〈The Standard, May 23, 2026〉Swire Properties (1972) has acquired portions of the Hoi Wan Building and Sea View Building in Quarry Bay at the compulsory auction at the reserve price of HK$2.02 billion.
The property comprises two old buildings situated at 9-39 Hoi Wan Street and 33-41 Tong Chong Street, covering an area of about 20,060 square feet and a total floor area of nearly 263,000 sq ft.
〈Hong Kong Business, May 22, 2026〉Central was the only Grade A office submarket in Hong Kong to record a fall in vacancy in April 2026, with its rate down 0.4 percentage points to 9.2%, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL) Hong Kong Monthly Market Dynamics report.
Overall vacancy was unchanged at 13.5%, as gains in core areas offset weaker performance elsewhere.
In comparison, the market showed further tightening earlier in the year, with Central Grade A vacancy falling below 10% in February and net absorption reaching 143,700 square feet (sq ft), alongside a 1.1% month-on-month (MoM) rise in average rents, according to JLL.
〈Asian Post, May 21, 2026〉Street-level retail space is regaining appeal in Hong Kong as retailers adjust location strategies amidst softer rents and a sharper focus on foot traffic, prompting a shift away from upstairs units once favoured for lower costs.
“Both local and overseas shoppers are value-driven, cultural- and experience-led nowadays in Hong Kong,” Kathy Lee, head of research and retail consultancy at Colliers International Group, Inc., told Retail Asia.
“This has increased competition for foot traffic, which in turn has led to brands shifting to store locations for higher visibility, particularly for food and beverage and daily-need retail,” she said in an emailed reply to questions.
〈Hong Kong Business, May 20, 2026〉Commercial real estate investment volumes rose 41% YoY to $12.5b (US$1.6b) in the first quarter of 2026, supported by easing financing conditions and renewed interest in core office and retail assets, according to JLL.
Lower borrowing costs helped support deal activity, with the one-month HIBOR falling from 3.1% at end-December 2025 to 2.2% by end-March 2026.
The office sector saw improved liquidity as asset prices in core locations approached a near-term floor. Notable transactions included Dah Sing Financial Holdings’ $838m (US$107m) acquisition at Viva Place and Golden Diligent Ltd’s $250m (US$32m) purchase at Lippo Centre.
〈RTHK News, May 19, 2026〉The government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach to reinforce Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub, Acting Financial Secretary Michael Wong said on Friday.
Speaking at the opening reception for the airport's Terminal 2, Wong said the government will continue accelerating the expansion of the SAR's aviation network, enhancing connectivity with the Greater Bay Area, and advancing the development of an airport city.
To proactively align with national strategies and deepen Hong Kong's participation in the GBA, he said the government will maintain a close relationship with the Airport Authority and the aviation industry.
