Sun Hung Kai Properties’ (SHKP) online reading platform Read For More had the privilege of interviewing Regina Ip, Convenor of the Executive Council and Member of the Legislative Council, about her new book, Regina’s English Works for You 8, as well as her personal journey and insights on English learning skills.

Read For More creates multimedia content, including interviews with leading figures and authors, to promote the joy of reading among young people. 

Graduated with first-class honours from the University of Hong Kong's Department of English, Mrs Yip taught English in a local secondary school after graduation, and was beloved by her students. Encouraged by her party members, she began writing about learning English after entering politics. Using her columns in English newspapers on common grammatical mistakes and vocabulary usage, her debut book was released in 2010. Her latest work, Regina’s English Works for You 8, will be launched at this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair. 

Mrs Ip said the key to mastering English lies in diligence - read more, listen more, and write extensively. She emphasized that the priority should be on conveying messages accurately, rather than using ornate language. She expressed concern over the decline in English proficiency in the city, despite the abundance of learning resources and technological advancements. She also stressed the importance of not only developing strong communication skills, but also cultivating an understanding of diverse cultures.

Mrs Ip also urged young people to confront their weaknesses head-on. She recounted how she was once criticized for being “socially awkward” when she first joined the government as an administrative officer. Determined to improve her social skills, she took on the role of social secretary for the Administrative Service Association, organizing many social activities. 

Sharing words of wisdom from English poet Walter Savage Landor, Mrs Ip inspired young people saying “I strove with none, for none was worth my strife. Nature I loved, and next to Nature, Art”.  She said young people should remember that they do not have to compete with others. The enemy is yourself and it is oneself that one should strive to overcome. 

Mrs Ip’s interview video and article (in Chinese only) are available on the Read For More website.

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), driven by its dedication to Building Homes with Heart, is committed to improving the community environment alongside its quality property developments. The Sai Sha infrastructure enhancement project, undertaken in tandem with the Sai Sha mega development, is SHKP’s largest of its kind in recent years. It includes widening a part of Sai Sha Road, improving the drainage and sewerage systems, and building a community facility block, all of which would provide for a comprehensive improvement to the Sai Sha community. 

“This multi-billion-dollar infrastructure enhancement project, completed after six years of dedicated work, has brought immediate benefits to nearly 10,000 residents of Shap Sz Heung,” said Sunny Cheung, SHKP Senior Project Manager (Project Management Department). “It’s not just about the future residents of our Sai Sha mega residential development; this project is designed to benefit the entire community. It also provides convenient access to GO PARK Sai Sha, a new sports, entertainment, dining, and leisure landmark soon to commence trial operations.”

The project includes the following new infrastructure and facilities:

1. Widening about 1.5 kilometres of Sai Sha Road and enhancing transport, cycling and pedestrian facilities

Grant Yuen, SHKP Senior Project Manager (Project Management Department), said that previously Sai Sha Road, connecting Sai Sha to the Ma On Shan district, often suffered from traffic congestion as it was only a single two-way carriageway  (one lane in each direction). SHKP widened approximately 1.5 kilometres of the road to provide a dual two-way carriageway (two lanes in each direction), doubling its capacity to accommodate the increased traffic that will be generated by the Sai Sha development.  

The pedestrian facilities were also enhanced, with the construction of three footbridges equipped with lifts and wider pavements to avoid vehicle-pedestrian conflicts. Additional cycle tracks have been built, connecting to the existing network in Ma On Shan, which extends all the way to Sheung Shui and New Territories West.

Furthermore, SHKP has re-provisioned a number of public transport facilities, including a bus terminus, a minibus terminus, a taxi stand, a public car park, and bus stops. The Group also actively coordinated with the government to introduce new bus routes to enhance connectivity to the East Rail Line, the Tuen Ma Line, and the urban area. In addition, SHKP has enhanced road safety and efficiency by adding three roundabouts, traffic signs, and streetlights.

2. Improving the drainage and sewerage systems 

Flooding during rainstorms used to be a common occurrence in Sai Sha due to lack of efficient drainage and modern sewage facilities in the surrounding villages. To tackle these issues, SHKP constructed a 2.1-kilometre drain and a direct 3.9-kilometre sewer connected to the Ma On Shan system. Furthermore, considering the villagers’ needs, SHKP made provisions for them to easily connect their individual sewage systems to this main sewer. These infrastructure enhancements have significantly enhanced the quality of life for the villagers.

