Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1916610/hong-kong-takes-28th-survey-most-liveable
Hong Kong/ Health & Environment

Hong Kong takes 28th in survey of most liveable locations for Asian expatriates; air quality stops it ranking higher

City jumps five places up the rankings from same study last year, while Australian locations dominate the top 10

A runner on the Central and Western District Promenade on a polluted day. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Hong Kong has been ranked 28th in a survey to find the most liveable locations around the world for Asian expatriates, a jump of five places from last year’s ranking.

The survey, conducted by research firm ECA International, measured quality of living for Asian expatriates in more than 460 locations worldwide. Factors considered included climate, availability of health services, housing and utilities, political tensions and air quality.

Despite the rise in its ranking, the survey found air pollution in Hong Kong remained one of the biggest hurdles for Asian expats when choosing a place to settle down.

“Our findings confirm that Hong Kong still has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the region, which prevent it from going higher in our rankings,” said Lee Quane, regional director of Asia at the research firm.

A similar piece of research released earlier this week placed Hong Kong only 70th out of 230 cities in terms of quality of life. That assessment was based on 39 factors.

Asian rival Singapore secured the top spot in the ECA survey for the 17th consecutive year, thanks to its solid infrastructure, decent medical facilities, low crime rate and low health risks.

Singapore secured the top spot in the survey. Photo: Bloomberg
Singapore secured the top spot in the survey. Photo: Bloomberg

Cities in Australia dominate the top 10, with Adelaide and Sydney taking joint second place, and Brisbane, Perth and Canberra occupying fifth, seventh and ninth respectively.

Shanghai was considered the most liveable place on the mainland by Asian expatriates despite its global ranking coming in at 110th, unchanged from last year. It was trailed by Beijing, Suzhou, Nanjing and Qingdao, whose rankings improved slightly on last year.

Most mainland locations, including Xian in northern Shaanxi province, saw a rise in the standing, but Quane said their move up the rankings had not been as dramatic as in previous years.

“This reflects the fact that there are challenges associated with more deep-rooted issues such as air pollution, food safety, medical facilities and socio-political tensions,” Quane said. “Without improvements in these criteria, we anticipate that Chinese locations will not advance much further in our rankings.”