17th April 2025 – (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has announced the Well Being·Start-Up 2.0 Programme, marking a significant expansion of its support for youth entrepreneurship. This initiative introduces a public-private partnership model, increasing the scope and scale of entrepreneurial opportunities for young people. The programme aims to inject vitality into the retail landscape while fostering innovation and community development.
To further assist young entrepreneurs, the HA will provide a three-year staged rental scheme with discounted market rents. This phased approach allows participants to allocate resources toward business development while gradually adapting to standard market rental rates. Annual reviews will be conducted to ensure the programme supports sustainable growth for entrepreneurial teams. In this phase, the HA has increased the number of its shops to 12, creating more opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
The programme’s launch event, held at Domain in Yau Tong, was attended by key figures, including the Secretary for Housing and HA Chairman, Ms. Winnie Ho, and the Permanent Secretary for Housing and Director of Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee. The Chairman of the HA’s Commercial Properties Committee, Ms. Serena Lau, along with programme mentors and commercial sector representatives, also participated. The event celebrated the success of the first phase and recognized outstanding entrepreneurial teams with awards such as Best Business Plan and Most Creative Product.
Ms. Ho highlighted the programme’s broad support across various sectors and its expanded scope in Well Being·Start-Up 2.0. The initiative will now include private shopping centres, enabling commercial partners to collaborate in providing entrepreneurial opportunities. This expansion increases the total number of shops available to young entrepreneurs to approximately 50, a five-fold increase compared to the first phase. Ms. Ho emphasized that the programme represents a synergy of public and private efforts, fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hong Kong.
Private shopping centres and landlords are encouraged to join the initiative, and more than 10 organisations have already pledged their support. These commercial partners will offer around 40 additional shops and pop-up stores, tailoring programmes to meet the diverse needs of young entrepreneurs. This collaboration aims to create mutual benefits for residents, retail tenants, and the broader community while driving innovation in the local retail sector.
The Well Being·Start-Up 2.0 Programme is a milestone in promoting youth entrepreneurship in Hong Kong. By expanding its reach through public-private partnerships, the initiative seeks to enable young entrepreneurs to develop their careers, contributing to the city’s economic vitality and community growth.
