Singapore gets high marks for "liveability" - while Hong Kong's status in that regard takes a fall.

In a report that might sway some wealth managers’ career choices, human resources consultancy ECA International has ranked Singapore as the most liveable city for Asian expats, while Hong Kong has fallen, hit by recent typhoon damage and air pollution.

The report put Hong Kong at 41st, sliding 12 places in the rankings. Singapore, meanwhile, is top for the 14th consecutive year.

"Several factors make Singapore the ideal location, such as access to great facilities, low crime rates, good quality healthcare and education, as well as a large expat population already living in Singapore,” according to a report on the study by the Straits Times. 

Hong Kong’s air pollution dragged the territory down to 29th place in 2017, having been at 11th place in 2013. Liveability ratings have, meanwhile, improved for mainland Chinese cities such as Beijing and Xiamen because of good infrastructure, although they also suffer from air pollution.

Elsewhere, cities in Australia and New Zealand offered the best quality of living for Asian workers, with Brisbane and Sydney joint second in the rankings, the report said.

(Editor's choice: There is a crop of such surveys showing that a particular city or jurisdiction has the best quality of life, or is the most appealing for expats, or is the best place in which to do business. Singapore has scored well among expats before, according to an HSBC study last year. The two main rival financial hubs in Asia often tend to score well for economic freedom. More often than not, these places are among the most sought-after destinations in which to do business. The recent controversial announcement by British business tycoon James Dyson that he was moving his firm's HQ to Singapore has encouraged UK citizens to take the Lion City more seriously.)