Hong Kong offers rent-free shop premises for start-ups

The programme will run for 7 months.

The Housing Authority has launched the Well Being·Start-Up programme, offering rent-free shop premises in its shopping centres to entrepreneurs aged 35 or below.

Up to 10 shop premises are available under the programme, which will run from October 2024 to April 2025.

Participants will not need to pay rent and will receive assistance with basic shop renovation and marketing, the HA said in a press release.

The HA said that it will regularly review the participants’ business performance. If participants make a profit, it will charge 20% of their net profits to fund, which will be used to support the programme’s development.

Secretary for housing and authority chairman Winnie Ho said that they hope the programme will help young people kick-start their entrepreneurial dreams.

“The authority also hopes to leverage the vitality and innovative ideas of young people to provide a more diverse choice of products and shopping experiences for the community, bring foot traffic to shopping centres and achieve mutual benefits for both residents and commercial tenants,” Ho said in a statement.

The programme will be open for applications from 1 August and interested parties should submit business proposals before 31 August.