How to revive a dying Hong Kong shopping centre? Lower the rent, let workers hit by pandemic start new businesses
- Long-time resident decided to act when once bustling Fortress Hill shopping centre turned quiet
- It took months to convince owners to lower rents before new tenants with fresh ideas moved in
Walking past a dilapidated building in Hong Kong Island’s Fortress Hill neighbourhood two years ago, long-time resident Hwang Wai, 48, was distressed by what he saw.
Most of the shops in the three-storey Fu Lee Loy Shopping Centre were empty, and a deadly silence hung over the once bustling place he used to frequent with friends as a boy.
Built in 1980, it had 199 units and many used to be occupied by book publishers, grocery stores, hardware shops and traditional Chinese medicine clinics.
“I witnessed the change and it was such a pity to see the mall empty,” Hwang said. “I felt I had to do something for this district, because I love this place so much.”
He moved elsewhere after he grew up, but kept returning to his old neighbourhood. About 11 years ago, he moved back and now lives there with his wife.
Hwang, who closed his design company after Covid-19 hit Hong Kong, came up with an idea to revitalise the old shopping centre by turning it into a place where people who had lost their jobs in the pandemic could start their own businesses.
