{
  "id": 8126172,
  "title": "Southeast Asian investors become biggest foreign buyers of Hong Kong commercial property",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/southeast-asian-investors-become-biggest-foreign-buyers-of-hong-kong",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-17T23:39:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress Business",
    "slug": "vnexpress-business",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/property/southeast-asian-investors-become-biggest-foreign-buyers-of-hong-kong-commercial-property-5121045.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the latest commercial real estate transactions, Thai investors emerged as the leading foreign buyers of Hong Kong properties, with Southeast Asian purchasers accounting for a significant portion of the deals. According to Savills, a leading property consultancy, Southeast Asian investors alone contributed HKD3.37 billion (US$3.87 billion) to transactions involving commercial properties valued at over HKD50 million. This represents an 11% share of the total transactions.\n\nThe data, reported by the South China Morning Post, highlights a notable shift in foreign investment patterns. Southeast Asia's share has surged, now comprising roughly two-thirds of all non-local investment this year. This surge is in contrast to mainland Chinese buyers, who accounted for 5.8% of the total, and Hong Kong-based capital, which made up 83.2%.\n\nNicholas To, a senior associate director for investment at Savills Hong Kong, commented on the changing landscape. In 2025, mainland investors were the largest group of non-local buyers, representing nearly 34% of the HKD47.32 billion total. The U.S. and Canada followed, spending 16% of the total. Southeast Asian investors ranked third last year with a 3.7% share, while European investors purchased 2% of the total.\n\nThis year, Western investors have largely been absent from the Hong Kong market. However, notable acquisitions have been made by Singaporean companies and investors. DBS Bank (Hong Kong) purchased space at The Center, covering 14,121 square meters across several floors, for HKD2.62 billion. Additionally, Wee Hur Holdings acquired One Bedford Place, a 184,041 square foot office building in Tai Kok Tsui, for HKD748.8 million.",
  "summary": "Southeast Asian investors have become the largest foreign buyers of Hong Kong commercial property, accounting for more than 11% of the total transactions valued at over HKD50 million, according to data from Savills. This marks a significant shift, as mainland Chinese investors were previously the largest group of non-local buyers, accounting for nearly 34% of the total in 2025. Southeast Asian investors' share has risen against a much smaller non-local pool, now representing roughly two-thirds of all non-local investment this year. Notable acquisitions by Singaporean companies and investors include 14,121 square meters at The Center and One Bedford Place, an office building in Tai Kok Tsui.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SCMP Business",
        "title": "Hong Kong malls bet on Asian Games to boost footfall, tenant sales amid spending shifts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/hong-kong-malls-bet-on-asian-games-to-boost-footfall-tenant-sales",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:00:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "Hong Kong to face 130k manpower shortage in 2028 – 50k less than previously projected",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/hong-kong-to-face-130k-manpower-shortage-in-2028-50k-less-than",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:40:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}