20-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘Opportunity I could not let pass': Hong Kong expats embrace life in Qatar
Hongkonger and Christian William Soo Yau-kung beat the odds by starting a new chapter in his career eight years ago at the age of 50, relocating to the Islamic country of Qatar, an unconventional choice perhaps for expats.
'Working for Qatar [Airways] is like playing an international match as I get to work alongside top engineers from around the world – holding almost 200 different passports – which motivates me to learn more and do better,' the flight operations engineer said.
'While most companies concentrate their resources on daily operations, I was given a chance to build a new system, a project my company recognised for its long-term importance.'
The job satisfaction, combined with an attractive package that included accommodation and his twin sons' education at an international school – comparable to that of a pilot in his previous company – has led to Soo's family staying in Doha for eight years.
Soo and his wife shared their experiences with the Post from their home in Doha ahead of a
visit by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and a delegation of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong entrepreneurs to Qatar and Kuwait last week to explore business opportunities.
As a Christian family, Soo explained they had been able to find their religious community in the Muslim country but must adhere to the rules during Ramadan.
