Location: Exchange Square,
Central
Rating: * (1 out of 5)
Hongkong
Land is the biggest landlord in Central, owning more Grade A office space in
the financial district than any other property giants in the city. In 2011, the
company decided to redevelop the Forum, a low-rise shopping center wedged
between the three Exchange Square towers. In a matter of weeks, the entire structure
came down like the Wall of Jericho, along with the six restaurants, two coffee
shops and a Wellcome supermarket inside.
The Forum at Exchange Square |
Three
years of constant jack hammering and pile driving later, the Forum finally
reopened today. The new five-storey glass-encased structure looks like a cross
between the Louvre Pyramid and Darth Vader's mouthpiece. But hold your horses, my fellow desk jockeys, there is nothing in it for you. The building now houses
Standard Chartered's wealth management centre and not a thing more. There is a
tiny concession stand in the corner but it only serves Standard Chartered
employees, I was told, and accepts only prepaid staff cards.
Hongkong
Land's decision to kick out every tenant useful to office workers and replace
them with a glorified airport lounge for the rich verges on the unconscionable.
While property companies are here to make money (we of all people understand
that), the complete disregard for the needs of salary men and women who struggle daily to
find affordable food in Central is what makes the new Forum so infuriating and, sadly, so very Hong Kong.
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The old Forum, with actual shops |
So sad - but also so true. I can't agree more with you. I was waiting for the forum to reopen, hoping that there would be a few more outlets. It does not seem to be the case though :(
ReplyDeleteVery spot on!
ReplyDeleteGerwin
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ReplyDelete