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Singapore most liveable city in Asia for expat IT pros
Singapore most liveable city in Asia for expat IT pros
| Published: | 18 Apr at 4 PM |
Expat IT professionals in search of a higher quality of life overseas have been advised to try Singapore, Kobe or Japan or Hong Kong – listed as Asia’s three most liveable cities in new research by HR data provider ECA International.
The company’s annual Location Ratings system, reports The Register, is designed to assist firms in deciding the level of compensation which is required, if any, to offer expats who opt to move overseas with work. It looks at various factors to evaluate the standard of life in numerous locations worldwide, and the level of upheaval any expat could have in relocating to and residing in a new country.
The ECA states that climate; housing and utilities; infrastructure; relative isolation; air quality; personal safety; access to healthcare; and political tensions are among the factors.
Singapore was named the number one city of the 49 Asian locations studied, scoring particularly well in areas like healthcare, infrastructure, low crime and air quality. Kobe in Japan came in second place and Hong Kong moved up two places to third position.
However, Hong Kong appears to have been listed in the top three because Tokyo and Yokohama each fell a place as a result of the effects the Tohoku earthquake last year rather than any improvements it made itself. Lee Quane, ECA’s regional director in Asia, said that even though the Special Administrative Region (SAR) scored well in areas such as housing, transport and schooling, the air quality is letting it down.
Diesel pollution from transport in heavily built up urban areas is a major reason for the poor air quality, although locals generally lay the blame with China. The Shenzhen region, to Hong Kong’s north, is believed by locals to be the biggest culprit due to its heavy manufacturing.
Hong Kong’s local government is working with tah of Guangdong and says that steady progress is ongoing. However, currently on more days than not it is hard to see Kowloon from Hong Kong – just two kilometres apart – due to smog.
The company’s annual Location Ratings system, reports The Register, is designed to assist firms in deciding the level of compensation which is required, if any, to offer expats who opt to move overseas with work. It looks at various factors to evaluate the standard of life in numerous locations worldwide, and the level of upheaval any expat could have in relocating to and residing in a new country.
The ECA states that climate; housing and utilities; infrastructure; relative isolation; air quality; personal safety; access to healthcare; and political tensions are among the factors.
Singapore was named the number one city of the 49 Asian locations studied, scoring particularly well in areas like healthcare, infrastructure, low crime and air quality. Kobe in Japan came in second place and Hong Kong moved up two places to third position.
However, Hong Kong appears to have been listed in the top three because Tokyo and Yokohama each fell a place as a result of the effects the Tohoku earthquake last year rather than any improvements it made itself. Lee Quane, ECA’s regional director in Asia, said that even though the Special Administrative Region (SAR) scored well in areas such as housing, transport and schooling, the air quality is letting it down.
Diesel pollution from transport in heavily built up urban areas is a major reason for the poor air quality, although locals generally lay the blame with China. The Shenzhen region, to Hong Kong’s north, is believed by locals to be the biggest culprit due to its heavy manufacturing.
Hong Kong’s local government is working with tah of Guangdong and says that steady progress is ongoing. However, currently on more days than not it is hard to see Kowloon from Hong Kong – just two kilometres apart – due to smog.
