Hong Kong’s MTR Corp opens new shopping centre in Tai Wai station as post-Covid retail activity picks up

The Wai is located at the interchange between the East Rail line and Tuen Ma line, and below The Pavilia Farm residential complex

The opening of the new mall comes as consumers return to restaurants and shops after three years of pandemic

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Shoppers pack MTR’s new shopping centre in Tai Wai on its grand opening day. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 7:30pm, 22 Jul 2023Updated: 7:34pm, 22 Jul 2023

Hong Kong transit operator and property developer MTR Corp on Saturday began a soft launch of a new shopping centre atop Tai Wai station, its first since 2020, as the company looks to tap into the city’s post-Covid retail recovery.

The Wai, the 15th shopping centre developed by the firm, occupies four stories and a total floor area of 650,000 square feet. It currently houses about 150 merchants ranging from dining to retail and lifestyle.

Located at the interchange between the East Rail line and Tuen Ma line, the mall will officially open in the fourth quarter with a new footbridge connecting to Tai Wai station, the company said.

“It’s not just a shopping centre. It’s more of a community facility for local residents,” said David Tang Chi-fai, director of MTR’s property and international business.

The Wai, located on top of Tai Wai station, occupies a total floor area of 650,000 square feet. Photo: Handout

The Wai, which sits below The Pavilia Farm residential complex co-developed by the company and New World Development, will mainly cater to the daily needs of local residents, he said. Buyers of the first phase of that home project collected their keys in December.

Around 97 per cent of the floor space in The Wai has already been leased out, while the remaining 3 per cent will be held until later this year after MTR solicits customers’ feedback on the types of businesses they wish to see in the shopping centre, Tang said.

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