HK jumps to 77th place in expat livability league

Hong Kong's ranking among the world's most livable cities for expatriates jumped to 77th among 500 cities in the world last year after all anti-Covid measures were lifted but it is still far behind Singapore, the most livable city for expatriates for 10 years in a row since 2013.

Hong Kong's ranking last year went up 15 places from 92nd in 2022, but it was way lower than 17th in 2013, a survey by human resources consultancy ECA International found.

The firm conducts the annual survey, ranking each city based on several factors, including personal security, social environment, education, health care, housing, and climate.

Mark Harrison, ECA's general manager for Asia, said the livability of Hong Kong and mainland cities has improved in the past 12 months after lifting anti-pandemic measures.

"Hong Kong and mainland China were among the last places globally to lift restrictions, meaning they were relatively more challenging locations to live in during the final stage of the pandemic," Harrison said at a press briefing yesterday.

Shanghai, the highest-ranked mainland city, was 113th last year, up 15 places from 128th in 2022.

Other mainland cities, including Xi'an, and Wuhan also climbed in ranking due to improved living conditions, with Shenzhen rising to 137th from 152nd in the past ten years.

However, Hong Kong's ranking has dropped during the past decade due to a worsened social and political environment and freedom of speech after the social movements in 2014 and 2019, Harrison said. "Protests are disruptive and risky to individuals and expatriates may feel threatened," Harrison said, adding that it is the most vital factor for expatriates based on the survey.

Hong Kong's ranking went down from 17th to around 30th after the 2014 pro-democracy protests, known as Occupy Central, and plunged to 93rd, the lowest ranking so far, after the 2019 anti-extradition bill unrest. But Harrison said the national security law has minimal impact on the ranking of Hong Kong as it won't affect expatriates' day-to-day work and lives significantly.

Air pollution and natural calamities such as earthquakes or typhoons are also factors that can make a city less desirable compared to cities like Singapore, he said.

Although disasters were beyond anyone's control, he suggested the government continue to maintain good disaster control.

He also suggested the government further promote electric vehicles to reduce air pollution locally.

Last year's upward trend in Hong Kong's ranking was in line with expectations, Harrison said, estimating the ranking will continue to go up in the next few years amid easing socio-political tension and post-pandemic resumption of air travel.

Harrison also said the government's effort to attract foreign companies to set up in the city will improve the situation.

The number of headquarters will also affect these companies' choices to send expatriates here.

"Hong Kong still has excellent facilities, infrastructure, recreational options, and a low crime rate and remains an attractive location relative to many other cities in the region," he said.

Singapore topped the list as the most livable city in the world, and Tokyo ranked second. Taipei shared the same ranking with Hong Kong at 77th, while Macau ranked 92nd.