Hong Kong parents seek rural life for cheaper, nature-filled childhoods amid affordability crisis

Barbie Ho, an entrepreneur, and her husband traded the bustling heart of Hong Kong for the tranquil coastal town of Mui Wo on Lantau Island in mid-2022. Their former home in Tai Hang, near Causeway Bay, was a compact 400 sq ft, but their new Mui Wo residence boasts 750 sq ft with a garden and beach access.

This significant lifestyle change was driven by a desire to offer their six-year-old son a childhood immersed in nature, a stark contrast to the city's notorious housing affordability crisis. Hong Kong's property prices are so high that it takes an average household 14.1 years of income to afford a home, contributing to a total fertility rate that has fallen to 0.73.

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Now we have a garden, plenty of nature in our backyard and the beach just behind our house.

The financial savings from relocating allow the couple to invest more in their son's development, spending HK$7,000 to HK$9,000 monthly on education and activities. Ho, who resigned from her teaching job after her son's birth due to employer pressure and COVID-19 concerns, now also hires a part-time helper for HK$9,000 a month, demonstrating a different approach to managing family life and expenses outside the city's core.

The family's choice underscores the growing sentiment among some Hong Kong residents that the city's high cost of living, intense education system, and political climate are significant deterrents to raising children, prompting a search for alternative lifestyles in more affordable, nature-rich environments.

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The money saved by moving to the outskirts goes towards enrichment classes for their son and savings for his future.