HEALTH INSURANCE

Expats working legally full-time in Hong Kong will generally be covered by an employer-sponsored health insurance plan, often with the option for employees to pay top-up fees to increase the level of cover. A basic insurance plan will cover the cost of GP consultation and outpatient treatment, hospitalization, and maternity care. Dental care is usually not included. Those working for multinationals, of course, may well be entitled to substantial private healthcare. Major health insurers include:

• BUPA (www.bupa.com.hk; tel. 2517 5175);
• Manulife (International) (www.manulife.com.hk; tel. 2108 1188);
• Blue Cross (www.bluecross.com.hk; tel. 2163 1333); and
• AIA (www.aia.com.hk).

HOSPITALS AND GP SERVICES

Anyone holding a Hong Kong ID card is entitled to subsidized treatment at a government clinic or hospital. A list of public hospitals and services can be found on the Hospital Authority’s website (www.ha.org.hk). The Department of Health’s website (www.info.gov.hk/dh/) lists registered private hospitals and institutions.

The standard of public healthcare in Hong Kong is high and teaching hospitals such as Queen Mary’s on Hong Kong Island and Prince of Wales in Shatin have excellent reputations. Doctors, like dentists, whether in public or private practice, are Western-trained to a very high standard.

A visit to A&E at a public hospital will cost around $100; an outpatient visit $45–100. Public hospitals also offer a private service charged at market rates. In spite of this, some patients still prefer to see an expat, or private, GP. This may be because of communication difficulties or problems connected with follow-up. If you attend a government clinic and require follow-up treatment, you are unlikely to see the same doctor when you return. There is also an over-readiness by some doctors to prescribe drugs for minor ailments. Expect to pay around $600 for a visit to a private doctor and more for treatment. Use word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and colleagues.

Comprehensive health checks such as the ‘Well Woman’ package are competitively priced by private hospitals.

SPECIALISTS

Chiropodists and podiatrists

German Brunhilde Ng at German Footcare Centre (Yu To Sang Building, 37 Queen’s Rd, Central; tel. 2522 6413) can help your bunions and rough skin. In the same building you can find Peter & Associates Foot & Ankle Clinic of Podiatry (Room 901–2; www.foot.com.hk; tel. 2522 0897).

Chiropractors

The Chiropractic Doctors’ Association of Hong Kong (www.cda.org.hk; tel. 8108 5688) has members practising all over the territory. Clinics include the Chiropractic Centre (Room 601, Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street; tel. 2973 0353) and the Hong Kong Chiropractors’ Clinic (26 Des Voeux Road; tel. 2522 7998).

Maternity hospitals and services

For full details, see Chapter Eight, ‘Having and Raising Children’.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists include:

• Physio-Central (1203 The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street; tel. 2801 4801); and
• Byrne, Hickman & Partners (various locations; tel. 2521 3531 in Central, 2812 7231 in Repulse Bay).

Dentists

There is no government dental care provided for the general public in Hong Kong except an annual check-up for primary school children. However, civil servants – including teachers – do have dental care provided under the terms of their healthcare plans. If you do not have private health insurance, expect to pay about $500 for a check-up at a private dentist before treatment.

The Dental Council of Hong Kong (www.dchk.org.hk/) provides a list of registered dentists. Recommendations are usually word-of-mouth from friends and colleagues.

Opticians

Opticians will provide a free eye test if you are buying glasses or contact lenses from them. A full range of hard, soft and disposable contact lenses are available in Hong Kong, and solutions can be bought at opticians or most pharmacies. Shop around to get the best deal on glasses and be prepared to bargain – details of optical shops are included in Chapter Seven, ‘Shopping’.

Chemists

Most Western over-the-counter and prescription drugs are available in Hong Kong and can be purchased at pharmacy counters in branches of Mannings and Watsons, and at dispensaries such as Victoria Dispensary (Theatre Lane, Central).

Traditional Chinese medicine

TCM is slowly gaining official recognition in Hong Kong and is now offered via clinics at several public hospitals – call 2574 4333 for details. Common treatments include acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion and herbal medicines. Some drugs found in Chinese medicine, such as ephedra, are legal in Hong Kong, despite being banned in other parts of the world. A list of registered Chinese Medicine practitioners is available from the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (www.cmchk.org.hk). Again, word-of-mouth helps here, but Cecilia The at Vitality Centre comes recommended (www.vitalitycenter.com.hk; tel. 2537 1118).

For acupuncture, try Helen He at the Holistic Healthcare Practice (16/F, Hing Wai Building, 36 Queen’s Road, Central; tel. 2523 8044). Other English-speaking acupuncturists work out of the the Albert Place Practice (Room 1103, Luk Yu Building, 24–26 Stanley Street, Central; tel. 2234 9932) and the Holistic Healthcare Practice (16/F, Hing Wai Building, 36 Queen’s Road, Central; tel. 2523 8044). Raymond Ng (OT&P; www.otandp.com; tel. 2521 3181) uses acupuncture, holistic practice and functional medicine, which includes herbs, to treat stress, eczema and breathing-related difficulties.

