The Wai

The Wai, also known by its Chinese name Wai Fong, is a shopping centre in Tai Wai, Hong Kong. It opened on 22 July 2023 as part of a transit-oriented development associated with the MTR Corporation. The centre is located beneath the residential estate Pavilia Farm and is directly connected to Tai Wai station, placing it at the junction of local rail, bus, minibus, pedestrian and residential networks. It is described as the third-largest shopping mall in the eastern New Territories. The centre contains approximately 650,000 square feet, or about 60,000 square metres, of total floor area across four storeys. Its facilities include roughly 150 shops, an outdoor green area of approximately 50,000 square feet, an indoor car park with 390 spaces, and a bicycle parking facility with 330 spaces, reported at the time of opening as Hong Kong's largest. The mall also includes 18 electric-vehicle charging stations and solar-power installations, reflecting an effort to combine retail development with transport access and selected sustainability features. The tenant mix is designed to serve both daily-needs customers and destination visitors. Notable facilities at opening included a large Market Place supermarket, reported as the largest of the chain's Hong Kong branches at that time, and Emperor Cinemas Plus+, a six-screen cinema with 912 seats and the only cinema in Tai Wai when the centre opened. Other retail and food-and-beverage tenants support the centre's role as a neighbourhood shopping and leisure destination rather than a luxury-focused regional mall. The building was designed by Ronald Lu and Partners, with interior design by P&T Group. Its pedestrian network links the mall with Tai Wai station, nearby residential developments, northern Tai Wai and other surrounding areas through several footbridges. A public transport interchange beneath the shopping centre provides access to bus and minibus routes and taxis. MTR station exit B connects with the mall, while exit H links directly to the third floor and elevated platform 3. The development also generated local criticism before and during construction. A government-backed works plan involved removing one branch of an existing footbridge over the junction of Mei Tin Road, Che Kung Miu Road and Hung Mui Kuk Road. Sha Tin District councillors objected that the change would divert pedestrians through the mall and lengthen the route between street level and the footbridge. Demolition began in 2022 and was completed in August 2023. Shortly after opening, on 24 July 2023, a 64-year-old woman was attacked inside the mall by two people who subsequently escaped. The incident was reported as a criminal matter; the available reference does not establish a broader brand scandal or a confirmed corporate responsibility finding. The Wai remains an active Hong Kong shopping centre managed by MTR Corporation. Its identity is based on convenience, connectivity, community retail, transport integration and mixed-use development surrounding Tai Wai station.

The Wai was developed as part of the expanding mixed-use environment around Tai Wai station in Hong Kong's New Territories. The centre sits beneath Pavilia Farm, a private residential estate also managed by MTR Corporation, and was planned as a retail and leisure component of a wider transit-oriented development. Its location enables direct interchange between the shopping centre, the MTR network, local bus and minibus services, taxis and nearby residential communities. Ronald Lu and Partners designed the main structure, while P&T Group handled the interior design. The completed centre has four storeys and approximately 650,000 square feet of floor area. Its planning combines conventional retail space with transport and public-facing facilities, including an outdoor landscaped area, an indoor car park, extensive bicycle parking, electric-vehicle charging points and solar-power installations. The design places particular emphasis on pedestrian movement, with links to Tai Wai station, surrounding housing estates and northern parts of Tai Wai. The centre opened on 22 July 2023 with about 150 shops and a mix intended to cover everyday consumption, dining and entertainment. Market Place operated a large supermarket branch, while Emperor Cinemas Plus+ introduced a six-screen, 912-seat cinema and was reported as the only cinema in Tai Wai at the time. The Wai consequently functions both as a neighbourhood convenience centre and as a larger destination serving passengers and residents from across the district. Before opening, aspects of the surrounding pedestrian infrastructure became contentious. A construction plan required the removal of one branch of a complex footbridge above the junction of Mei Tin Road, Che Kung Miu Road and Hung Mui Kuk Road. Sha Tin District councillors criticised the proposal because pedestrians would be redirected into the mall and would need more time to reach the footbridge from ground level. Works began in 2022 and the branch was ultimately demolished in August 2023. The mall also received news attention after an incident on 24 July 2023, when a 64-year-old woman was attacked by two people who then fled. The available reference reports injuries to her eye area and chest and states that the suspects had not been arrested. The incident is recorded as a security-related news event rather than a substantiated corporate scandal. The Wai continues to operate as an MTR-managed shopping centre focused on retail, food, entertainment and transport-linked community use.

• 2023

  The Wai opens

  [1]The Waien.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre opened on 22 July 2023 with approximately 150 shops, a large supermarket, cinema facilities, transport connections and integrated parking and mobility infrastructure.

• 2023

  Footbridge branch demolition completed

  [1]The Waien.wikipedia.org

  The disputed footbridge branch was fully removed in August 2023.

• 2022

  Footbridge demolition works begin

  [1]The Waien.wikipedia.org

  Demolition began on a branch of the existing footbridge affected by the construction plan for The Wai. The change had drawn objections from Sha Tin District councillors because of its expected effect on pedestrian routes.

A transit-oriented neighbourhood shopping and leisure centre serving Tai Wai and the surrounding eastern New Territories, combining everyday retail, dining, entertainment and transport connectivity.

• Shopping centre services · 2023

  Retail and dining environment

  The Wai provides approximately 150 retail, food-and-beverage and service units across a four-storey shopping centre. Its tenant mix is intended to support routine neighbourhood shopping while also attracting visitors from the surrounding MTR catchment and residential estates.

• Supermarket · 2023

  Market Place

  Market Place was one of the centre's notable opening tenants. Its branch at The Wai was reported as the largest of the chain's 43 Hong Kong supermarkets at the time of opening, making it a major daily-needs anchor for local residents and commuters.

• Cinema and entertainment · 2023

  Emperor Cinemas Plus+

  Emperor Cinemas Plus+ operates a six-screen cinema with 912 seats at The Wai. It was described at the centre's opening as the only cinema in Tai Wai, giving the mall a leisure function in addition to its retail and dining offer.

• Transport and mall infrastructure · 2023

  Mobility and sustainability facilities

  The centre includes an indoor car park with 390 spaces, a 330-space bicycle parking facility, 18 electric-vehicle charging stations and solar-power facilities. These features support its role as a transit-linked development and broaden access beyond private-car users.

• 2022

  Proceed with footbridge branch removalStrategy

  Background

  The mall's construction plan affected a complex footbridge over a major Tai Wai junction. Local councillors argued that removing one branch would make pedestrian access slower and would redirect users through the shopping centre.

  Action taken

  Demolition works proceeded in 2022 and the affected branch was completed removed in August 2023.

  Aftermath

  The pedestrian-routing dispute remained a notable local issue associated with the development. No financial impact is identified in the available reference.

  Source

• 2023

  The Wai opens in Tai Wai[1]The Waien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Wai opened on 22 July 2023 as a large shopping centre connected to Tai Wai station and the Pavilia Farm residential development. Its opening added a major retail and leisure destination to the eastern New Territories.

• 2023

  Footbridge branch demolition completed after local objections[1]The Waien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A branch of a pre-existing footbridge near the mall was removed under the construction plan. Sha Tin District councillors had objected that the change would redirect pedestrians through the mall and make the route longer. The demolition was completed in August 2023.

• 2023

  Woman attacked at The Wai shortly after opening[1]The Waien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  On 24 July 2023, the third day after opening, a 64-year-old woman was attacked by two people at the shopping centre. She suffered injuries near her eye and to her chest, while the attackers escaped and had not been arrested according to the cited reference.

1. 1The Waien.wikipedia.org