In retrospect, would you move again to Hong Kong?

I lived in Hong Kong in the 80's and 90's. I actually moved there as I was offered a job as a Sales Manager for a shipping company, and they offered me the job because I had learned to speak and read/write Mandarin. The first place I lived was in a small rented apartment in Heng Fa Chuen on Hong Kong Island.

I quit that job because I found another one in a Heavy Engineering company as a Marketing Manager and later as Commercial Manager. That company was a joint venture between the China National Import & Export Corporation (CNTIEC) and a Hong Kong public listed company. As my salary began to climb I bought my first apartment in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island.

Two years later I quit that job and set up my first company. I rented an office near to the Landmark in the Central District on Hong Kong Island, and ran a highly successful export business for many years. I also bought another bigger apartment in Discovery Bay.

In those days my haunts were Hollywood Road and Cat Street Market where I would search for antiques and old Persian or Afghan carpets, and Lan Kwai Fong where I'd often take lunch or go for a drink in the evening.

Before Hong Kong was handed over by the UK to China, I moved to Paris, rented a warehouse and office at Porte de la Chapelle, and started an import/wholesale and retail business in France. However, in those days I often regretted leaving Hong Kong, and I still consider it one of the greatest places for making money and living an exciting lifestyle.

So, as to whether I would do things differently, absolutely not! Hong Kong is the place that I was able to start my first business, make a fortune and buy a couple of apartments. It is also a really wonderful and exciting place to live and work, to shop and eat, it is fast paced, yet great for exploring or relaxing on a junk with friends, taking the high speed ferry to Macau for a seafood lunch, or hiking on some of the islands at the weekend. And living in Discovery Bay meant that we had a clubhouse with swimming pool, tennis courts, a restaurant and of course the beach where I could windsurf every weekend.