wide variety of accommodation ranging from a few prestigious townhouses to modern high-rise estates, or older style apartments with beautiful views over the South China Sea. There are also a couple of large local housing estates in the area and the population comprises roughly equal numbers of expatriate and local families. The journey to Central varies from 15 to 30 minutes and most areas are easily accessible by public transport. There are schools in the area as well as shopping malls, markets and restaurants conveniently located in the larger estates.
Closer to the city, the Mid-Levels area is popular with expats. It consists of a band of residential development just south of Central, extending to the middle slopes of the Peak, which is popular due to its convenient proximity to Central and Causeway Bay. Most apartment blocks have a shuttle service to Admiralty and/or Central, and the majority have good recreational facilities. Young married couples and singles tend to gravitate toward living in the Mid-Levels, which is within walking distance of the Central Business District and the restaurants and nightlife of SoHo and Lan Kwai Fong. If you want to be in the heart of Hong Kong, then Mid-Levels is the place to be, as the pedestrian escalator offers a direct route to Central. Some of the higher apartments have stunning harbour views, across to Kowloon, the New Territories and over to the west towards Tsing Yi and Lantau. This area also contains the Botanical and Zoological Gardens, and is generally well served by mini buses. Although the area is extremely built-up with high rises, there is a vast array of apartments in this area, from older spacious flats or new luxury blocks, and quite a few spacious apartments with panoramic views to be found. As it is the closest area to Central, it is extremely convenient for those working in Central, Admiralty and Wanchai.
The Peak, is generally considered to be the most exclusive (and most expensive) area in which to live, with excellent views over Aberdeen or the harbour, the outlying islands or green views, and easy access to Central via the Peak Tram and public transport, but no MTR. During March and April there tends to be low cloud cover on the Peak, making dehumidifiers essential. Accommodation here ranges from up-market low-rise apartments to townhouses and detached houses in small developments. If commuting from the Peak by car allow 20 to 30 minutes each way. Alternatively if you use the Peak Tram to travel down the hill side, the Tram Terminus is about 10 to 15 minutes walk from Central.
Discovery Bay is a self-contained, resort style community on the scenic northeast shore of Lantau Island which offers the convenience of modern living in a tranquil natural setting for those who want to live away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Built around a private sandy beach, embraced by rolling green hills and overlooking the South China Sea and the western end of Victoria Harbour, it is a family-orientated island where cars are rare, replaced by golf carts for transportation. Covering a site of about 8% the size of Hong Kong Island it is regarded as one of the most spacious, safe and clean communities in Hong Kong. 25 minutes from Central by 24-hour air-conditioned ferry services. 20-30 minutes to Tung Chung MTR station and HK International Airport by bus. Reasonable housing is available - from town houses to high rise apartments. There are two schools - Discovery Bay International School, and Discovery College, which is operated by the English Schools Foundation.
On the Kowloon Peninsula, Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay are the preferred areas for expats. They have larger Spanish-style housing with lock up garages, swimming pools, gardens and pleasant scenery. The only downside is the commute to Central. While the MTR does reach these areas, it is still a long commute by HK standards. However, the slower, friendlier lifestyle is enjoyed by many families. Recreation is plentiful, including the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club. There is also an ESF school in Clearwater Bay for junior school students. For secondary school, King George V in Homantin is an option.
West Kowloon is an area of newly developed high rise residential complexes connected to the Kowloon Airport Express Station. This access to the Kowloon Airport Express Station (the Airport Express is the train that runs from Hong Kong Central to the HK International Airport) means West Kowloon provides efficient rail transport to both the office and the airport. West Kowloon is also only 10 minutes from Tsim Sha Tsui, a well-known tourist & shopping hub with many restaurants, international hotels and the Harbour City Shopping Mall. West Kowloon is also 5 minutes from Jordan MTR station and 15 minutes from Mongkok by bus or taxi. There is also a shuttle bus service to Tai Kwok Tsui Wet Market. The Airport Express shuttle bus service runs from the Kowloon Airport Express station to major hotels around Tsim Sha Tsui. Commute time from West Kowloon is 10 to 20 minutes to Central by ferry or MTR. |