Hong Kong strong

The Hong Kong property market features some of the most sought-after real estate in the world – and the prices to match. The stakes and volatility at play in this fierce arena require a different kind of mindset to traditional real estate agents. Decisions must be made without hesitation. It is a place where experience counts.

That’s something Colliers Hong Kong Managing Director CK Lau has in spades. A 35-year veteran of valuation, real estate consultancy and investment sales in Asia, Lau says thinking global is the best way to maximize opportunities for success.

Colliers Leaders’ Forum: (from left) Laurence Liauw, Roger Nissim, Kathy Lee, Rebecca Wong, Kar-kan Ling, Bernadette Linn, CK Lau, Christopher Law, Andrew Chan, King L Chow, Aaron Lee and Shaman Chellaram

“I’ve been in the industry for a long time,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “During that time I’ve mainly worked as a valuer, and when I joined Colliers in 2019, it was as Managing Director of Asia Valuation & Advisory Services.”

In 2022, Lau was invited to take on the role of Managing Director of Colliers Hong Kong. He accepted, but with a caveat.

“I wanted to stay in the development field, because this is a professional service I provide for my clients, and I wanted to keep in touch with the very strong Colliers Hong Kong team,” he recalls.

New way of thinking

Colliers Hong Kong is among one of the fastest-growing publicly traded investment management companies in the region. Lau says the company makes great use of its globalized standards to empower local business leaders and develop strategies that meet the needs of the Hong Kong market.

“We’re a very fast-growing company and you can see that in terms of market capitalization. We’re number three in our peer group, which means we’ve grown very quickly in the past 10 years in particular,” he says. “At a time when I was thinking about a switch in career, Colliers was a fantastic opportunity.”

In collaboration with

Shaw Foundation

Maintaining a portfolio of properties to generate funds for its charitable causes. Maintaining a portfolio of properties to generate funds for its charitable causes.

Now, Lau works to aid that growth and take the core values of Colliers to the market.

“I like the idea that one of those core values is enterprising,” he reveals. “We empower the leaders in the local arena and we have the size to allow our people to realize their ideas to help grow the company.”

Lau’s idea involved dramatically growing his team, which has more than doubled in size since he joined.

“These are ideas I’d had for some time, but wasn’t able to implement at my previous firm,” he says. “I needed a fresh environment that supported a new way of thinking.”

Lau says his thoughts are constantly on his people.

“If you want to grow, you need to grow your people in number and capability,” he insists. “Our people are our biggest assets and the services they provide to clients set us apart from the competition.”

The quality of those services, from valuation and advice to investment expertise, is what defines Colliers Hong Kong, but Lau believes even that sector has room for growth.

Economic Forum – Financing Land Creation for Hong Kong’s Future

“My long-term mission is to develop more of our people into trusted advisors in the market,” he explains. “I want them to become leaders in the areas of service we provide, from advisory work, agency work, investment management and valuation. But for that, you have to have the right strategy.”

That means wanting to be in first place and having the right skill set in place to get there.

“I’m a big believer that advisors need to be thought leaders for clients or the community,” he says.

The future of Hong Kong

Colliers has taken the lead in that regard during the development of Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, which represents around 30 percent of the city’s total area.

“We’ve done a lot of research, engaged in dialogue, published reports and written articles to support the development of the Northern Metropolis,” Lau says. “We have to think about the future of Hong Kong, whether it’s in terms of accommodation or land supply.

---

“Colliers is a leading global diversified professional services company that provides exceptional service and expert advice to clients. They employ diverse ways of thinking, innovation and the best solutions to meet clients’ unique needs. They also fully grasp every opportunity and their employees are passionate and responsible. I have had great pleasure of working with them for the past 30 years.” – Augustine Wong, Executive Director, Henderson Land Development Company

---

Advertisement

“Student housing or senior living are critical, so we’re using our relationship with the government to lobby for change in certain regulations and to create policy to improve that. We’ll continue our efforts in this area.”

Making Hong Kong a better place is an admirable goal for a real estate firm, which Lau believes will help attract a greater clientele for Colliers.

Through strong collaborations, a firm understanding of its environment and the ability and experience to make quick and impactful decisions, the company is in a strong position to help the city flourish.

“Our research and functional expertise will attract more clients and keep them loyal as we continue to grow.”

In collaboration with

Shaw Foundation

Maintaining a portfolio of properties to generate funds for its charitable causes. Maintaining a portfolio of properties to generate funds for its charitable causes. Read More