What is Hong Kong’s headquarters economy – and how it drives a commercial property upswing

South China Morning PostEN 2 min read 100% complete by Cheryl ArcibalFebruary 8, 2026 at 08:44 AM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

Hong Kong's commercial real estate market is showing signs of recovery, driven by its "headquarters economy," where the city serves as a base for regional and global corporate headquarters. In 2025, the office market saw 2.1 million sq ft of net absorption, the largest annual total since 2018, with Central Hong Kong experiencing the most significant improvement. This increased demand for office space coincides with a record number of locally registered companies, including a substantial increase in new non-Hong Kong companies establishing a presence. While overall office rents slightly declined, the rate of decrease was the smallest since 2019, indicating market stabilization. Analysts attribute this upswing to the demand for premium office spaces that support regional management and professional services.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Eric Tsang 40% Colliers 50% Central ×260% CBRE ×270% Hong Kong ×490%

Keywords

headquarters economy 100% hong kong 90% commercial real estate 80% office market 70% corporate headquarters 60% net absorption 60% leasing 50% office rents 50% investment environment 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.40

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Source

South China Morning Post

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Hong Kong

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headquarters economy hong kong commercial real estate office market corporate headquarters net absorption leasing office rents investment environment

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