Putting customers first, SHKP has excelled in developing premium properties and providing thoughtful service over the years. SHKP was named a Platinum Trusted Brand, the highest honour, by Reader's Digest for the 15th consecutive year, and was selected by consumers as the most trusted developer in Hong Kong. SHKP's Wilson Parking (Holdings) Limited won the platinum award in the car park category, and APM received the gold award in the shopping mall category. The Group's two property management subsidiaries, Hong Yip and Kai Shing, were recognized with gold awards in the property management category. 

SHKP recruits local and overseas undergraduates every year through its Summer Internship Programme for various departments and business units. Apart from providing work opportunities, SHKP arranges on-the-job training to help interns identify their strengths and unleash their potential. This year, 17 young people joined SHKP's Summer Internship Programme. During the recent orientation session, the company arranged for the interns to visit the iconic International Commerce Centre, whose daily operations deeply interested them. With this eagerness to learn, we are convinced that they will greatly benefit from the upcoming two-month internship.

The ultra-high speed, low latency, mass connectivity of 5G is bringing a lot of changes to life, work and entertainment. SHKPNews recently invited the SmarTone team to introduce the newly launched 5G network and the all-new living experience it has brought about.

Seamlessly connecting 4G and 5G

SmarTone is dedicated to providing users with fast, stable, seamless connections. SmarTone's 5G network leverages Ericsson's market-leading Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) technology to quickly provide wide network coverage across the city. Network resources are utilised efficiently, so SmarTone can provide 4G and 5G services simultaneously with the same spectrum and users can be switched between the 4G and 5G spectrums in no time, ensuring fast, stable, seamless connectivity.

Driving the 5G ecosystem

To bring in more creative 5G services, SmarTone established the Innovation Hub in 2017 and started working with different corporate partners and start-ups to build a 5G ecosystem to drive 5G digital transformation across all industries and contribute to Hong Kong's smart city development.

The company is constantly adding new functions to the SHKP Malls App and expanding The Point by SHKP to cover more shopping malls in order to leverage the application of new technology to elevate the shopping experience.

More shopping malls covered by The Point by SHKP

Since its launch, The Point by SHKP, the well-received SHKP malls integrated loyalty programme, has brought an all-new shopping experience to consumers with the SHKP Malls App. This year, HomeSquare, K-Point and Uptown Plaza were added to the scheme, which now covers 20 SHKP shopping malls. Members can earn points for every purchase at participating malls, which they can redeem for great offers and rewards.

In addition, the SHKP Malls App recently introduced the 'Biometric Authentication' function, which allows members to log in with a facial map or fingerprint in place of a password, providing quicker and easier reward redemption.

The 20 participating malls in The Point by SHKP

Upgraded Contactless Parking experience

After launching Hong Kong's first Contactless Parking service last year, SHKP recently rolled out another new initiative – Auto Payment Parking service. After activating this new function, users can enjoy a truly seamless driving experience. With automatic number plate recognition, members can drive in and out of the car parks of designated SHKP malls without stopping to tap their card. The gate arm rises automatically and the parking fee is deducted automatically from the credit card registered in The Point by SHKP account when the member leaves the mall. 18 SHKP malls with Contactless Parking now provide Auto Payment Parking service.

The 18 SHKP malls that provide Contactless Parking and Auto Payment Parking service

In alignment with SHKP's 'continuous improvement' spirit, Hong Yip has introduced new technology applications in Tsuen Wan Plaza in recent years, implementing smart shopping mall management in its existing facilities.

With advances in Internet of Things technology, the team has installed sensors in various facilities in Tsuen Wan Plaza in the past few years. Colleagues can monitor the mall's real-time data, such as brightness, temperature and humidity, so that necessary adjustments can be done in a timely manner, providing customers with a comfortable shopping environment. The team also installed sensors in the mall washrooms and rubbish bins. An alert is sent immediately if the water overflows or when a rubbish bin is full, so designated staff can handle problems right away.