3. Prioritizing greening and environmental protection

To minimize the impact of traffic noise on nearby residents, noise barriers were installed and the roads were lined with trees or other vegetation. SHKP also undertook the conservation and transplantation of two valuable, conjoined ficus microcarpa (Chinese banyan) trees, weighing a total of 180 tonnes with their root ball. The project team was the first in Hong Kong to use a double self-propelled modular transporter to move the giant twin trees 100 metres from their original site.

SHKP has installed a solar energy system at the construction site office, a first in Hong Kong. Additionally, the project has deployed electric construction equipment, contributing to Hong Kong's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and become a greener city.

4. Building a community facility block

SHKP is building a comprehensive four-storey community facility block, spanning 150,000 square feet. The block will feature a two-storey carpark and a range of social welfare facilities, including a residential care home, a day care centre for the elderly, a district support centre for people with disabilities, and a special child-care centre. The entire block is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025, after which the facilities will be handed over to the government.

Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) is delighted to announce the successful signing of a 5-year term loan and revolving credit facility valued at HK$23 billion. The facility has garnered significant interest from a diverse group of 23 mainland, international and local financial institutions. The level of subscription far exceeded expectations, with the facility being oversubscribed nearly five times.

SHKP Chairman and Managing Director Raymond Kwok said: “This overwhelming response is a very strong vote of confidence in SHKP and the future of Hong Kong. We will use part of the facility’s proceeds to refinance some of our debts with the remainder held as working capital for coming business developments. This approach aligns with our prudent financial management.” 

He noted SHKP holds the highest credit ratings among property companies in Hong Kong, with an A+ rating from Standard & Poor’s and an A1 from Moody’s. The Group’s dedication to developing quality and green properties, along with its premium trustworthy brand and strong reputation, is well recognized among tenants, shoppers, home buyers and the investment community.

Mr Kwok added: “Amid macroeconomic headwinds, the Group remains committed to prudent financial discipline and places a strong emphasis on cash flow management, including the implementation of strict controls on capital expenditure and continuous launching of residential projects for sale.”

He emphasized that the Group’s rental portfolio in Hong Kong has over 30 million square feet gross floor area (GFA) while the portfolio on the mainland has been expanded with the soft opening of the Group’s luxury mall in Nanjing, Nanjing IFC Mall, to about 20 million square feet GFA. The Group’s estimated net rental income is estimated to exceed HK$19.2 billion in the financial year 2023/24. 

Looking ahead, there are several key projects on the horizon which will contribute to the Group’s growth, Mr Kwok added. A notable one is the mega High Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus Development, whose office towers will be named the International Gateway Centre (IGC). In March 2024, a celebration was held marking the topping out of an entire tower of the development, that has been rented by UBS as their new Asia Pacific headquarters. Another key project is the Artist Square Towers in the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is now under development. 

These projects, along with the Group’s ICC and two luxurious hotels, will form a unique commercial hub with a total of about 5.7 million square feet of premium grade-A office space. With its unparalleled location and commitment to world-class green building standards, the cluster is well positioned to serve as a prominent hub for commerce, culture, arts, retail, entertainment, and transportation in the Greater Bay Area and a place to live, work, play and learn. Furthermore, in Shanghai, construction of the final phase of International Trade Centre (ITC) is scheduled for completion in 2025. These new additions will further strengthen SHKP’s recurring income base over the next two to three years.

The Group also maintains a strong focus on delivering quality properties to achieve fast asset turnovers in its property development business. The residential market in Hong Kong has revived after removal of all property cooling measures in late February 2024. The Group’s recent launches of Cullinan Harbour in the Kai Tak runway area, YOHO Hub II in Yuen Long and Dynasty Court in Mid-Levels have been well received by the market. 

Moving forward, SHKP will continue to launch new residential projects for sale as they become available, and actively market its unsold completed residential units and some of its non-core properties, ensuring a continuous cash inflow.

The facility is backed by:

1. Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
2. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited 
3. Agricultural Bank of China Limited Hong Kong Branch 
4. DBS Bank Ltd.
5. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited 
6. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited 
7. Hang Seng Bank Limited
8. China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited 
9. China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. Hong Kong Branch 
10. CMB Wing Lung Bank Limited
11. Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited 
12. Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited 
13. The Korea Development Bank
14. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation 
15. BNP PARIBAS
16. Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
17. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited 
18. United Overseas Bank Limited
19. Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.
20. Bank of Communications Co., Ltd Hong Kong Branch 
21. Chong Hing Bank Limited
22. Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited 
23. Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank