Times Square

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Lore & Background

The site was previously occupied by the original Sharp Street tram depot of the Hong Kong Tramways, a subsidiary of Wharf acquired in 1974. In July 1986, the Executive Council approved Tramways' plan to relocate its depots to Sai Wan Ho and Sai Ying Pun, citing HK$3.5 million in annual operating cost savings that would help hold down tram fares. The area was predominantly residential, and the Town Planning Board insisted the project include no more residential space. In July 1987, Wharf unveiled draft plans for 1,600,000 square feet of office and retail space. Following the relocation of Wanchai depot, the site was surrendered to its associate in 1988. In 1991, concrete plans announced a 186,000 m² retail and office complex with an estimated construction cost of HK$2 billion. At the time, the developer's debt levels and uncertainty over sovereignty made project financing problematic. Now it is considered prime property in the heart of Causeway Bay.

In Their Own Story

The complex consists of 83,700 m² of retail space and two office towers with 102,300 m² of accommodation. Tower One, named NatWest Tower, rises 193.9 m (636 ft) tall with 46 floors, making it the 74th-tallest building in Hong Kong. Tower Two, named Shell Tower, is 168.8 m (554 ft) tall with 39 floors. Tenants of Tower Two include Google Hong Kong at Suite 2501. The shopping centre anchors are Lane Crawford and city'super. Emperor Cinemas renovated the UA Cine Times Cinema at Times Square, opening for business at the end of 2021. The plaza in front formerly hosted New Year's Eve festivities from 1993 to 2014, where an apple was 'dropped' via 22 m of signage approaching midnight; in 2015, the event was discontinued in favour of an afternoon concert series over the holiday season.

Reader's Guide

Times Square is served by Causeway Bay station of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system, with an underground passage directly linking the building and exit A1 opening into the ground floor podium level. It is also accessible by tram in the direction of Happy Valley or Shau Kei Wan, and by various bus and minibus routes. A taxi stand is strategically positioned outside the main entrance. Under a Deeds of Dedication signed with the Government, 3,010 square metres of the ground floor was set aside for public access, pedestrian passage and passive recreation, though the company has the right to organise exhibitions there and charge fees. Between July 2003 and March 2005, a corner of the piazza was leased to Starbucks Coffee, which the company called an 'unintentional oversight' corrected after notification from the Buildings Department. In 2008, controversy arose after complaints that private security guards attempted to stop people lingering in the public area, and building management apologised for their 'over-zealous' guards. The Secretary for Justice filed a writ in the High Court on behalf of the Government against Times Square Ltd and its parent company Wharf Group, seeking to recover rental fees of as much as HK$124,000 a day for use of the piazza dating back to 1993. The company believes it has not charged more than what is allowed in the deed, but welcomed the case saying it would ultimately provide guidance on the proper interpretation of the relevant clauses.

Did You Know?

• Times Square features Hong Kong's only spiral escalator on its ground floor.
• The site was previously the original Sharp Street tram depot of the Hong Kong Tramways.
• The New Year's Eve apple drop used 22 m (72 ft) of signage and was held from 1993 to 2014.
• The Secretary for Justice filed a writ seeking to recover rental fees of as much as HK$124,000 a day for use of the piazza dating back to 1993.
• Tower One (NatWest Tower) is 193.9 m (636 ft) tall with 46 floors, making it the 74th-tallest building in Hong Kong.