Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) has been a strong advocate for reading for almost two decades. In line with the government’s announcement designating 23 April as the Hong Kong Reading for All Day, SHKP is delighted to provide the venue to host the 2024 Hong Kong Reading+ carnival. This four-day event, organized by the Hong Kong Publishing Federation and sponsored by Create Hong Kong, will take place at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin from 20 to 23 April.

SHKP Executive Director Christopher Kwok said: “President Xi Jinping has expressed his wish for all people to actively engage in reading and contribute to a culture where reading is cherished, quality books are available, and everyone benefits from reading. SHKP has been promoting reading since 2005 and is honoured to provide a bustling venue for the 2024 Hong Kong Reading+ carnival. The event includes an exhibition, seminars, workshops, and performances, all designed to foster a love for reading among the younger generation and broaden their horizons.”

The theme of the carnival is “n reasons for reading”. Apart from the exhibition, it also will feature a book fair, an electronic reading experience zone, nearly 20 seminars by renowned writers and music performances. Various parent-child activities, including storytelling sessions, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshops, and DIY picture book making classes, will also be organized. A highlight of the carnival will be a talk and a meet-and-greet session by Hideko Yamashita, acclaimed Japanese writer of the global bestseller “DanShaRi”, who will be introducing her new book. 
 
In addition to supporting the carnival, New Town Plaza will launch a series of online and offline activities to promote reading. One such activity is a contest where participants have the chance to win a HK$200 SHKP Malls Gift Card by sharing their favourite book title under the event post on the SHKP Reading Club Facebook page between 20 and 28 April.

Over the years, SHKP has collaborated with the government and community groups to organize a number of reading promotion campaigns at its shopping malls. An example of this collaboration is the book exhibition held at apm shopping mall in Kwun Tong last year. This exhibition was conducted in support of the government’s initiative to promote the night-time economy while encouraging everyone to read. During this event, apm shopping mall extended its operating hours until 11 pm, providing an opportunity for book enthusiasts, especially “night owls”, to immerse themselves in the joy of reading.

SHKP has been a stalwart supporter of reading initiatives. Since the launch of the Read to Dream programme in 2008, SHKP has been providing book allowances to over a thousand students annually to buy their favourite books at the Hong Kong Book Fair. This effort has benefitted more than 30,000 students so far. In 2013, SHKP introduced the SHKP Reading Club, which has organized talks and workshops on reading at nearly 400 schools. In 2019, SHKP launched the Read For More online reading platform which uses engaging multimedia content on popular culture, travel, and food to promote reading among individuals. SHKP has also been putting more emphasis on STEM education across its reading promotion initiatives since 2021, when the National 14th Five-Year Plan indicated clear support for Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub, encouraging primary and secondary school students to apply STEM knowledge in their daily lives.
 

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) is delighted by the Town Planning Board’s approval of the planning application of its Mong Kok project. The large-scale commercial project will be developed as the ‘Green Heart’ of Mong Kok with many green, sustainable elements.

SHKP Executive Director Robert Chan said: “This project will be the first large-scale commercial landmark that Mong Kok has seen in recent years. Applying its expertise in building transit-oriented developments, SHKP will provide quality commercial space, enrich the community with well-thought-out amenities, green elements, and enhance overall connectivity and accessibility.”

He continued: “We have years of track record in developing Mong Kok, where our MOKO, Grand Century Place and the Royal Plaza Hotel have become commercial and shopping hotspots of the area. The new project will create synergy with these popular destinations, capitalizing on Mong Kok’s reputation as a place of both traditional culture and contemporary trends, and making it a hub for business, retail and tourism in central Kowloon.”

Preliminary works are underway for the project, which features a 53-storey main tower reaching a height of 320 metres above the principal datum. Once completed, it will become the second tallest commercial landmark in Kowloon after the International Commerce Centre (ICC). The main tower will also come with a three-storey podium and a public rooftop viewing platform, a unique feature in the district that offers sweeping views of the city’s hustle and bustle. The project’s total gross floor area will be 1.52 million square feet, comprising a 200,000-square-foot shopping mall, and 1.2 million square feet of commercial space. Other facilities include five community facilities with a total floor area of 50,000 square feet and over 100,000 square feet of quality outdoor public space. 

Premium public open space and preservation of old and valuable trees 
The project aims to become the ‘Green Heart’ of Mong Kok. One of the highlights is the preservation of three banyan trees which are more than 60 years old. SHKP is working together with local and overseas landscape and tree specialists over the formulation of a conservation plan, which involves altering the original basement design to avoid disturbing the soil beneath the trees.

SHKP will also create a ‘Ficus Plaza’, which is over 34,000 square feet, at the project’s ground-level entrance. The rarity lies not only in the close proximity to the three old trees but also in having such a well-designed public space within the district.

