Singapore Shines As Liveable City; Hong Kong Slides

Tom Burroughes

30 January 2019

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.