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For many residents of Hong Kong who do not live in the hillside residential area of northern Kwun Tong, Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre might be unfamiliar.
However, this shopping mall, situated in the heart of Sau Mau Ping with more than 80 retail shops and eateries, plus a vibrant fresh market hosting more than 70 stalls, is far more than just a shopping destination — it is truly an “extension of home” for 170,000 residents. In the early morning, locals greet each other as they enjoy their Hong Kong-style breakfasts or shop for fresh ingredients. By midday, students from nearby schools flock in for meals and lively meetings during their leisure time. In the afternoon, the newly created outdoor space “Geometric WonderZoo” welcomes an endless stream of children, filling the community with laughter. As evening falls, the mall transforms into a welcoming venue for friends and families to share dinners and create lasting memories.
Recently, the third floor of Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre completed its transformative renovation, introducing refreshed spaces and features to better serve its visitors. Max Wong, Link’s Managing Director – Project & Engineering (HK), and Katherine Lo, Director - Asset Management (HK), shared with Channel 823 the stories behind the renovation project and its community-driven achievements.
The renovation of Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre’s third floor represents a milestone for Link, marking its 100th asset enhancement project in Hong Kong. It primarily involved reorganising the floor space and upgrading the outdoor area into a vibrant children’s playground called “Geometric WonderZoo”. Max explains, “Asset enhancement today differs markedly from that of a decade ago. Today’s shoppers expect shopping centres to be more visually striking and functional, with thoughtfully designed spaces. This warrants paying careful attention to details to create a fresh and engaging experience.”
Beyond visible upgrades, the project included behind-the-scenes improvements. “We’ve incorporated sustainability principles and new technology. Take lighting as an example. In the past, basic energy savings could be achieved simply by switching to LED lights. We now leverage artificial intelligence. We’ve introduced an Energy Management System (EMS) to optimise indoor temperatures comfortably and replaced air-cooled chillers with more efficient water-cooled ones to reduce air-conditioning power consumption. We’ve also applied solar film to the atrium skylight to reduce heat gain and further conserve energy.” Max reveals that the team has installed more than 400 solar panels on the roof to convert solar energy into electricity, maximising energy efficiency while championing environmental protection.
The reorganisation of the third floor at Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre included the conversion of the medical clinic area into a dynamic dining zone, presenting six new restaurants with floor-to-ceiling windows and direct access to the outdoor children’s playground. Katherine explains that these new restaurants were carefully chosen based on feedback from residents and patrons: “Before starting the project, we engaged extensively with locals to understand their needs. Some wanted local snacks, while others mentioned the lack of Japanese, Korean and Southeast Asian cuisines. Students unanimously requested a modern tea shop. We fulfilled all these requests.” After renovation, the proportion of food and beverage outlets increased by 6.9% to 35% of the internal floor area.
What about the original clinic tenants? Katherine explains, “We converted the former Social Welfare Department office space into a medical zone, enabling all the medical facilities to relocate together. Many elderly residents live in the neighbourhood, and their medical needs must continue to be accommodated.” Following the reorganisation, the third floor’s weekday foot traffic increased by 21% compared to pre-renovation figures, while weekend and public holiday traffic rose by 10.3%.
Over the past 19 years, Link has continuously enhanced its properties to better serve local communities, including recent renovations of Kin Sang Shopping Centre and Fu Shin Shopping Centre. These improvements have provided better facilities for residents while creating enhanced environments that meet society’s expectations and patrons’ evolving lifestyles and shopping needs.
