I’m in HK for 6years now, an expat from Central Europe. I find it exceptionally hard to find any reasonable job offer in my space, that wouldn’t require Canto or Mandarin. Feels like it is quite though after covid, as also Trading Floor in my shop feels less diverse than before.
Have you notice same?
What job are you doing at the moment?
Xva trading. Quite niche, yet it is a perfect combination of macro trading. On daily basis trading irs,ccs, fx, cds, and some fx option plays as macro play. Effectively macro, with focus on credit downside.
You must be doing incredibly well.
What’s it like culturally outside the office lately? I talked to a Jane Street guy based in HK for a few years and he was very happy to gtfo.
Good question. Personally, I’m not complaining. Salary is good, taxes low. Have holidays 6 times a year… Some peiple will say what else you want, but personally, I’d like to have a bit more career growth. Also, quiet interesting take from Jane Street guy. To be fair, HK was always a place of love or hate, nothing in between. Before protests and COVID, there was more FILTH guys here(Failed in London, Try Hong Kong)but now, there’s much more mainlanders, who don’t like ‘common prosperity’ vibe.
I still like this place, given it is safe, pays well and taxes are low. As long as you don’t go into politics, you are good.
Personally, I really cannot understand obsession of local HK people to go UK or Canada, thinking it will be better than CCP… they couldn’t be more wrong about that.
Europeans enjoy a nice tax incentive moving to HK, for now. Americans not so much.
True.. I’ve heard about the double taxation and I find it ridiculous. That’s the last thing you would expect from the ‘land of the free’
What would you say the benefits of Hong Kong are versus Dubai? Not really considering moving but curious to know in case I ever am
I haven’t lived in Dubai and don’t want to even leave the airport. Hong Kong is fabulous. A great city - great energy, great people, great food, great taxes - all great if you have a great salary. (all this great is grating).
HK has seasons, fantastic hiking, sailing and beaches, local wet markets - and it is so approachable, so easy to live there. There are also typhoons, tycoons and tai-tais that make the place less great to live in. But overall, HK is fantastic. Plus, and lastly, you can visit so much of the world from there in one flight. As @CEO says, it has changed since protests and COVID, but the whole world has changed. China’s zero-covid stance is a detractor.