International Schools in Hong Kong
There are around 70 international schools in Hong Kong, roughly a third of these are British schools and most are International Baccalaureate (IB) schools. There are also 6 American schools in Hong Kong. Read on to find out what the areas of Hong Kong are like and the ranking of the best schools.
History
Hong Kong, also known as the Pearl of the Orient, has an interesting history dating back as far as the Stone Age. In the 7th century the deep natural harbour became a popular port with trading ships travelling the Silk Road between Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The Europeans traded peacefully with the Chinese from the 16th century until the Opium wars in the 19th century. In the mid 19th century to assure peace, China handed over Hong Kong Island and then Kowloon to the British, who then leased the New Territories for 99 years. That lease expired in 1997 and the whole of Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule. Under the Sino-British declaration, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, able to retain its freedoms and way of life for 50 years post handover.
Modern Day Hong Kong
Hong Kong, known as the city that never sleeps, is one of the most fast paced, vibrant places on earth. In spite of this Hong Kong is a safe and friendly place where children are treated with kindness. Public transport is good with buses, trams, the Star Ferry and cheap taxis. Street signs are all written in English and Traditional Chinese but the majority of residents speak Cantonese or Mandarin. English speakers are a small minority so knowing a little Mandarin can be really helpful and appreciated by locals.
With an estimated population of around 7.5 million crammed into a relatively small urban area, space is at a premium. There is no more space to build outwards, so buildings have become high rise.This means that if you want to live in or close to the city centre you will pay a relatively high price for a very compact living space. Most of the family friendly accommodation is a little way out of the city but often commutable in 10-15 minutes.
Green Space
In spite of its crowded, built up, urban area, there plenty of playgrounds, parks and green spaces. In fact, Hong Kong is mostly made up of country parks with excellent walking and running trails. There are also many beautiful beaches, where you can swim, surf or hire a junk all year round and a variety of clubs with swimming pools and sporting facilities.