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Mong Kok named the most dangerous area in Hong Kong

Preply's survey reveals Yau Tsim Mong as a crime hotspot while Yuen Long tops livability rankings

Jenny Leung
Written by
Jenny Leung
Deputy Editor, Hong Kong
Mong Kok neon signs
Photograph: Bertha Wang/AFP
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We all have different answers when it comes to naming our favourite neighbourhoods in Hong Kong. Well, now there are some official numbers to back it up, according to a recent survey done by language learning platform Preply.

Using official and public data from a range of sources, the study ranked various districts in terms of overall living experience, examining all 18 districts across multiple factors that impact everyday living, such as population density, real estate costs, safety, retail and dining options, connectivity, and environmental factors like air and water quality and noise levels.

Yuen Long claimed the top spot as Hong Kong's most liveable area, offering a combination of affordable housing at $9,476 per square foot, abundant green spaces with 188 parks and playgrounds, and excellent transportation connectivity with the most bus stops in the territory. North District followed closely in second place, while Sha Tin and the Eastern District took third and fourth place, respectively.

The survey also revealed that safety played a major part in determining the most desirable places to live. Yau Tsim Mong, which consists of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mong Kok, topped the charts with a staggering 8,883 reported crimes between January and October 2024. On the other hand, the North District emerged as the safest with just 586 reported crimes.

Hong Kong districts with the highest cost per square foot were also listed, with Central and Western District (surprise, surprise) claiming the title as Hong Kong’s most experience area at $21,181 per square foot.

Most liveable districts in Hong Kong, according to Preply:

  1. Yuen Long
  2. North
  3. Shat Tin
  4. Eastern
  5. Tsuen Wan
  6. Tuen Mun
  7. Kowloon City
  8. Islands
  9. Sai Kung
  10. Central and Western
  11. Yau Tsim Mong
  12. Tai Po
  13. Southern
  14. Kwai Tsing
  15. Kwun Tong
  16. Wan Chai
  17. Sham Shui Po
  18. Wong Tai Sin

For those interested in finding out more, check the complete survey results here.

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