Operator of Hong Kong’s The Boxes mall near Shenzhen border scrambles to meet soft launch deadline after Christmas
Complex with unique design has been plagued by delays and only has 72 tenants out of 214 available lots
The operator of Hong Kong’s first, much-delayed, outlet shopping centre near the Shenzhen border is scrambling to meet a soft launch deadline after Christmas amid efforts to lure tenants.
Import and export sector lawmaker Wong Ting-kwong, who is behind the project, unveiled the plan on Monday for the opening of San Tin Shopping City, also called The Boxes.
Wong said 72 tenants, accounting for 40 per cent of the 126,000 sq ft rentable floor area, had signed a contract with the mall.
“So far the occupation rate is far from satisfactory,” he admitted. “But we will organise some trade fairs next week to attract more tenants. When we secure at least 50 per cent of the 214 slots, we will have a trial run. I hope to make it happen after Christmas but I can’t guarantee this.”
Wong said that an official launch for the pop-up shopping complex would be organised once more than 80 per cent of tenant lots had been secured, ideally before the Lunar New Year.