Times Square

Times Square is a major mixed-use commercial complex in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, combining a large vertical shopping centre with two office towers. It is owned by Wharf Properties, a property subsidiary of The Wharf (Holdings) Limited, and opened on 13 April 1994. The development is widely associated with the transformation of the former Hong Kong Tramways Sharp Street depot site into one of the busiest retail and business destinations on Hong Kong Island. The site had previously been used by Hong Kong Tramways, which was acquired by a Wharf subsidiary in 1974. In 1986, the Executive Council approved plans to relocate the tram depots to Sai Wan Ho and Sai Ying Pun. The relocation was justified partly by expected operating-cost savings and partly by complaints about noise from overnight maintenance and tram movements. After the depot was moved, the site was surrendered to a Wharf associate in 1988. The surrounding district had historically been predominantly residential, and planning authorities required that the redevelopment should not add residential accommodation. Wharf presented redevelopment plans in 1987 for approximately 1.6 million square feet of office and retail space. More detailed plans announced in 1991 envisaged a complex of approximately 186,000 square metres, with estimated construction costs of about HK$2 billion. Financing was challenging because of the developer's debt position and uncertainty surrounding Hong Kong's future sovereignty, but the completed project became a landmark commercial asset in the centre of Causeway Bay. The complex contains about 83,700 square metres of retail accommodation and approximately 102,300 square metres of office space. Its retail component is arranged over nine levels, making it an early and prominent example of Hong Kong's vertical-mall model. Rather than spreading stores across a low-rise horizontal footprint, the design uses a high podium, long escalators and a tall atrium to connect the shopping floors. The ground floor includes a distinctive spiral escalator, and an underground passage provides direct access to Causeway Bay MTR station. The principal retail anchors have included Lane Crawford and city'super. The mall has also hosted luxury, fashion, lifestyle, food and entertainment tenants. The former UA Cine Times Cinema was renovated by Emperor Cinemas and reopened at the end of 2021. The office portion comprises two towers designed by Wong & Ouyang. Tenant-driven naming has resulted in references to Tower One and Shell Tower, while another historical name associated with the complex is NatWest Tower. The towers provide substantial central-Hong Kong office accommodation and have housed international companies, including Google Hong Kong. Times Square has also been a prominent public-event venue. From 1993 through 2014, its forecourt hosted a New Year's Eve celebration inspired by the ball drop in New York's Times Square, using an apple-shaped object lowered from signage. The event was discontinued in 2015 and replaced by an afternoon concert series during the holiday period. The complex's commercial success has been accompanied by debate about privately managed public space. A deed of dedication reserved approximately 3,010 square metres at ground level for public access, pedestrian movement and passive recreation, while also allowing the owner to organise exhibitions and charge fees. Disputes over the boundaries of those rights produced criticism of management practices, including an incident involving Starbucks and later complaints about private security discouraging people from remaining in the piazza. These issues contributed to broader Hong Kong discussion about transparency and accountability in privately owned public open spaces. The site remains an active retail, office, transport and event destination in Hong Kong.

The Times Square site was historically occupied by the Sharp Street tram depot operated by Hong Kong Tramways. Hong Kong Tramways had become part of Wharf's wider business interests after its acquisition by a Wharf subsidiary in 1974. In July 1986, the Executive Council approved a plan to relocate the depot to facilities in Sai Wan Ho and Sai Ying Pun. The stated reasons included anticipated operating-cost savings and the reduction of noise affecting nearby residential buildings. Following the relocation of the Wan Chai depot, the site was surrendered to a Wharf associate in 1988. Planning the redevelopment was complicated by the residential character of the surrounding area. The Town Planning Board required that the new project should not include additional residential space, directing the development toward office and retail use. Wharf had already disclosed draft plans in 1987 for approximately 1.6 million square feet of commercial accommodation. In 1991, the developer announced a more developed scheme comprising approximately 186,000 square metres and an estimated cost of HK$2 billion. The project encountered financing difficulties in an environment affected by Wharf's debt levels and uncertainty about Hong Kong's political future. Nevertheless, construction proceeded, and Times Square opened on 13 April 1994. Its design responded to Hong Kong's expensive land market by concentrating retail accommodation vertically. The shopping centre occupies nine retail levels and is connected to the street through a substantial podium, long escalators and a high atrium. It became one of Hong Kong's best-known vertical malls rather than a conventional low-rise suburban shopping centre. The completed complex contains approximately 83,700 square metres of retail space and 102,300 square metres of office accommodation. Two office towers, designed by Wong & Ouyang, form the office component. They have been identified by several names over time, including Tower One, Shell Tower and NatWest Tower, reflecting the common practice of associating buildings or sections with major tenants. The complex is directly linked to Causeway Bay MTR station through an underground passage and is also served by trams, buses, minibuses and taxis. Times Square developed into a major retail and event destination. Lane Crawford and city'super became important anchors, while the mall accommodated fashion, luxury, lifestyle, dining and entertainment operators. A major refurbishment completed in 2015 introduced express escalators and altered the atrium and service arrangements. The cinema operation later changed from UA Cine Times to an Emperor Cinemas venue, which reopened after renovation at the end of 2021. The plaza also created a highly visible civic and commercial setting. From 1993 to 2014, the complex staged a New Year's Eve event modelled on New York's Times Square celebrations, lowering an apple-shaped object from signage before midnight. Times Square stopped holding the event in 2015 and adopted an afternoon concert programme for the holiday period instead. The legal and social status of the piazza generated continuing controversy. A deed of dedication reserved about 3,010 square metres of ground-floor space for public access, pedestrian passage and passive recreation, while permitting the owner to organise exhibitions and charge fees. The use of part of the area by Starbucks between 2003 and 2005, followed by complaints about security guards asking people not to linger in the space in 2008, led to criticism and management apologies. The disputes contributed to a broader Hong Kong campaign for clearer rules governing privately owned public spaces. The government subsequently pursued litigation concerning fees allegedly connected with use of the piazza, making the dispute a potentially important test of the deed's interpretation. Times Square remains a functioning mixed-use complex and a significant commercial landmark in Causeway Bay.