STRESS

Not everyone is suited to working abroad and the stresses of coping with a new climate, food, culture, lifestyle and work environment will make themselves felt quite quickly. Before you accept a job in Hong Kong, it may be sensible to undergo a self-assessment to see whether you – and, if applicable, your family – stand a reasonable chance of being happy and successful here. That is, if you have any choice in the matter. General ‘ideal’ qualities for those going to live overseas that have been identified by psychologists include a sense of adventure, curiosity, open-mindedness, ability to cope with ambiguity, a strong sense of self and a keenness to communicate and become part of the host culture.

Although Hong Kong is very comfortable for Western expats when compared with other destinations in Asia, it is unforgiving to those who can’t keep up with six-day working weeks, frequent overseas travel and the combined pressures of the fast pace of life, volume of people and cramped space. In Hong Kong, it’s a given that you’ll be at the end of a mobile phone or an e-mail away most hours of the day and night. Hong Kong people spend more time on mobile phones than virtually anyone else in Asia. Because of the costs associated with bringing out foreign employees, employers are expecting much more in terms of personal investment from their expat staff: Hong Kong is no longer a junket.

Partners and children experience other stresses. Partners who may not have wanted to come in the first place, and may well have had to put their own careers on hold as a consequence, may be reluctant to accept responsibility for the family’s emotional and social adjustment. While one of you may have a demanding job you enjoy, the other one is stuck at home with nothing to do. This can be potentially isolating and lonely, and it’s extremely important to establish a group of friends as soon as possible. Throughout this book, I’ve suggested ways of finding groups of like-minded people, support groups and different ways to make the most of life in Hong Kong. Hiring a helper to assist with daily chores can provide a vital support to homemakers, especially those whose partners are away on business often (see Chapter Eight, ‘Having and Raising Children’).

For extra help and support you could think of using a relocations service to help with adjustments – social, professional and cultural. They will also assist, of course, with the logistics of getting you and your family and home out to Hong Kong and back again. Details of relocations services are provided in Chapter Five, ‘Accommodation’.

COUNSELLING SERVICES

Many counselling services offer a sliding fee scale, including the YMCA in Salisbury Road (tel. 2783 3360, appointments only), ReSource The Counselling Centre in Central (www.resourcecounselling.org; tel. 2523 8979) and the non-denominational St John’s Counselling Service (www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk/counselling.htm; tel. 2525 7207/8). St John’s staff offer counselling on a range of issues, including relationship difficulties, problems adapting to life in Hong Kong, grief, trauma, eating disorders, sexuality and substance abuse. They also run a popular Skilled Helping Relationships (SHR) experiential course that focuses on personal growth.

Harmony House (www.harmonyhousehk.org) offers refuge to victims of domestic violence.Soul Talk (www.soultalk.org; tel. 2525 6644) is a support network for women in emotional crisis and provides advice as well as a safe house. The website also has a useful listing of support groups for men, women and children. The Samaritans (www.samaritans.org.hk; tel. 2896 0000) offers a 24-hour hotline and e-mail service in English.

Support groups include:

• CanSurvive Cancer Information and Support Group (tel. 2328 2202);
• Alcoholics Anonymous (www.aa-hk.org; tel. 2522 5665);
• Overeaters Anonymous (tel. 2899 0823);
• Remar Association (drug-related issues; tel. 3193 4919); and
• Horizons Lesbian & Gay Hotline (www.horizons.org.hk; tel. 2815 9268).

Other psychologists can be contacted at Therapy Associates (www.talhk.com; tel. 2869 1962).

ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH

The website www.holistichongkong.com publishes details of forthcoming workshops, lectures, meditations and so on, as well as a useful services directory that includes details of where to find aromatherapy, life coaching, astrology, auras, numerology, crystals and much more. Heartbeat (www.heartbeat.com.hk) lists information and services offered by natural health practitioners, and provides details of seminars and links to other useful sites such as the Natural Health Organisation (www.naturalhealth.org.hk).

Other shops and organizations offering alternative and complementary health medicines include:

• The New Age Shop (7 Old Bailey Street, Soho; www.newageshop.com.hk; tel. 2810 8694) hosts visiting and resident psycho-spiritual practitioners, as well as selling a range of New Age books and health-related products.
• Vitality Center (801 Commercial House, 35 Queen’s Road, Central; www.vitalitycenter.com.hk; tel. 2537 1118) offers a range of health services, including homeopathy, aromatherapy, nutritional therapy, cranial sacral therapy and reiki.
• Wholistic Centre (2202 Causeway Bay Plaza 1, 489 Hennessy Road; tel. 2882 2703; www.wholistic-centre.com) provides hypnotherapy services, past life therapy, qigong and reiki.
• Balance and wellness-focused Zama (Unit 1006 Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road; www.zamaint.com; tel. 2850 6400) offers detox, clinical nutrition, food allergy testing, iridology and counselling services and training.
• The Raja Yoga Centre (17 Dragon Road, Tin Hau; www.rajayoga.com.hk; tel. 2806 3008) offers meditation practice and teaching.
• Optimum Health Centre (2/F, Prosperous Commercial Building, 54–58 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay; www.naturalhealing.com.hk; tel. 2577 3798) provides homeopathy, oxygen therapy, foot reflexology and colon hydrotherapy.
• HydroHealth Colon Hydrotherapy (Central and Causeway Bay; www.hydrohealth.com.hk) is another reputable colon health centre.