According to a recent report, a company that provides shared workspaces for technology startup subculture communities launched a new location at Two Harbour Square in the rapidly emerging Kowloon East in the Kwun Tong district.
This is the company’s first location in Kowloon and is envisioned to connect more Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs to the Greater Bay Area.
The General Manager of the firm stated that the recent opening of Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) and the upcoming operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will tie Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen together and will enhance the free flow of goods, capital, information and talent.
Over the years, the firm has seen many active members from mainland China in our Hong Kong community. In the past, the firm has supported expansions of an investment consultant company from Shanghai to Hong Kong and connected a FinTech startup member from mainland China to an APAC blockchain lab.
According to the firm’s executive, over 70% of members of the firm’s community worldwide interact and more than 50% of its members partner with each other. These members are entrepreneurs, SMEs, or large enterprises.
In Hong Kong, many members engaged in innovative technology are from professional or consultancy services, FinTech, IT and e-commerce industries.
As the firm continues to support these companies to connect and partner with other global creators, it looks forward to partnering closely with different partners to unlock the unique potential of Hong Kong and create synergies with other cities to drive the economic development of the Greater Bay Area.
One of the local enterprises joining the firm’s shared space company’s community in Kowloon East is an 89-year-old jewellery chain. The Executive Director stated that as a pioneer in a digital transformation in the jewellery industry and committed to promoting long-term innovation in the business, they are constantly seeking ways to inspire creativity within their people; the collaborative space is ideal for the teams to unleash their creativity and explore various possibilities in such a vibrant working environment.
He added that the community also offers unique advantages including an ever-growing regional and global network which the company can leverage. Having access to the firm’s resources, the jewellery company expects this community that encourages and fosters creativity and collaboration will help attract and retain valuable digital talents.
Supporting the development of Kwun Tong district
As the Kwun Tong district continues to undergo a large-scale revitalization, the new space at Two Harbour Square will offer larger floor plates, providing businesses of sizes with a flexible and humanized working environment that accommodates the evolving demands of businesses today.
One member of the community stated that demand for flexible offices, including collaborative spaces, has been growing rapidly in Hong Kong, with Kowloon East set to become the second largest source of flexible space after Central in mid-2019.
He pointed out some of the factors that contribute to the expanding collaborative space in Hong Kong, among them: the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem; a demand from large corporations looking for more flexibility in their real estate portfolio; and, a change of environment which fosters innovation through exposure of new ideas and ways of working.
Meanwhile, the shared space firm’s Two Harbour Square location will occupy the top two floors with a distinctive sea view of the Victoria Harbour, providing over 900 desks at the hot desk area, communal space, private offices and conference rooms. In addition, the space will boast an exclusive use of the rooftop terrace – suitable for member entertainment, external private bookings and wellness events.
With a multitude of planned working spaces, members can work, dine, and relax at the coffee bar lounge, phone booths, standing desks, breakout areas, and several large meeting rooms. There is a dedicated quiet room for assignments that require high concentration.
A large communal area with approximately 80 to 100 people capacity on the 26/F community floor will provide a spacious venue for events and functions catering to members and non-members alike.
The firm currently has more than 50 locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, providing more than 20,000 members with space, community and service through physical and digital offerings.