This year, tech giants are making waves in Hong Kong's real estate market. Following Alibaba's lead, JD.com has now acquired a prime property in the city.
According to a December 9 announcement by Hong Kong’s Lai Sun International, the sale of Surearn Profits Limited’s entire equity involves a property valued at HK$3.498 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed as early as January 2026.
The underlying asset of the deal includes partial office floors in the China Construction Bank Tower, a Grade A commercial skyscraper jointly developed by Lai Sun Group and China Construction Bank in Hong Kong’s Central district. The buyer is an investment entity controlled by JD.com.
JD.com stated that it remains optimistic about its prospects in Hong Kong and will continue investing in supply chain infrastructure to integrate retail, logistics, and R&D operations into the local market.
This property acquisition is not an isolated move but part of JD.com’s systematic expansion in Hong Kong, which dates back to 2015 when the company first established logistics and e-commerce operations there.
Over the past two years since upgrading its services in Hong Kong and Macau in 2023, JD Logistics has seen its daily parcel collection volume surge over 50-fold. The company has also introduced differentiated services such as "4-hour delivery in Hong Kong," "pickup and delivery until 10 PM," and "next-day delivery in Hong Kong and Macau." Cross-border parcel volume between mainland China and Hong Kong has grown by more than 130 times.
JD.com has significantly accelerated its Hong Kong expansion this year: - In March, it launched its Hong Kong Island Operations Center, hiring over 100 additional couriers. - In August, it completed the acquisition of Hong Kong supermarket chain Kee Bo, gaining a network of 90+ stores. - In September, it partnered with China Resources Land to announce the first JD MALL in Hong Kong, set to open in Wan Chai in 2026. - In November, it established a joint AI lab with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to advance AI applications in super supply chains.
JD.com founder and chairman Richard Liu also visited the university in March to explore AI projects.
Beyond retail, JD.com is diversifying its business. In October, a JD subsidiary obtained a Hong Kong insurance brokerage license, valid until October 2028, marking its official entry into the local insurance market.
The strategic rationale behind JD.com’s high-profile property purchase is clear. Hong Kong serves as the preferred gateway for Chinese internet companies expanding overseas. For JD.com, the city bridges its domestic supply chain with key Southeast Asian markets.
While the acquisition is labeled for "self-use," its deeper significance lies in positioning Hong Kong as a testing ground for "supply chain exports and local resource integration." With its international business environment and proximity to the Greater Bay Area’s 60 million consumers, Hong Kong offers an ideal location for refining cross-border supply chains.
This move also underscores Hong Kong’s role as a pivotal hub in JD.com’s globalization strategy. In July, the company announced plans to acquire and privatize Germany’s Ceconomy, owner of European electronics chains MediaMarkt and Saturn.
JD.com isn’t alone in its Hong Kong push. In October, Alibaba and Ant Group jointly announced a HK$7.2 billion investment to purchase the top 13 floors of One Island East in Causeway Bay for their Hong Kong headquarters.
Other tech giants are also doubling down on Hong Kong: Tencent and ByteDance have long-established presences, while Xiaohongshu opened its first overseas office there in June. Meituan’s international food delivery brand Keeta turned a profit in October.
This collective southward shift is reshaping Hong Kong’s economic landscape. Traditionally an entry point for global brands into mainland China, the city is now evolving into a testing ground for Chinese supply chains expanding overseas.
For Hong Kong, the influx of mainland firms brings new business models, technologies, and jobs. For these companies, the city serves as a critical outpost for testing international strategies and refining global operations.
As tech giants bet big on Hong Kong, the e-commerce sector is poised for transformation. The next phase of competition will hinge not just on products and pricing but on cross-border supply chain efficiency, localized service ecosystems, and compliance adaptability.
Hong Kong, as a "super connector," offers these companies a unique pressure-testing environment and innovation incubator. What began as property acquisitions may well accelerate the emergence of a new global e-commerce and digital services landscape centered around the city.
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