To provide shoppers with peace of mind, the team has constantly elevated the shopping mall's hygiene level. The mall uses heat mapping technology to assess footfall so that more cleaners can be deployed to busier areas for higher clean-up frequency, and has two cleaning robots to clean and sanitize the floors.

In addition to day-to-day management, Hong Yip trains colleagues using VR and AR technologies. This not only enhances their learning experience, but also makes it easier for them to absorb new knowledge and improve their overall work performance. Technology is ever-evolving, so Hong Yip will continue to introduce new technology applications to continue to improve its service.

The portfolio of TOWNPLACE, SHKP's residential leasing brand for millennials, includes TOWNPLACE SOHO, in Central, and TOWNPLACE KENNEDY TOWN, both conveniently located. The neighbourhoods blend the hustle and bustle of city life with a local leisure lifestyle. Now let's look at these two chill-out living spaces. 

Duo Social Space

Millennials are on the lookout for quality life. In addition to the comfort and character of their apartment, common space is very important to them. TOWNPLACE KENNEDY TOWN and TOWNPLACE SOHO feature an integrated Duo Social Space with about 30,000 square feet to connect 'TOWNERs' from the two projects. Facilities range from TOWNPLACE SOHO's sky garden, swimming pool and outdoor yoga area to TOWNPLACE KENNEDY TOWN's sky gym, with a panoramic seaview, and space for leisure and work.

Diverse interior design

TOWNPLACE provides flexible leasing options, including various leasing terms, furnishing styles and hospitality services, to personalize every stay.  Flexible leasing terms range from one month to multiple years. On top of that, on offer are three types of housing options – serviced, furnished, and unfurnished apartments. TOWNPLACE KENNEDY TOWN offers one- to three-bedroom apartments, some featuring a spacious balcony, while TOWNPLACE SOHO provides studios to four-bedroom apartments, with all three-bedroom apartments enjoying a stunning harbour view.

TOWNPLACE KENNEDY TOWN

TOWNPLACE SOHO

Smart living

At TOWNPLACE properties, technology is applied in various ways to enhance the overall quality of life. 'TOWNERs' can enjoy high-speed business grade Wi-Fi in both properties. Also, with a dedicated mobile app, 'TOWNERs' can use smartphone authentication technology to open their apartment's electronic door lock^ and get notified when they receive post in their mailbox, which is equipped with a smart sensor^. By simply using QR codes generated by the mobile app, residents can access the lobbies and different facilities, replacing residence cards, and allow visitors to access the estates with an electronic pass.

'TOWNERs' need only download the TOWNPLACE App or Google Home Mini smart speaker^ to control the home automation system. They can also browse information, and book laundry and housekeeping services through the TOWNPLACE App for hassle-free living.

In addition, TOWNPLACE provides online and offline interactive services. By logging in to the TOWNPLACE mobile app's MY TOWN page, 'TOWNERs' can sign up for exclusive workshops, browse 'TOWNERs'-only discount offers, or connect with like-minded 'TOWNERs' for leisure or work. The brand’s Community Team organizes a variety of exciting exclusive events, such as floral art and yoga classes, to help build a close-knit community.

The company is now presenting the TOWNPLACE staff referral scheme. Colleagues who successfully refer a new resident can receive a referral bonus. For more details, please contact Elee Lee (Tel: 2828 7896) or Ronnie Chung (Tel: 2828 5147).

^ Some facilities/equipment/services are applicable only to TOWNPLACE SOHO
* Subject to terms and conditions

SHKP runs the annual Quality Raising Suggestion Scheme and Work Safety Suggestion Scheme to encourage innovation and quality improvement at work. While the award-presentation ceremony of this year's SHKP Quality Campaign was held in a webinar because of the coronavirus pandemic, participants enjoyed a fulfilling experience exchanging innovative ideas and learning from each other.

Gold award winner: Virtual Mock-up (Mock-up V), by the Construction Department – BIM Team
• Leveraged Building Information Modelling (BIM) and virtual reality technology to create virtual mock-up models that replace traditional mock-up models.

