# Only one in five Hong Kong businesses eye office space expansion

- **Source:** Real Estate Asia
- **Published:** 2026-10-13T00:30:00.000Z
- **Author:** Staff Reporter
- **Original:** https://realestateasia.com/commercial-office/news/only-one-in-five-hong-kong-businesses-eye-office-space-expansion
- **Topics:** Commercial & Industrial, Regional Markets

## Featured rationale

The gap signals a preference for space efficiency and renewals, potentially limiting expansion-led leasing while increasing pressure on landlords to improve quality and lease terms.

## AI summary

Only 20% of Hong Kong office occupiers plan to expand space, despite 35% expecting headcount growth and 41% anticipating improved business conditions.

## Original article

Professional services and finance firms are the sectors most likely to expand.

Business confidence among Hong Kong office occupiers has returned to positive territory, but companies remain cautious about expanding their physical footprint, according to Colliers' 2026 Hong Kong Occupier Survey.

The fourth annual survey of around 200 occupiers, conducted between June and August, found that 41% expect business conditions to improve over the next 12 months, compared with 16% expecting deterioration.

However, 35% of respondents plan to increase headcount while only 20% expect to expand office space. Professional services and banking and finance firms are the sectors most likely to expand, Colliers said.

The gap reflects a shift towards using existing space more efficiently rather than taking additional offices. Chris Hui, head of Landlord Representation, Office Services at Colliers, said occupiers are becoming "more selective rather than more expansive", with most looking to remain in their current buildings while seeking better workplace quality and lease economics.

Renewals dominate leasing strategies, with 68% of respondents intending to renew in their existing buildings. The figure rises to 88% in Greater Tsim Sha Tsui and 87% in Kowloon East.

Cost remains the leading consideration when companies assess both buildings and locations, followed by building quality and transport accessibility, according to Colliers. Among occupiers considering relocation, lower rents, better-quality buildings and more favourable lease terms were the main drivers.

Ivan Wong, head of Kowloon, Office Services at Colliers, said 43% of occupiers in Central and Admiralty were open to higher rents, compared with 60% of Kowloon East respondents and 56% in Greater Tsim Sha Tsui seeking rent reductions.

Rent-free periods remain the most sought-after incentive, while reinstatement cost waivers have become an increasingly important negotiation point, Colliers said.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 香港仅五分之一企业考虑扩大办公空间

香港写字楼租户的商业信心已回到正面区间，但企业对扩大实体办公面积仍持谨慎态度，

专业服务和金融公司是最有可能扩张的行业。

据Colliers的2026年香港租户调查，香港写字楼租户的商业信心已回到正面区间，但企业对扩大实体办公面积仍持谨慎态度。

这项第四年度调查于6月至8月期间对约200名租户进行，发现41%预计未来12个月经营环境将改善，相比之下16%预计会恶化。

不过，35%的受访者计划增加员工人数，而预计扩大办公空间的仅有20%。Colliers表示，专业服务以及银行与金融公司是最有可能扩张的行业。

这一差距反映出企业转向更高效地使用现有空间，而非额外承租办公室。Colliers写字楼服务业主代表主管Chris Hui表示，租户正变得“更具选择性，而非更趋扩张”，大多数希望留在现有大楼，同时寻求更好的工作场所质量和租赁经济效益。

续租主导租赁策略，68%的受访者打算在现有大楼续约。这一比例在大尖沙咀升至88%，在九龙东为87%。

据Colliers，企业评估大楼和地段时，成本仍是首要考量，其次是楼宇质量和交通便利性。在考虑搬迁的租户中，更低租金、更高质量大楼和更有利的租赁条款是主要驱动因素。

Colliers写字楼服务九龙主管Ivan Wong表示，中环和金钟43%的租户可以接受更高租金，相比之下，九龙东60%的受访者和大尖沙咀56%的受访者希望减租。

Colliers表示，免租期仍是最受欢迎的优惠，而豁免还原费用已成为日益重要的谈判要点。