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New Home Sales and Returning Investors Help Drive Hong Kong Residential Market Transactions

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Overall Office Leasing Activity Picks Up, but Grade A Office and Prime Retail High-Street Rents Remain Under Pressure

  • Homebuyers and investors were both active in the Hong Kong residential market in Q2 2025, incentivized by a weakening HIBOR and rapid launches of new projects by developers at attractive prices. The total residential transaction number for the Q2 period is expected to rise by 30% q-o-q to reach 15,900 units.
  • The Grade A office new-lease transaction area reached 1.2 million sf, the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic period. However, the overall Grade A office rental level continued to decline, falling 1% q-o-q, resulting in an overall 3.4% drop for the 1H 2025 period.
  • Retail market sale performance has yet to demonstrate significant improvement despite an increase in visitor arrivals. High street vacancy rates generally trended upwards across core districts in Q2, weighing on overall rental levels. Nevertheless, a notable number of new leasing transactions were recorded, reflecting an ongoing “tenant reshuffling” in the market.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 July 2025 – Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield today held its Hong Kong Property Markets 1H 2025 Review and 2H Outlook press conference. The one-month Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate (HIBOR) has been gradually softening since May, resulting in lower mortgage rates. Coupled with developers actively launching new residential projects at competitive prices, momentum in the primary residential market remained strong in the period. Improved rental yields also encouraged investors to re-enter the housing market, supporting monthly transaction volumes that exceeded 5,000 cases in Q2.

In the Grade A office sector, net absorption remained positive in Q2, with Hong Kong Island showing greater resilience. However, high availability and an abundant future supply pipeline continued to weigh on rental performance. In the retail sector, despite a steady rise in visitor arrivals, retail sales have yet to show notable improvement. Vacancy pressures persisted, leading to a general downward trend of high street retail rents during Q2.

Grade A office leasing market: New lease area reached 1.2 million sf, the highest level since the COVID-19 period

The Hong Kong Grade A office market witnessed accelerated leasing momentum in Q2 2025, underpinned by relocation and expansion activities from the banking & finance and insurance sectors, The new leased transaction area for Q2 2025 reached 1.2 million sf, the highest quarterly level since Q3 2019. Several big-ticket deals were recorded, including Jane Street’s pre-commitment of more than 207,000 sf at Site 3 at the Central Harbourfront project. The overall office availability rate remained largely stable at 19.3% in Q2, while quarterly positive net absorption slowed, dropping almost 50% to record 71,400 sf. With the new supply pipeline remaining abundant, the overall Grade A office rental level continued to trend down, dropping 1% q-o-q in Q2, contributing to an overall 3.4% drop for the 1H 2025 period.

Chart 1: Rents of Grade A offices in Hong Kong

John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “In the 1H 2025 period, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is expected to rank first globally in terms of funds raised through the Initial Public Offering (IPO) market — reclaiming the top spot for the first time since 2019. With more Chinese mainland stocks expected in the pipeline, this should help support office market sentiment and stimulate downstream leasing demand, particularly in the banking & finance and professional services sectors. Despite the improving market sentiment, an ample new supply pipeline and high availability may continue to weigh on rental performance in 2H 2025, and we forecast the overall office rental to decline by 7%–9% throughout 2025.”

John Siu added, “According to Cushman & Wakefield’s new What Occupiers Want 2025 report, the top three priorities shaping occupiers’ leasing strategies are cost control, talent retention, and operational excellence. While occupiers remain cost-cautious, they increasingly recognize the importance of a healthy and engaging workplace in attracting and retaining talent. Against this backdrop, other than offering rental incentives, we encourage landlords to collaborate closely with occupiers to create unique and value-driven work environments, so as to stand out in today’s highly competitive office market.”

