Hong Kong tumbles down liveability rankings as pollution, typhoons, flu, and political tensions give expats cause for concern
- Survey by ECA International puts city at lowest position for 10 years, 40 places below Singapore, which is top
- Cost of living was not among elements that contributed to Hong Kong’s decline
Hong Kong has become increasingly unliveable for Asian expats according to a report by an international human resources consultancy, with the city falling 12 places in the rankings to 41 this year – its lowest position in 10 years.
The drop, attributed mainly to the city’s high levels of pollution, handling of last year’s Typhoon Mangkhut, and vulnerability to health crises, also puts Hong Kong 40 places behind Singapore, which has been ranked first for 17 years running.
The study by ECA International, which was released on Tuesday, covered roughly 480 locations around the world. The research was undertaken in the second half of 2018 and done by in-house experts who evaluated the locations.
Factors taken into consideration included pollution, socio-political tensions, culture and health issues, but not living costs.
Lee Quane, ECA International’s regional director for Asia, said one of the reasons for Hong Kong’s fall was the pollution in the city.