Janet Shih of Centaline Group and Josephine Kong of Centaline Investment
discussed student housing prospects on Metro Finance’s ‘Metroland’ Program.
2025-05-25
Janet Shih, Chairlady of Ricacorp Properties and subsidiaries of Centaline Group, together with Josephine Kong, Chief Investment Officer of Centaline Investment, jointly appeared on Metro Finance’s program “Metroland” on July 19, 2025, to discuss the latest developments and market prospects of the company’s student housing projects.
Janet pointed out that Hong Kong has long faced a severe shortage of student housing, a situation exacerbated by local universities’ increase of overseas student admission quota. The demand for student accommodation has sharply increased, while existing specialized student housing remains far from sufficient, causing rents in various districts to rise continuously. In response, Centaline Investment proactively began sourcing suitable properties two years ago to convert into student residences.
Josephine mentioned that at the end of last year, the company acquired a boutique hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui and began renovation work, which is expected to be completed this August. The project will offer 67 rooms and 121 beds, located only about a five-minute walk from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with enthusiastic rental demand. The project is positioned as “affordable luxury student housing,” emphasizing thoughtful room design, efficient space utilization, and privacy protection, striving to provide a comfortable and safe living environment.
In May 2025, Centaline Investment launched the brand “Campus One Community,” providing professional consultancy services to property owners interested in converting their properties into student housing. Services include feasibility studies, property redevelopment, lease management, and operational strategies.
Looking ahead, Centaline Investment has set clear goals, aiming to manage between 2,000 to 3,000 beds within the next three years to provide diversified accommodation options that meet students’ varied needs and budgets. The industry is closely watching the government’s soon-to-be-announced pilot program, spearheaded by the Development Bureau and Education Bureau, expected to launch in mid-July. This program aims to encourage private property owners to convert hotels and other commercial buildings into student housing, adding new momentum to the student housing market.
Thank you Metro Finance’s “Metroland” for inviting Janet and Josephine Kong to share their insights and look forward to the continued growth of the Hong Kong student housing market. For more information, tune in to Metro Finance’s “Metroland” (In Cantonese).