Hong Kong Education Groups Lease 49,050 Sq Metres, Raising Northern Metropolis Interest

Could Northern Metropolis draw educational leasing from Hong Kong’s Grade A office sector?

Education groups leased 49,050 square metres of commercial space in the city from January 2025 to August this year, according to CBRE, highlighting the education sector’s contribution to Hong Kong’s Grade A office leasing activity.

The leasing demand has raised the question of whether the Northern Metropolis could attract schools and universities seeking space for administrative and other services.

Analysts said infrastructure serving the Northern Metropolis could be a deciding factor in whether institutions move those functions to the potential new centre of the city.

Space and connectivity will shape the decision

Kelvin Lee, director at property agency Midland Commercial, said the Northern Metropolis could become a viable option over the medium to long term for institutions seeking to expand their teaching, research and administrative facilities.

He said the area could be particularly suitable for uses requiring substantial space or close collaboration with technology companies and research organisations.

That assessment links the area’s potential appeal not only to the availability of larger premises, but also to the way institutions organise teaching, research and administrative work.

However, Lee said universities’ decision to locate general office functions there would depend on several practical considerations.

These include the availability of suitable premises, transport links, costs and the institutions’ operational needs.

The same factors could therefore determine whether the education sector’s existing demand for commercial space translates into leasing activity in the Northern Metropolis.

Source: South China Morning Post