Living in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a vibrant city and has something for everyone. You may find yourself hiking to the top of Dragon's Back, indulging in a 5-star Michelin rated restaurant or crossing Victoria Harbour on the historic Star Ferry. There is so much to explore, discover and experience in the dynamic urban centres, idyllic beaches or high in the green mountains of Hong Kong.

CIS is located on the top of Braemar Hill, a quiet residential area noted for its many schools. The school derives much of its sense of community from its single campus focused around three central courtyards. Opened in 1991, the campus commands spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and the surrounding hills.

Climate

Culture

Hong Kong has a population of over 7 million people made up of a range of ethnic backgrounds. While the majority are of Chinese origin, the rest of the population is made up of British, Canadian, American, Australian, Indonesian, Filipino and Thai. Hong Kong is truly a mixed culture and has well earned the reputation as the "city where east meets west". A wide range of festivals and holidays are celebrated in Hong Kong including Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Christmas and Western New Year to name a few. As a city, Hong Kong also enjoys many other cultural events ranging from traditional Cantonese to other Chinese regional operas, theatre productions, ballet performances and music shows.

Currency

Health Care

Hong Kong's healthcare system is divided into two options: public healthcare and private medical care. If you choose to opt for the public healthcare option, you do not need private Hong Kong health insurance. The government provides all public healthcare services free of charge or for a small fee.

Learn more:
Public vs Private Hospitals

HK Tax System

The taxation system in Hong Kong is generally considered to be one of the most simple, transparent, and straightforward systems in the world. Anyone living in Hong Kong for more than 60 days is subject to personal income tax of up to 17 per cent. The city has no capital gains tax, no withholding tax, no estate tax, no dividend tax, no sales tax or value-added tax, and no tax on interest.

Housing

There are wide range of housing options available in Hong Kong from vibrant city living to low-rise apartments in local neighbourhoods to living by the beach. While there is something for everyone, apartments in general are considerably smaller than what many people are used to coming from overseas - ranging on average from 600-1200 sq ft depending on the size of your family.

Below includes a summary of the various neighbourhoods in relation to our campus. We hope it will provide you with a better understanding of the housing market in Hong Kong.

Language

Transportation

Hong Kong has one of the safest, most efficient and reasonably priced public transportation systems in the world. There are many ways to get around including taxi, MTR (subway), ferry, rail, bus and tram. Public transportation can be paid for in cash or by using a stored value "Octopus" card. These cards are also accepted at vending machines, convenience stores and public car parks.

Supermarkets

Support at Home

It is very common for families and individuals to employ a domestic helper to help look after the household and their children. It is a very affordable option compared to hiring other caring or housekeeping services and affords families to spend more quality time together.

There are two ways that you can find the right domestic helper for your family - either through a referral/direct hire or through an employment agency.

To learn more about the process in hiring a domestic helper to support your family, please click here.

Visas

Things to Do

Hong Kong is a vibrant city that is steeped in culture and history with an energy that is hard to describe. While it is often known for being a top choice destination for luxury shopping and its impressive skyline, it has so much more to offer. Whether you are into hiking, water sports, shopping, beaches, boat trips, dining out or local culture; there is something here for everyone.

Click here to learn more!

Child Protection
Programme

Enquiries

HR Office
(852) 2510-7288

hr@cis.edu.hk

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