Retail leasing market: Retail sales continued to contract despite improving tourist arrivals, while high street rents remained under pressure

For the January to May 2025 period, Hong Kong recorded more than 20 million visitor arrivals, growing 12% y-o-y. We believe this growth is supported by the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the recent hosting of a range of mega-events at the venue. However, the rise in visitor numbers has not yet translated into stronger retail sales. From January to May 2025, total retail sales in Hong Kong amounted to HK$ 155.1 billion, reflecting a y-o-y decline of 4.0%. Visitor spending has become more cautious, with a growing preference for cultural experiences and value-for-money retail offerings. As a result, traditionally popular high-end retail categories have been most affected. Sales in the Jewellery & Watches and Apparel & Accessories sectors declined by 8.8% and 5.7% y-o-y, respectively. The Medicines & Cosmetics and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco sectors recorded modest growth, rising by 3.4% and 2.7% y-o-y, respectively.

Vacancy rates generally trended upwards across core retail districts in Q2 2025. The vacancy rate in Causeway Bay showed the most notable increase to climb to 13.2%, from 5.3% last quarter. Vacancy rates in Mongkok and Central rose slightly q-o-q, to 9.5% and 8.6%, respectively, while Tsimshatsui remained stable at 9.4%. Retail leasing activity was most active in Mongkok in the Q2 period, supported by the district’s relatively attractive rental levels and stable tourist footfall.

High street retail rents generally fell in Q2, in response to lifted vacancy pressure. Rents in Causeway Bay fell by 3.6% q-o-q, followed by Tsimshatsui and Mongkok at 3.4% and 1.7% q-o-q, respectively. Rents in Central rose slightly at 0.2% q-o-q, supported by resilient local demand. In the F&B sector, rents across districts recorded a mild decline on a q-o-q basis, within a 1% range.

Chart 2: High street retail rents in prime districts in Hong Kong

John Siu commented, “The Hong Kong retail market is experiencing a reshuffling of tenants. Retailers and F&B operators that are promoting local culture, offering unique experiences, and offering high-quality services and products, will likely be favored by tourists and will be able to prosper in the market. In contrast, some traditional retailers will be forced out of the market due to their failure to adapt to the shifted consumption patterns. Nevertheless, leasing activity in core districts has remained active. The current attractive rental level is lowering entry costs for new market players, while benefitting more mass-market retailers aiming to enter high-street areas. Looking ahead, with the opening of the Kai Tak Stadium, we expect that the government will continue to promote mega-events and world-class concerts, in turn drawing more international visitors and tourism spending. We expect high street retail rents and F&B rents to remain largely stable in the 2H 2025 period, and to mildly correct in the range of -1% to -3% through 2025.”

Residential market:
Lower HIBOR and active new launches drive transactions; home prices stabilize in Q2

Overall sentiment in Hong Kong’s residential market continued to improve in Q2 2025. The decline in the HIBOR during the quarter, which remained at relatively low levels, helped reduce mortgage and entry costs, creating favorable conditions for homebuyers. At the same time, developers actively launched new projects with attractive pricing strategies, fueling strong activity in the primary market and sustaining high overall transaction volumes. According to Cushman & Wakefield estimates, the total number of residential sales and purchase agreements in Q2 is expected to reach approximately 15,900, representing a 30% q-o-q increase, reflecting the continued market purchasing power.

Chart 3: Number of residential sale & purchase agreements

Rosanna Tang, Executive Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, added, “The positive market response to new launches between March and May supported monthly transaction volumes exceeding 5,000 units, indicating resilient end-user demand and contributing to home price stabilization. Based on data from the Rating and Valuation Department, the overall residential price index edged up by 0.5% between April and May, narrowing the first five months’ decline to 0.9%. On the leasing front, the growing number of expats and non-local students, coupled with the traditional leasing peak season in May and June, drove the private residential rental index up by 0.67% m-o-m in May, resulting in a 1.4% increase over the first five months of 2025. Looking ahead, while global uncertainties persist and the sustainability of low HIBOR remains uncertain, a potential interest rate cut by the U.S. later this year could further support lower HIBOR levels, providing a positive narrative for the housing market. We maintain our earlier forecast that overall transaction volume will be similar to last year, with full-year home price fluctuations expected to remain within a ±3% range.”

Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, concluded, “According to our tracking of popular housing estates, all market segments showed some improvement in Q2. Notably, City One Shatin, representing the mass market, recorded a 2.3% q-o-q sale price increase. Taikoo Shing, representing the mid-market, saw a modest 0.4% q-o-q rise, while Bel-Air, representing the luxury segment, saw sale prices decline narrowly by 2.5% q-o-q. Recently, some banks have relaunched mortgage cash rebate programs, effectively lowering the entry threshold and stimulating buying interest among prospective purchasers. Over the past one to two months, we observed an approximately 5% increase in mortgage inquiries compared to April. Among the newly signed provisional sale and purchase agreements, 60%–70% of transaction prices were 3% to 5% higher than their online valuations. These changes were most concentrated in properties priced at around the HK$10 million mark, and particularly in the HK$3– 4 million range, indicating a recovery in demand for small- to mid-sized units.”

Please click here to download photos.

Photo 1: (From left to right) Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield; John Siu, Managing Director, Head of Project and Occupier Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield and Rosanna Tang, Executive Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield.

Hashtag: #Cushman&Wakefield

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 23 offices serves local markets across the region. In 2024, the firm reported revenue of $9.4 billion across its core services of Valuation, Consulting, Project & Development Services, Capital Markets, Project & Occupier Services, Industrial & Logistics, Retail, and others. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn ().

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FikaGO Debuts in SoHo, Blending Pet Stroller with Modern Lifestyle Design

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The Taiwan-born pet mobility brand opens its first SoHo pop-up inside Flying Solo, bringing its Nordic-designed pet stroller collection to the heart of New York City.

NEW YORK, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 02 April 2026 – FikaGO, the design-led pet mobility brand recognized across Asia and Europe, has opened its first New York City pop-up store inside Flying Solo in SoHo. The opening marks a deliberate move for a pet brand into one of the world’s most competitive retail districts.

FikaGO Blending Pet Stroller with Modern Lifestyle Design

Since entering the online American market in 2025, FikaGO has built a growing community of pet parents who see their animals as a central part of everyday life. Positioned as lifestyle essentials rather than conventional pet gear, FikaGO’s range of products is designed for people who want the best for their fur babies.

“We’ve always believed that pet products should not only be functional, but also beautifully integrated into everyday life.” — Eric Guu, Co-founder, FikaGO

SoHo was a considered choice: Flying Solo, with locations in New York and Paris, is known for championing independent design with a distinctly global sensibility.

The pop-up showcases FikaGO’s auto-folding Free To Go 2 in Sandy Beige, the brand’s bestselling product. All FikaGO’s products are manufactured using eco-friendly fabrics made from recycled materials, reflecting a commitment to sustainability. This includes their large-capacity Agile 2 pet strollers to their airline-approved Truffle carriers and the heavy-duty Kross pet wagon.

“Launching in SoHo is a meaningful milestone for us; it allows customers to truly experience the quality, design, and intention behind every FikaGO product.” — Eric Guu, Co-founder, FikaGO

As pet ownership rises globally, particularly among urban millennials and Gen Zs, demand for products that combine functionality, design, and lifestyle integration continues to grow. FikaGO was built for precisely this moment, and SoHo is precisely where that moment lives.

Visit the FikaGO pop-up at Flying Solo, 419 Broome Street, New York, or explore the full collection at https://us.fikago.com/.
Hashtag: #FikaGO #petmobilitybrand #petstroller #petcarrier #petwagon #petkennel #petbiketrailer




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About FikaGO

FikaGO is a pet mobility brand founded in Taiwan, dedicated to crafting products that blend functionality, comfort, and modern aesthetics. With a presence across Asia and growing reach in Europe and the U.S, FikaGO is redefining everyday experiences between pets and their humans.

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Lee Kum Kee Celebrates Culinary Excellence at the Historic Hong Kong Debut of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026

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HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 April 2026 – Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), a global leader in sauces and condiments, proudly served as the Official Sauce and Condiment Partner for the prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards ceremony in Hong Kong, China. The event marked the first time the celebrated culinary award had taken place in Hong Kong, making the occasion especially significant for the city and the wider Asian dining community.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards Ceremony 2026. Photo credit: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant

From 23-25 March, Lee Kum Kee brought together top chefs, diverse cultures and industry communities through a range of thoughtfully curated experiences, bringing authentic Asian flavours to the global stage. As well as reaffirming the brand’s Asian roots and international perspective, its involvement reflected an enduring commitment to preserving culinary heritage and driving gastronomic innovation.

