Resort-style offices in Discovery Bay proving popular
Far cheaper than the city, with balconies and sea views, offices are just 30 minutes from Central and the airport
An office with a big balcony and a full sea view - all at an affordable rental and not far from Central - sounds too good to be true.
Until 18 months ago that is just what Jean-Francois Harvey, the founder of the Canadian law firm Harvey Law, thought.
But then Harvey, who lives in Discovery Bay, took a closer look at office accommodation available for lease right on his doorstep at DB North Plaza in Yi Pak Bay. After visiting the project - Block 1 of DB North Offices - he promptly rented a 723 square foot unit with a 362 sq ft balcony as a back-up to the firm's main Wan Chai office on Hong Kong Island.
Headquartered in Montreal, the law firm has 17 offices in 13 countries, including China, Vietnam, Dubai, Thailand, the United States and France.
"The Discovery Bay office is peaceful and calm. It is a great environment for work. Many of our lawyers in our Wan Chai office want to transfer here," said Harvey as he admired the view of the South China Sea. The office now serves as a favoured meeting place for staff and their overseas colleagues.
"Since it is just 30 minutes from the Hong Kong International Airport, it is a convenient place for our lawyers from Bangkok, Beijing and Vietnam to report to," said Harvey, whose firm is among 19 tenants leasing office units in the three-storey, southern European-style waterfront office block. Nineteen of 21 units have been leased.