On top of that, the Group aims to plant over 50 trees in the project to achieve 30% in greenery coverage and 1,250 kg in annual carbon dioxide absorption. This, together with the other green measures, should create a ‘Cool Island Effect’ that will reduce the temperature of the vicinity. 

Enhancing connectivity and accessibility
The project will provide about 800 private car parking spaces and a large public transport interchange for minibuses and cross-border buses. Embracing the design concept of ‘Urban Cool Ribbon’, the project will also come with two landscaped walkways leading to the MTR Mong Kok East Station deck and a footbridge to Hak Po Street, linking the project with various streets in the neighbourhood.

Creating an inclusive community
To ensure that the project’s five community facilities effectively cater to the practical needs of the users, SHKP has made special effort in meeting with various social welfare service organizations and conducted focus group discussions, street interviews and surveys, engaging over 400 participants. Based on the insights gathered, SHKP has taken a number of steps to make the amenities more user-friendly. The community facilities will now be located in an annex block, designed to provide easy access for the users. For instance, considering that a significant number of day-care centre users are elderly individuals who rely on rehabus for transportation, SHKP has incorporated a dedicated vehicular access and drop-off point right outside the centre.

The Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) Charitable Fund is pleased to announce its partnership with the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO) and the Sham Shui Po District Council to present Marché le Floréal 2.0. This vibrant flower market is designed to boost the local economy and is aligned with the government’s “Day x Night Vibes @ 18 Districts” campaign.

Marché le Floréal 2.0, a nine-day event, from 30th March to 7th April, will celebrate the arrival of spring with an array of blooming flowers and carnival activities. The market aims to showcase popular flower-viewing locations and will offer a variety of attractions, including bazaars, workshops, performances and game booths. Visitors can enjoy the festivities in the ground floor atrium of V Walk and the public space opposite Sham Mong Road, as well as at Nam Cheong Park and Un Chau Estate.

SHKP Executive Director and SHKP Charitable Fund Governor Christopher Kwok said: “Hong Kong is blessed with seasonal blooms all year round. Every March and April, Kowloon West offers a number of flower-viewing spots that are popular among both locals and tourists. Particularly noteworthy is the floral corridor adorned by bougainvillea spectabilis in Un Chau Estate. Marché le Floréal 2.0 is a district event that involves the collective efforts of the government, business sector, associations and stakeholders from the green community to promote local culture and help revitalize the local economy. SHKP supports the government’s continued efforts to have more events organized in outdoor public spaces. This initiative not only brings vibrancy to the community but also contributes to economic growth.”

Paul Wong, District Officer (Sham Shui Po) of the SSPDO, said: “The first-ever ‘Fête des Fleurs’ was successfully launched in 2023 by the SSPDO. The idea is to invite the public to enjoy and appreciate the floral scenes in different parts of Sham Shui Po during the flowering season and to meet the demand from tourists for immersive experiences. Encouraged by the warm reception, the SSPDO will hold the Marché le Floréal 2.0 in Nam Cheong Park and in the vicinity of Sham Mong Road this year. As part of the ‘Day x Night Vibes @ 18 Districts’ campaign, we hope that the public will have a great time and lots of fun at our event with their families during the Easter holidays. I would like to thank the local stakeholders for their continuous support to SSPDO and their joint efforts to develop the ‘Fête des Fleurs’ as a district brand.”

Tsoi Chiu-yuk, Executive Vice President of Federation of HK Guangxi Community Organisations Limited, said: “Sham Shui Po is facing various problems, such as an aging population, subdivided units and poverty, resulting in increasing pressure on people’s livelihood. Marché le Floréal 2.0, held in Nam Cheong Park, features a unique floral sea, specially designed photo spots, game booths, performances that showcase the characteristics of Guangxi's ethnic minorities, and group performances by local schools. This joyful event aims to bring relief to residents, while fostering connections and collaboration between different groups and organizations, thus promoting community integration.”

Ken So, Chief Executive of the Conservancy Association, said their booth at the event, Jockey Club – The Conservancy Association Urban Forestry Green Hub, aims to promote green living and provide a chill vibe with a unique and unprecedented five-senses experience for visitors. It will feature photo-friendly installations created from upcycled plastic bottles. Workshops will be conducted to teach people how to use recycled materials to make rose-shaped decorations. Different local snacks will also be available on-site, allowing participants to engage in recycling activities while savouring local delicacies.

In addition to a floral exhibition, Marché le Floréal 2.0 features a six-metre-high giant floral art installation and 20 market stalls offering a variety of floral products and local snacks. Other activities include V Walk’s floral kimono photo-shooting experience, game booths and workshops. On the event launch day, 30 March (Saturday), there will be a series of live performances, including magic shows, a drum performance, an ethnic costume parade and talent shows. These engaging activities are set to create an unforgettable experience for locals and tourists alike.