Asian Flavour Duet: A Culinary Journey Through Heritage and Innovation

Helping to build momentums for this year’s awards, Lee Kum Kee collaborated with Vicky Cheng, the acclaimed Executive Chef and owner of WING, to co-create the “Asian Flavour Duet”, a Hong Kong-style late-night supper party on 24 March. Hosted at two Hong Kong culinary landmarks, the experience unfolded in two chapters – “Paying Tribute to Heritage” and “Innovative Fusion” – and invited guests to explore the limitless possibilities of Asian flavour.

The evening began at the century-old Lin Heung Lau teahouse, a space filled with nostalgia and memories for generations of Hong Kongers. Chef Vicky reinterpreted classic Hong Kong late-night dishes using signature Lee Kum Kee sauces, while guests were immersed in the warmth of the historic venue.

(Left) Chef Vicky presents classic Hong Kong late-night dishes at Lin Heung Lau; (Right) Guests enjoying the nostalgic flavours.
(Left) Chef Vicky presents classic Hong Kong late-night dishes at Lin Heung Lau; (Right) Guests enjoying the nostalgic flavours.


The celebration then moved to Medora, Chef Vicky’s Western dining space, where an “Innovative Fusion” was revealed. He showcased his modern culinary philosophy by incorporating Lee Kum Kee sauces with contemporary techniques to create bold, unexpected dishes. Guests also enjoyed specially crafted cocktails infused with Lee Kum Kee sauces, alongside a delightful yet refined sauce-inspired gelato, demonstrating a harmonious interweaving of savoury, umami, sweetness and spice.

The multisensory journey seamlessly blended tradition with innovation, exploring the future of cuisine while highlighting Lee Kum Kee’s role as a global gateway to Asian culinary culture.

At the event, Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs at Lee Kum Kee, commented, “Tonight, we are honoured to celebrate Hong Kong’s late‑night food culture with Chef Vicky and the global culinary community. From the legacy of Lin Heung Lau to the forward‑looking spirit of Medora, we are proud to be part of the creative journey and help showcase the depth of Asian flavours on the world stage.”

Celebrating a Gastronomic Brilliance with the Highest Climber Award Sponsored by Lee Kum Kee

During the awards ceremony on 25 March, Lee Kum Kee’s booth showcased a range of the brand’s acclaimed classic sauces and innovative products. Guests sampled specially crafted bites featuring Lee Kum Kee sauces, engaging directly with the flavours and techniques that have made the brand a trusted partner in both home and professional kitchens worldwide.

Guests taste creative canapes: beef cheek guabao and shrimp dumpling with egg white; and exchange culinary insights at the Lee Kum Kee booth.
Guests taste creative canapes: beef cheek guabao and shrimp dumpling with egg white; and exchange culinary insights at the Lee Kum Kee booth.


As part of the evening’s celebration of the region’s most exceptional culinary talents, the Highest Climber Award sponsored by Lee Kum Kee was presented to Lamdre in Beijing by Chef Park from Atomix (No.1 in North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025). Lambre was applauded for its pioneering plant-based dining space that promotes healthy, sustainable living while honouring Chinese biodiversity in its menus.

Lamdre claims the Highest Climber Award sponsored by Lee Kum Kee. Photo credit: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
Lamdre claims the Highest Climber Award sponsored by Lee Kum Kee. Photo credit: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants


In addition, WING, led by Chef Vicky, achieved an impressive second place in 2026 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The restaurant had also previously ranked No. 11 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025, underscoring its continued international acclaim.

