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Fanny Fung

A grocery market in a subsidised housing estate in Tin Shui Wai – known previously for its poverty – will be expanded and renovated with European-style architecture to provide more upscale food options and a bigger shopping experience, under a multi-million dollar plan unveiled by the Link Reit, which took over commercial facilities and car parks at public housing estates from the government a decade ago.
While admitting that an increase in shop rents was “inevitable”, the company declined to disclose the extent and insisted that the plan “did not mean the prices of products would go up”.
The size of Tin Shing Market, located in Home Ownership Scheme development Tin Shing Court, will be more than doubled to over 17,000 square feet. The number of stalls will be increased from 77 to more than 110 and eating places from two to over 10.
A “Soho” area serving quality food and beverages, a seafood zone modelled after the famous Tsukiji market in Tokyo, a night snack street and a discount corner will also be created. Online ordering services will be available and air-conditioning will be installed in the market.
“Products such as Spanish ham and organic fruit without wax coating will be sold, for example,” said Lo Bing-chung, corporate communications director of Link Asset Management, the property management arm of the Link Reit.
Tin Shui Wai is no longer the poor area that we knew years ago. Many residents actually have quite high consumption power
Link Reit PR Lo Bing-chung
Ice-vending machines will also be installed in the market to help shoppers keep their newly bought seafood fresh while they go shopping or eating, and staff will help elderly residents carry their purchases from the market to neighbouring Tin Yiu Estate.
The firm said the renovation would cost “tens of millions of dollars”, but declined to give a precise figure.
Lo said his company had commissioned a survey of 1,000 people before deciding on the design of the revamped market. Stopping short of disclosing the details of the survey method, he admitted that not all interviewees were Tin Shui Wai residents and some were regular supermarket visitors who never shopped at traditional groceries. But he dismissed suggestions that upgrading the market was at the expense of serving the needs of grassroots residents in the area.
“Tin Shui Wai is no longer the poor area that we knew years ago. Many residents actually have quite high consumption power. Some have even asked us why Wagyu beef is not available in our markets … Please don’t stereotype Tin Shui Wai,” he insisted.
He also dismissed pressure groups’ complaints about rising prices at the 90 Link Reit markets as “politicised”. “It was the government’s decision to sell [the markets] to us. Please be fair to us.”
The renovated market will reopen in two phases – around Christmas this year and Lunar New Year next year.


Tsukiji and Soho lookalikes: Features of upgraded Link Reit market in Hong Kong’s Tin Shui Wai

Tin Shui Wai residents will be able to enjoy a revamped market. Photo: Nora Tam

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