"Richard Branson said many great ideas come from a coffee cup," says Freddie Ng Chak-shing, the man behind the latest "shared workspace" to open in Wan Chai.
Called Partner, it distinguishes itself by being both a cafe and a place of work, complete with a printer and other office facilities, and a meeting room.
Veteran designer Ng says he took inspiration from British business magnate Branson to create "a merger of designer studio and cafe".
Freelancers and budding entrepreneurs are invited to use the space for work, networking or socialising. For a fee of HK$38 per hour, they can enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks, as well as Wi-fi while meeting clients, tutoring students or simply working on their own. The venue can also be hired for functions in the evenings and at weekends.
"When I was a freelance designer, I didn't like working in a conventional office with rooms and work stations," says Ng. "I enjoy working, thinking and meeting people in coffee shops."
The space, which Ng designed himself, originally comprised three units and boasts excellent views over the city. In keeping with his own vocation, Ng's business has a design library consisting of interiors catalogues.