Not near the mid-levels HK escalator, you’ll struggle running a business in HK (SoHo)

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

AJ Halkes
February 9, 2026
12:30 pm

If you’re not near the mid-levels Hong Kong escalator, you’ll struggle running a business South of Hollywood Road in Hong Kong (SoHo). Development has fundamentally altered the area; it remains a question mark.

I was involved in the start of liquor and F&B growth when Thomas Goetz coined the SoHo name, others like Jean Paul Gauci were building their first businesses, Eclipse Group was starting, and from Bacar and McSorley’s to Taku, Stauntons and Enoteca, new openings flowed fast, along with wine and beer!

Via a landmark Municipal Services Appeals Board case win, I secured improvements in licensing hours, unlocked the business potential of Staunton Street, Elgin Street and surrounding areas, plus got 11 pm open fronted designs allowed to flourish; SoHo became a Hong Kong food destination, to compete with Lan Kwai Fong. Diners would later go to Lan Kwai Fong for drinks, the determined even went on to Wan Chai.

Since Posto Publico closed, the site at the centre of this photo has been empty, even with regulated construction, years of noise, dust and nuisance damaged all lunch trade across the area, and led to multiple closures.

Hot spots do exist along the escalator and at junctions on Staunton Street and Elgin Street, but walking east or West, the results become patchy.

Is it a smart move to rent (for a great price) now and hope Soho regains its former glory? Or is it wise to stay away, given the construction and demolition? It depends on your risk tolerance because people are still making profits; Elgin Street (to me) now looks likely to face yet more construction soon, so beware.

But the people who got in early, the ones who drove progress and took a gamble, did very well out of SoHo for a long time, in Hong Kong terms!

If you need specific input regarding a strategic Hong Kong challenge or related legal matters in the HKSAR, you can always DM me and check out my profile at https://www.ajhalkes.com

HongKong SohoHK hashtagFNB UrbanDevelopment CommercialRealEstate Entrepreneurship CityPlanning HospitalityIndustry #SmallBusiness HKBusiness RiskReward FoodGambling LiquorLicensingHours

Not near the mid-levels HK escalator, you’ll struggle running a business in HK (SoHo)

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

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