Silver award winner: InterCom Next (video door-phone system), by Hong Yip and Lik On
• Developed a mobile app to replace traditional wall-mounted intercom units, allowing residents to verify their guests anytime, anywhere.

Bronze award winner: Magic Mirror (smart information sensor), by Project Management Department and Kai Shing
• Installed sensors in shopping mall toilets to estimate footfall at different times of the day through data analysis. They can also automatically display advertisements and mall promotion campaigns to boost consumption.

Gold award winner: Flood panels and anti-wind support, by Superpower Pumping Engineering Co. Ltd.
• Installed anti-wind support, flood panels and pumping systems to protect building facilities and customer property to reduce damage and losses from bad weather.

Silver award winner: Danger zone identification system, by the Construction Department’s site no. 240 in Kwun Tong
• Built a danger zone identification system using smart helmets and smart phones, which prevents accidents by setting off an alert if someone gets too close to heavy machines when they are in use.

Bronze award winner: Lift monitoring dashboard, by Hong Yip
• Used cloud applications and big data analysis to monitor lift safety and related incident information of various buildings in real time. The system can also submit reports automatically to help improve safety and work efficiency.

SHKP has been actively engaged with the Hong Kong X-Tech Startup Platform (HKX) in recent years to support and empower young people in pursuit of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. To strengthen our support for local startups, SHKP and HKX will co-organize X Tech Talk – a regular series of events to share the latest technology trends in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. In April, a two-day webinar series was held as a warm-up event for X Tech Talk. SHKP, along with experts from the E-Commerce Association of Hong Kong, eBay, Indiegogo and others, shared with our colleagues and small and medium-sized enterprises some of the latest retail trends and explored how businesses can leverage digital strategies to meet the current challenges.

For the latest X Tech Talk updates, please visit the Facebook page of the Hong Kong X-Tech Startup Platform.

Hong Kong is moving into the 5G era. Providing more than just a faster internet speed, 5G will help develop the Internet of Things (IoT), with its low-latency advantage, and bring about major changes for different industries. In recent years, SHKP’s Construction Department has partnered with SmarTone to implement smart management at the 98 How Ming Street construction site. It incorporates new technology, such as artificial intelligence, image analytics, cloud and IoT, to provide a new understanding of site works.

Comprehensive online management

KM Chan, Project Manager of the Construction Department, said that the department’s Information Technology team developed a Construction Management System to put smart management into practice. Documents such as drawings, project information, construction plans and methods, and paperwork with consultants can be uploaded to the cloud for processing. This facilitates more convenient data retrieval and helps promote a paperless office. Through mobile phones or computers, staff can gain cloud access to construction progress reports, 360-degree and time-lapse site photos, workers’ attendance records, power consumption analysis of large equipment, the hand tool inventory system with QR codes, and other assets. This significantly boosts management efficiency and allows staff to keep better track of construction progress.

Implementing the SmartWorks solution

The site at 98 How Ming Street also uses SmartWorks, a solution developed by SmarTone and the first-prize winner in the construction safety category in the 2019 CIC Construction Innovation Awards. Nick Yau, Technical Sales Manager at SmarTone, explained that the solution equips workers with a smart helmet, which allows supervisors to keep track of the time workers enter and exit the site and check their real-time health condition through IoT sensors and GPS tracking. The smart helmet also has an emergency button, which can send an SOS signal automatically or manually by the workers in the event of an accident.

SmartWorks also features a danger alert and access control functionality to allow supervisors to predefine controlled areas and ensure that all workflows comply with the safety regulations. To enhance safety at the site, a radar system installed on heavy machines sets off an alert if someone gets too close, while facial recognition and smart video analytics ensure that only authorized personnel can enter a restricted area. All dump trucks are equipped with GPS trackers to fully automate the recording and monitoring of traffic routes. Image-recognition technology records registration plate numbers, checks whether the back of dump trucks are covered properly, and ensures that the dump truck disposes of construction waste at the designated location.

KM Chan added that smart transformation at the construction site has helped improve the efficiency of the workforce. He said that SHKP will continue to adopt new technologies to enhance product quality, construction efficiency and safety at its construction sites.