Hong Kong drops over 50 places in expat liveability rankings

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Hong Kong has tumbled 52 places and is the 93rd most liveable location for East Asia expatriates, according to ECA International's latest research.

Apart from being outstripped by its major competitor Singapore – which was crowned the most liveable location for the second year – Hong Kong was also overtaken by major Asian cities such as Nagoya, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul and Taipei.

“The scale of Hong Kong’s fall in our rankings is unprecedented and is a consequence of ongoing socio-political tensions in the city,” said Lee Quane, regional director, Asia at ECA International.

“Not only are the heightened political tensions worrying for expats living in the region, protests that have regularly taken place since mid-2019 have had a negative effect on areas of everyday life which are often taken for granted. This includes disruptions to Hong Kong’s transportation infrastructure and a rise in crime rates since the protests began.”

Putting Asia aside, cities in Australia such as Brisbane (2nd) and Sydney (3rd), Adelaide (7th), New Zealand (7th), Copenhagen (9th), and Utrecht (11th) scored well in  the ranking.

“Cities in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Switzerland have consistently scored well for expat liveability and Copenhagen in particular is once again the top European destination for East Asian expats. Excellent transport links, a high standard of healthcare and political stability, mean that overseas workers can adapt to these locations with ease,” Quane said.

READ MORE (ASIA INSIGHTS) The cities East Asian expatriates love to relocate to: Singapore, Brisbane, Sydney