Hong Kong’s struggling retail market has prompted landlords to offer significant discounts, creating opportunities for brands, particularly those from mainland China, to secure prime retail spaces at lower costs. Mainland Chinese brands have been rapidly expanding, with new leases surging by 215 percent in the first seven months of the year. Cushman & Wakefield expects leasing demand to continue growing, driven by popular mainland retail and food chains. For instance, Shanghai-based children's apparel brand Balabala plans to open its 11th and 12th Hong Kong stores in November, each occupying over 1,000 sq ft in key retail locations.