• 2021

  Emperor Cinemas venue reopens

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  The renovated cinema replacing the former UA Cine Times venue reopened at the complex.

• 2015

  Shopping-centre refurbishment completed

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  The retail complex completed a refurbishment involving escalators, atrium improvements and revised service access.

• 1994

  Times Square opens

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  The Causeway Bay shopping and office complex opened on 13 April.

• 1991

  Detailed commercial development announced

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  Wharf announced plans for a roughly 186,000-square-metre office and retail complex with estimated construction costs of HK$2 billion.

• 1988

  Depot site surrendered for redevelopment

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  After the depot relocation, the site was surrendered to a Wharf associate for redevelopment.

• 1986

  Tram-depot relocation approved

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  The Executive Council approved relocation of the tram depots from the Wan Chai area to Sai Wan Ho and Sai Ying Pun.

• 1974

  Wharf acquires Hong Kong Tramways

  [1]Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org

  Hong Kong Tramways entered Wharf's corporate orbit, establishing the ownership connection that later enabled redevelopment of the Sharp Street depot site.

A landmark, centrally located luxury and lifestyle shopping destination integrated with premium office space and a major public-transport interchange.

• Luxury and lifestyle retail · 1994

  Times Square shopping centre

  The retail component is a nine-level vertical shopping centre designed for Hong Kong's high-density urban environment. It combines luxury fashion, department-store merchandise, lifestyle brands, restaurants and entertainment within a large podium linked to Causeway Bay's pedestrian and rail network. Lane Crawford and city'super have served as principal anchors.

• Commercial offices · 1994

  Times Square office towers

  The office component consists of two towers designed by Wong & Ouyang, providing centrally located commercial accommodation above and beside the retail podium. The towers have been known by names including Tower One, Shell Tower and NatWest Tower, reflecting historical tenant associations. International and local businesses have occupied the buildings.

• Cinema and entertainment · 2021

  Emperor Cinemas at Times Square

  The complex's former UA Cine Times cinema was renovated and converted into an Emperor Cinemas venue. It reopened at the end of 2021, extending the entertainment offer of the shopping centre.

• 2008

  Complaints about security enforcement in the piazza

  Visitors complained that private security guards attempted to prevent people from lingering in the publicly accessible area. Management apologised for what it characterised as over-zealous guards, and the incident contributed to wider debate over privately owned public space.

  Source

• 2005

  Dispute over Starbucks use of public open space

  Part of the piazza was leased to Starbucks between 2003 and 2005. The company described the arrangement as an unintentional oversight and said it was corrected after notification from the Buildings Department, prompting scrutiny of the site's public-access obligations.

  Source

• Government litigation over piazza fees

  The Hong Kong government brought a High Court action against Times Square Ltd and Wharf Group seeking rental fees allegedly associated with use of the Causeway Bay piazza. The proceedings were viewed as potentially significant for interpreting the deed governing the space.

  Source

Read more

• 1993Times Square New Year's Eve apple drop

  Hong Kong

  Times Square staged a public New Year's Eve celebration inspired by the ball-drop tradition associated with New York's Times Square. An apple-shaped object was lowered from signage as midnight approached.

  Outcome. The event continued through 2014 before being replaced by an afternoon holiday concert programme in 2015.

  Source

• 2021

  Reopen renovated cinemaProduct launch

  Background

  The former UA Cine Times cinema underwent renovation as the cinema operator changed.

  Action taken

  Emperor Cinemas opened the renovated venue at the end of 2021.

  Aftermath

  The reopening maintained cinema and entertainment use within the mixed-use complex.

  Source

• 2015

  Replace the New Year's Eve event formatStrategy

  Background

  The complex had hosted an annual apple-drop celebration from 1993 through 2014.

  Action taken

  Times Square discontinued the midnight event and moved to an afternoon concert series during the holiday season.

  Aftermath

  The change ended the site's long-running local version of the New York-style countdown spectacle.

  Source

• 1987

  Wharf proposes office and retail redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The former tram-depot site was available for redevelopment in a dense district where planning authorities did not want additional residential accommodation.

  Action taken

  Wharf unveiled draft plans for approximately 1.6 million square feet of office and retail space.

  Aftermath

  The proposal evolved into the Times Square mixed-use complex that opened in 1994.

  Source

1. 1Times Square (Hong Kong)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Times Square official websitetimessquare.com.hk