Hong Kong, 27 March 2024 – UBS (the “Bank”) today held a topping out ceremony for its new office building in Hong Kong, which is part of the High Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus Development, a mega project of Sun Hung Kai Properties (“SHKP”). The topping out ceremony was officiated by Mr. Sergio Ermotti, Group CEO of UBS Group AG; Mr. Iqbal Khan, President, UBS Global Wealth Management; Mrs. Amy Lo, Chairman, UBS Global Wealth Management Asia, Head and Chief Executive of UBS Hong Kong; Mr. Raymond Kwok, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties; and Mr. Eric Tung, Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Mr. Lo King-wai, General Manager (Office Leasing) of Sun Hung Kai Real Estate Agency.
Expected to start taking possession of its space in early 2026, UBS will be the first anchor tenant of this mega project, occupying the entire fourteen floors of the tower closest to the harbour, complete with a private lift lobby and a captivating rooftop garden. Designed by world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, the new UBS Hong Kong office will feature some of the world’s leading sustainability standards, in addition to meeting the highest sustainability requirements of UBS, as well as wellness elements to support the well-being and experience of staff with a state-of-the-art office environment.
At the topping out ceremony today, the Bank exchanged a green lease agreement with SHKP, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality. The agreement sets out applicable laws, certifications and standards that will be managed by SHKP to enhance the building’s overall environmental and wellness performance.
Mr. Sergio Ermotti said, “Hong Kong is a strategic market for UBS in Asia. For six decades, we have demonstrated our commitment to the growth of the city and to our clients who trust us to provide best-in-class financial advice. Our new office building marks an exciting new chapter for UBS as it will bring all of our Hong Kong operations under one roof, enhancing collaboration across all business divisions and facilitating the continued growth of our franchise.”
The Bank’s new office is strategically located atop the West Kowloon high-speed rail station and within walking distance to the Airport Express and the West Kowloon Cultural District, which houses world-class cultural attractions such as the Palace Museum and M+. It is part of the mega development by SHKP in the West Kowloon district, which is one of the most vibrant locations in Hong Kong, offering a unique blend of CBD functions and cultural amenities, as well as convenient connectivity to the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the rest of the world.
Mrs. Amy Lo said, “The excellent location of UBS new office underscores our confidence in Hong Kong as an international financial centre and its unrivalled role as a 'super-connector’ bridging Mainland China and global markets, where we continue to see exciting opportunities. UBS aims to be the go-to bank for entrepreneurs in GBA, leveraging Hong Kong as a key gateway with our deep- rooted footprint and holistic coverage. Our new Hong Kong office will support our long-term business expansion and enhance the well-being and productivity of our colleagues through features and amenities that were created with our teams during the design process.”
Mr. Raymond Kwok said, “We are deeply honoured by UBS’ decision to choose this tower of our new mega development as their Hong Kong headquarter. This choice is a testimony of UBS’ trust in our dedication to delivering exceptional building quality and best-in-class holistic asset management. The development is set to be one of the most sustainable structures in the world, and its completion will surely elevate the status of West Kowloon as a thriving business and cultural hub, further cementing Hong Kong’s status as a world-class financial centre.”
The new building is part of the SHKP’s landmark project, which provides 2.6 million square feet of premium office space and some 600,000 square feet of retail space. It will also provide over 100,000 square feet of open space, including an outdoor observation deck open to the public, and will be connected by a 1.5-kilometre-long walkway linking Jordan and Yaumatei with the West Kowloon waterfront. It has already attained the highest ratings across major sustainable building pre- certification programmes, including LEED and BEAM Plus.
About UBS
About UBS
UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 5.5 trillion dollars of invested assets as per second quarter 2023.UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions, and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Media contacts:
Fiona Chan, +852 2971 8837 / 9676 7515 / fiona-y.chan@ubs.com
Joyce Lam, +852 2971 8409 / 9336 2519 / joyce-zc.lam@ubs.com
