Harbour City often springs to mind as a popular choice for local and international companies looking for quality office premises in Kowloon, best reflected by a diversified tenant mix and a high occupancy rate.
Even with the repercussions of the global financial crisis, the integrated complex, owned by Wharf (Holdings), has continued to show resilience and attract new tenants.
Dave Siu Wing-koon, general manager (office leasing) at Harbour City Estates, a Wharf subsidiary, said leases were concluded recently with two new tenants - Sony and Bandai - which would take up about 50,000 sqft and 20,000 sqft of space respectively in Tower1 of The Gateway. Both companies were relocating from their Hong Kong Island offices.
The past year also saw more banking institutions and airlines establishing operations in Harbour City, Mr Siu said. Among the banks were Mizuho Corporate Bank, China Construction Bank (Asia), E.Sun Commercial Bank, Taiwan Business Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking. Together they leased about 100,000 sqft of space. All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines and Jet Airways (India) are also new tenants.
Mr Siu said the mix of office tenants in Harbour City had changed over the years and had become much more diversified than in the past when it was dominated by electronics, toy and trading-related businesses.
Tenants now range from banking and insurance, to airlines, logistics, toys, sourcing and buying offices, fashion and sports. Big names include Citibank, HSBC, Bank of China, AIA, Prudential, Sun Life, Zurich Insurance, NYK, APL, Hyundai, Mattel, MGA Hitachi, MGB, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Zara and Nike.