Building the Future Together: Deepening Global Partnerships

With the success of this prestigious awards ceremony in Hong Kong, China, Lee Kum Kee looks forward to deepening its collaboration with leading talents in the global culinary community. By continuing to champion Asian flavours and foster meaningful dialogue and exchange, the brand will continue to bring the spirit of Asian cuisine to kitchens and dining tables around the world.
Hashtag: #LeeKumKee #LKK

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Lee Kum Kee

Lee Kum Kee is the global gateway to Asian culinary culture, dedicated to promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide. Since 1888, it has brought people together over joyful reunions, shared traditions and memorable meals. Beloved by consumers and chefs alike, Lee Kum Kee’s range of more than 300 sauces and condiments sparks creativity in kitchens everywhere, inspiring professional and home chefs to experiment, create and delight. Headquartered in Hong Kong, China and serving over 100 countries and regions, Lee Kum Kee’s rich heritage, unwavering commitment to quality, sustainable practices and “Constant Entrepreneurship” combine to enable superior experiences through Asian cuisine for people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.LKK.com.

About Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

Launched in 2013, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants aims to showcase the outstanding achievements and diverse culinary landscape of the region. The list is determined by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a panel of over 350 culinary experts from across Asia who vote independently based on their specialised knowledge of the local dining scene. The Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants series includes the awards ceremony and list announcement, creating a premier networking platform for restaurateurs, media, seasoned travelers and culinary connoisseurs to celebrate the exceptional service, passion and talent in the dining industry.

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DHL Express appoints new commercial lead for Asia Pacific

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  • Herbert Vongpusanachai takes on the role of Senior Vice President for Commercial for the region, effective April 1, 2026

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 April 2026 – DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has appointed Herbert Vongpusanachai as Senior Vice President, Commercial for Asia Pacific, effective April 1, 2026. Herbert, who currently serves as Managing Director for DHL Express Thailand & Indochina, will be based in Singapore for his new role.

Herbert Vongpusanachai, Senior Vice President – Commercial for Asia Pacific, DHL Express

Herbert brings more than two decades of leadership experience within DHL Express, having successfully helmed multiple key markets across the region. He first joined the company in 2003 as Managing Director for Thailand & Indochina, later taking on leadership of Singapore in 2008, followed by Hong Kong & Macau in 2016. Since returning to lead Thailand & Indochina in 2020, he has driven sustained year‑on‑year profitable growth, transforming the cluster into one of the region’s key engines of expansion.

“Herbert has an exceptional track record of delivering strong business results while nurturing highly engaged teams across diverse markets. His deep understanding of our customers, collaborative leadership style, and ability to unearth opportunities in complex environments make him the ideal leader to drive our commercial agenda for Asia Pacific. I am confident that under his guidance, we will continue to accelerate sustainable growth across the region,” said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

In his new regional role, Herbert will shape and accelerate the commercial strategy for DHL Express across Asia Pacific by working with other functions to assess new sectors, routes and trade lanes with high potential for growth. He will focus on deepening customer engagement and supporting their expansion, while driving sustainable volume growth and advancing the adoption of new technologies to enhance commercial execution across markets. With his extensive country expertise and people‑first leadership style, Herbert is well‑positioned to support both regional and country teams in raising commercial performance to new levels.

“Asia Pacific remains an important anchor in global trade as seen in the latest DHL Global Connectedness Report, and this indicates the unwavering role of logistics to facilitate the flow of goods. With the newly introduced Heavyweight Express solution, which enables customers to ship heavyweight shipments with speed, certainty and reliability, I look forward to working alongside our talented teams to contribute to shaping the next chapter of DHL Express’s commercial success,” said Herbert Vongpusanachai, Senior Vice President – Commercial for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

The latest DHL Global Connectedness Report shows that the region remains a major anchor of global commerce, with multiple economies rising in global connectedness rankings and Southeast Asia firmly establishing itself as a fast‑growing trade corridor. This also mirrors one of DHL Group’s strategies to better support 20 markets globally to accelerate growth; eight of them rest in Asia Pacific – underscoring the region’s critical role in DHL’s global network. As trade flows diversify and intra‑Asia integration deepens, this leadership appointment further strengthens DHL Express’s position in Asia Pacific.
Hashtag: #DHL


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 389,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 82.9 billion euros in 2025. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

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