Hong Kong government reviews PMQ's operations, future amid low footfall and high vacancy
Hong Kong's PMQ creative hub faces low footfall and high vacancy ahead of its 2029 operating contract expiry. The government outlined financial data, tenant composition, visitor numbers, and plans for a comprehensive review to align with national cultural goals.
Hong Kong lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-sang raised questions in the Legislative Assembly on 4 November 2026 about the operations and future of PMQ (元創方), a non-profit social enterprise that has run the former police married quarters in Central since 2014. Concerns include low footfall, high tenant turnover and vacancy rates, as its 15-year operating contract expires in 2029.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, replying for the government, said PMQ's average occupancy over the past five years was 88.7 per cent. The tenant mix by gross floor area comprised 61.7 per cent design and creative industries, 18.3 per cent food and beverage, 13.4 per cent retail, and 6.6 per cent other categories. Annual visitor numbers averaged about 2.3 million, with local visitors accounting for 72 per cent and non-local 28 per cent.
PMQ's operator, a charitable company under the Tax Ordinance, manages the site on a self-financing basis. It has run events such as the deTour design festival, PMQ Seed youth programme, and Coffee Agenda market to boost footfall. Tenant selection considers design quality, commercial viability, and willingness to contribute to the community, Yeung said.
On public subsidies, the Creative Industries Development Office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau approved 21 grants totalling about HK$150 million over five financial years (2021/22 to 2025/26) for PMQ projects like deTour and PMQ Seed. The operator's main income sources are donations from the Tung Sum Foundation and rental revenue.
The government has integrated PMQ with nearby heritage sites such as Tai Kwun and Central Market through the Central West District Heritage Trail, guided tours, and promotional routes like the Hong Kong Tourism Board's “Old Town Central” walking itineraries. The Antiquities and Monuments Office, the Commissioner for Heritage's Office, and the Urban Renewal Authority also run activities linking PMQ with surrounding landmarks.
New leases at PMQ expire at the end of 2028. The government said it will conduct a timely review of PMQ's operational performance, financial sustainability, and key performance indicators to determine its future development and positioning before the contract ends.