Travel to Hong Kong

Hong Kong returned to the People's Republic of China after 150 years of colonial rule, on 30 June 1997. Now it enjoys the status of a special administrative territory of China with a high degree of sovereignty. The land retains its own social, legal and economic systems, with no substantial change in lifestyle. The land comprises four main areas - the Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, Kowloon and the Outlying Islands. Kowloon and the New Territories lie on a peninsula of mainland of China, on the northern part of Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong Island lies on the southern side of the Victoria Harbour facing Kowloon. The Outlying Islands comprise 234 islands. The New Territories share a border of 20 km with China proper. Hong Kong is one of the largest cities in the world. It has lots of things going on and a lot to explore.

Renting an apartment in the city can be a complicated and difficult choice. Serviced apartments are a great choice for those moving into Hong Kong for the first time. A wide range of serviced apartments are available in Hong Kong, from basic amenities to luxury lifestyle type accommodation. They provide you with comfort and convenience while you spend time hunting for the perfect home. Serviced apartments are a great substitute for long hotel stays if you are in Hong Kong for a temporary stay but want to enjoy the comfort of your own space. You don't have to commit to a lengthy contract. You can just rent by the week, month or year. Everything you need for a comfortable living will be there for you to start your new life in the city, without the trouble of buying furniture and appliances.

Most serviced apartments in Hong Kong are leased out in good unfurnished decorative condition, but appliances which may include cookers, refrigerators, washing and drying machines, dishwashers and air-conditioners are not usually provided. Soft furnishings such as carpets and curtains are often provided. Air-conditioners are indispensable for comfortable stay in summer and you will have to install them, if not provided by the landlord. Serviced apartments offering excellent facilities are available for short lease periods of three months or longer. The rentals for these short periods are comparatively higher. Rentals are payable in Hong Kong dollars monthly in advance.

Deposits are usually equivalent to two or three months' rental. They are payable to the landlord when the lease is accepted. The deposit is held by the landlord without interest, once the tenancy agreement is executed. It is refunded to the tenant on the expiration of the lease. The cost of any damage or maintenance work necessary to the building, other than normal wear and tear, will be deducted from the deposit before repayment. Most tenancy agreements in Hong Kong are made for a period of two years - often an escape clause is included that gives the tenant the right to end the tenancy on giving two or three months' notice to the landlord after a minimum lease period of 12 to 15 months. The tenant has the right of first option to renew the tenancy after each two-year period of tenancy, at the current market price. 

Taxes are payable to Government at approximately 5.5% of the annual rental amount. Properties in some districts are subject to a government land rent in addition, which is calculated at 3% of the rental value. These charges are payable by tenant quarterly in advance. Government Stamp duty is payable on all tenancy agreements. It is payable by the tenant and landlord in equal shares. Management fees are payable by all occupants for communal services provided such as security guards, cleaning and maintenance of common areas. 

The amount of management fees varies according to the age of the building, the number of units in a building, the nature of amenities or quality of the services provided. The tenancy agreement is usually provided by the landlord or his solicitor. An initial draft of the deed is presented to the tenant for his approval. The tenant may use the services of a solicitor to review the terms of the lease at his discretion. The legal fees are to be paid each party.

With more than 250 islands, Hong Kong is the special administrative region of China. Earlier a British colony, Hong Kong became a part of China in 1997, under a special agreement. Hong Kong has now become one of the prominent economies of the region.

Since an ex-British colony, a strong westernized influence is prevalent in Hong Kong's culture. Al though, the majority of population of the city is the Chinese, the area does have a significant contingent of other nationals including Americans, Australians, British, Canadians, Japanese, and Koreans, as Hong Kong offers a great stop for Western business firms who want to crack the local market. Further, the liberal tax system has attracted many Expats to fill employment options in the region. Hence, it is no wonder why property market is booming in Hong Kong.

Among the accommodation options available in Hong Kong, perhaps the most sough after one is apartments. An apartment in Hong Kong is a self contained residential unit, which is mostly a part of a large building or property. For many reasons, both expatriates and natives choose to live in Hong Kong apartments. Perhaps the most important reasons are convenience and lifestyle it renders.

Another prime reason to choose apartments as dwelling place is that it allows to live in an environment of sophistication and luxury. When it comes to expatriates, these apartments provide them a feeling of living in their home country, thereby enabling them to lead a smoother life in the region. Additionally, living in Hong Kong apartments avoids the problems with the language barrier. Above all, a foreigner who wishes to own an apartment in Hong Kong need not have to comply with any specific legal requirement.

Based on your requirements, you can choose from a continuum of superb apartments, from garden and furnished apartments to self contained and serviced apartments. There are also apartments that are specially designed for students, such as, student apartments.

Mostly, this type of apartment comes complete with superb facilities including excellent accommodation, high speed internet access, and uninterrupted power as well as water supply. Further, many of these apartments are located within the easy reach of top academic institutions in Hong Kong. All of this provides a great atmosphere in order to promote your academic success. For those seeking luxury, then one of the best choices would be stunning serviced apartments coupled with extensive recreational as well as sporting facilities. Usually, these apartments range from 1000 to 5000 sq ft.

Different types of apartments in Hong Kong are further categorized into duplex apartments, studio apartments, and townhouses. Duplex apartments are mostly situated on the bottom floor, and range from small building with two to five apartments to large property with more than 50 or 60 apartments. A studio apartment is an accommodation facility with a large living area, apart from a kitchen and bath area. In townhouses, a family will get more space as well as a comfortable feel. One of the specialties of townhouses is that mostly they are located in rows.

Likewise, depending upon the members of the family, apartments types include apartments with one bedroom - which come with built-in wardrobes, luxury bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchen; two-bedroom apartments, which in most cases garage unit will be included in the price; and three-bedroom apartment, which is much spacious and inclusive of high end comforts such as kitchen, lounge, laundry, and a marvelous terrace.

One of the prime advantages of living in Hong Kong apartments is that it enables you to live amid diverse community. Another advantage is that you will be always surrounded by a large number of neighbors and friends. If you acquire apartments on rental or lease basis, then some of the apartments charge rent, which is sometimes inclusive of electricity, local telephone service, cable TV hook up, and trash disposal. Another great benefit of owning an apartment in Hong Kong is that it serves as an excellent long term investment.

For example, according to certain recent records, a luxury three-bedroom apartment in Hong Kong cost about $9000 per month to rent. Benefits of living in apartments also include low maintenance cost. Many of the people living in Hong Kong are engaged in high powered jobs, which make them difficult to maintain a single detached home. But, living in an apartment allows you to avoid lengthy commutes and eliminate high maintenance charges.

Owning or renting an apartment in Hong Kong is no longer a chaotic process. A plethora of real estate companies and construction companies are there in order to help finding your dream apartment. However, the prices of apartments in Hong Kong are exceptionally high.