Concern for bubs health in HK...

[suzieq]

Hi all...

This is my second post on this forum, and I guess it is of similar content to my initial message....so sorry if a bit repetative!

Looking at moving form Oz to Honkers with hubby's work.....decision needs to be made this w/e...ahhhhhh. The one thing holding me back is making a move that could negatively impact our childs health...ie. she develops pollution related allergies etc etc. Looking to expand our family, and as all parents do I want to give them the best start possible.....

Mums, do your kids tend to get more infections/ colds etc? How do you find the health care. There is so much scaremongering...esp. on the internet!

What areas are the least polluted to live???? Can you escape it on the South side of the island??????

Cheers very muchly

SQ

[jools]

Hi,
It's pretty difficult to escape the pollution as it mainly comes from our manufacturing giant of a neighbour, China. However, there are areas that are worse than others. Places to avoid would be Causeway Bay and also Tung Chung on Lantau Island which consistently has the highest pollution levels in Hong Kong.

I wouldn't say that my children suffer from more illnesses than before. My son has had pneumonia, but he could have caught that at home in the UK where the weather is cold and damp. Once the diagnosis of pneumonia was made the medical profession over here were outstanding and within an hour he had seen a chest specialist, had an x-ray and was in hospital with IV drips etc. Now that all sounds very scary, but I know if we had been at home in the UK, he would have seen a GP and been sent home with some antibiotics.

Yes the pollution is bad, but it is in most major cities of the world. You have to weigh up the pros and cons and for us the move to Hong Kong was one of the best decisions we made. You have to make adjustments and it's not like anywhere else I have lived, but I have two children (wanting more) and I think this is a good place to start their lives.

Hope that helps

Jools

[suzieq]

your post is encouraging re. the care you received. Agreed in UK you couldn't dream of such speedy care.

I lived in London for 6 years and the pollution never really worried me until the end of my time there (probably exaserbated by the fact I had expired and wanted to come home!!) I know its proabably hard to compare, with the climate being so different but would you consider it to be much worse, or pretty similar?

Are areas like Repulse Bay/ Stanley etc lower pollution.....how would they compare to Discovery Bay????

Thanks so much

[Kate]

My two kids have not had a "well day" since the end of January this year, I have a 3 year old and a 9 month old, both have had constant green snot, coughing and fevers. They have had over 5 back to back courses of antibiotics and nothing seems to clear it up. We are now under the care of a homeopath as I do not want to give them anymore antibiotics. Doctors here just say that it is the pollution and that they need a holiday in the fresh air to clear out their systems, in fact this is the first year that we havent left HK for a holiday so maybe there is some truth in it. I am taking them away next week so will let you know if their health improves while they are away.

[jools]

Hi Suzieq,
I also lived in London for 8 years, working next to the Blackwall Tunnel in the East End. I would say the main difference would be that in London, after a day in town you would get that black stuff under your nails, not to mention what happened when you blew your nose. I haven't had that experience in Hong Kong, but that might just mean that the pollution is caused by different things, i.e. in London it tends to be more traffic related.


Stanley etc appear to be less polluted, however the transport links in my experience aren't as easy as when you're closer to Central. We actually live in Discovery Bay and for my mind it's one of the best places to live. I certainly don't get a sore throat from a day here, where there have been occasions lately when the weather has kept the pollution in on Hong Kong when I have in Central. Another plus about DB, it doesn't matter how hectic it has been over in Hong Kong, as soon as you set foot off that ferry the stress just seems to melt away. This is obviously a personal experience, but I have heard other people say the same thing.

Good luck with the decision and what ever you decide!!!

Jools

[carang]

jools... couldn't agree with you more! i've been in HK for 10 years (came right our of uni) and have lived almost everywhere there is to live(jordan, TST, kwun tong, clearwater bay, mid-levels, jardine's lookout to name just a few!)... met my hubby here and we now have our first child(11 weeks old today!) and we've been in DB for the past 4 years... i too feel the stress of the city drain away when i step onto the ferry (it doesn't even take me until i reach DB!)...i also like the community feel the DB has... i'm a beauty therapist here and i find that when i walk through the plaza there is always someone that i can stop and chat to. a big plus for newcomers to DB is this community feeling, i found it very easy to meet people, especially if you have a dog or a baby!(we have both)

[suzieq]

I love to hear such positive things.......makes me less apprehensive about the move. Would you recommend that one stays centrally initially (i.e. serviced apartment) to get orientated, then move out?????

Probably a stupid Question but do they have serviced apts in DB, also can you get a place with a yard over there?

thanks

SQ

[carang]

i think that staying in a serviced apt if possible is a great idea... it would give you an idea of where you would want to live. yes there are some apt in db that may be classified as serviced. if you email me i'll give you a website to visit.
and yes, you can get apts and houses here that have gardens. i have a few friends that have them (rents varying from $16,000/month to $100,000 per month)... although the $16,000 is a very good deal and unlikely to be had again...usually you'd pay around $30,000-40,000/month for a decent sized flat with a garden(keep in mind though that you can also get them with a roof terrace/garden or a large terrace out front)

my email is cara_ng_hk at yahoo dot com