Folks -- The following is an email response from one FDX pilot who had been asked about the cost-of-living situation when he lived in HKG prior to joining FDX. Because the writer is rather junior, he's reticent about speaking up. I'm respecting his wish to stay below the ridge-line by not using his name. Please forgive me if you see this post on a couple more threads -- this info is critical, and should be seen by as many pilots as possible.
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:07:58 -0700
>Hi Mike,
>
>Thanks for the info. I couldn't agree more.
>
>My wife and I lived in Hong Kong in a previous life in the mid 90's. I was with [a major brokerage house] and our housing at that time was about US$9,000 per month for an apartment in Repulse Bay. It was about 2,300 square feet and pretty nice, but in a older building, on a lower floor, with wall unit A/C that barely kept it cool. I would think that same apartment is much more now. I had one of the lower housing allowances for expats -- as I recall, some other guys were getting up to twice that amount.
>
>[The brokerage firm] paid for housing, and a lot more, too. They covered schooling, family trips home to the states, all moving expenses, medical/dental, storage for stuff we left in the States, and probably a lot more that I've forgotten.
>
>The other thing people need to remember is how quickly the real estate market changes in Hong Kong. It goes up and down very quickly. I read that right now it is going up at about 20% per year. That happened to us -- by the time we arrived in Hong Kong, the housing allowance we had agreed to was way behind where the market was. Fortunately, the company eventually agreed to raise the number.
>
>I have been following the rumors/announcements on this issue, since we would really like to have the chance to get overseas while our kids are still young. I was going to email Dave Webb, but after seeing the response to that other guy who is even senior to me, I'm not so sure.
>
>Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
>
>Cheers,
> [name withheld by Herkybird]
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