Harbourside delights enhance appeal of Hong Kong apartments

It’s well documented globally that properties with water views can command a substantial price premium. In London, homes with Thames views can fetch up to 50 per cent more than similar homes without a view, while in Australia, the most expensive homes are those overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Hong Kong is home to one of the most impressive harbours in the world, and anyone can enjoy it, without paying a king’s ransom to own it. Serviced apartment towers on or near the waterfront are the key.

At the waterfront property Citadines Harbourview Hong Kong, at 138 Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, every unit is decked out with a king-sized bed facing the harbour, and a cosy couch placed by the window. From the rooftop terrace perched on the 33rd floor, watch the Symphony of Lights multimedia show unfold across the Kowloon Peninsula skyline, while enjoying a barbecue on a balmy night.

Just across the road is Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, where residents can participate in many leisure and sporting activities, or lay back and relax. Neighbourhood eateries range from a Michelin restaurant to dai pai dong street food – or pick up dried seafood to cook in your apartment’s kitchen from traditional markets on nearby Dried Seafood Street.

Spot iconic city landmarks from your own outdoor space at CHI 120, a CHI Residences branded property at 120 Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, where every unit has a private balcony facing the harbour. Or share a panoramic vista with friends and neighbours from the rooftop barbecue terrace, an area provided exclusively for residents of the top floor apartments.

CHI 120 is pet-friendly – one of the few serviced apartment properties that are – as well as family-friendly, with “baby-safe” features such as socket protectors, bumpers on table corners and BPA-free kiddy cutlery. At 1,050 sq ft they’re some of the roomiest units in the city, a three-minute walk from Sai Ying Pun MTR station and 10 minutes from Central.

The highest rooms in the city may be found at The HarbourView Place, a luxury suite hotel/ serviced apartment property within the International Commerce Centre (ICC) megalopolis. From their eyrie on the 50th to 70th floors of The Cullinan II, residents of The HarbourView Place command superb views of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon peninsula.

Accommodation ranges from luxury studios to salubrious penthouses, with five-star services on hand for the asking. The property neighbours posh hotels W Hong Kong and The Ritz-Carlton, and is connected to the expansive Elements mall and MTR transport interchange.

Admittedly, such luxury does come at the higher end of the rental price scale, but there are options for those who want a view at a more budget-friendly price.

S-Residence, a renovated Kennedy Town walk-up, offers sea views from each kitchen window (as the back of the building faces the harbour), along with a Belcher Bay Park view from the shared rooftop. Manager Edward Shing says: “Whether they are individual or corporate sponsored, many of our tenants like to stay with us because they prefer a more spacious apartment with sea view at reasonable rates [HK$29,000 to HK$35,000, with long-term discounts available].”

Beyond the central business district, Bay Bridge Hong Kong has views over Tsing Ma Bridge to the picturesque shores of South China Sea. One-bedroom seaview apartments start at HK$23,000 per month, or HK$28,000 for those with an outdoor terrace. For another scenic view, try Hong Kong Gold Coast Residences on Castle Peak Bay in So Kwun Wat.