Cinema fans among crowds packing new Tai Wai mall

Tens of thousands of people thronged the new landmark mall in Tai Wai - The Wai - at the weekend following a soft opening on Saturday that included the first-ever cinema in Tai Wai.

That resulted in people being forced into long lines to take the escalator from Tai Wai MTR station to the mall with the rail operator deploying staff at exit B to control the flow of people.

A couple from Ma On Shan was at the new cinema to catch a movie yesterday and for shopping using the consumption vouchers.

They were pleasantly surprised by many fashion stores offering discounts.

However, the couple found it difficult to get movie tickets as "many were already sold out."

Located atop the MTR station, the four-story mall, which houses around 150 merchants in 650,000 square feet, is the only large mall in the district.

The 15th shopping center developed by MTR Corp will be officially opened in the fourth quarter with a new footbridge connecting to Tai Wai station.

David Tang Chi-fai, director of MTRC's property and international business, said that 97 percent of space in the shopping mall has been leased out. Ninety percent of those were opened on Saturday, with the remaining outlets due to open next month.

The remaining 10,000 square feet, accounting for 3 percent, will be put on hold until later this year depending on customers' feedback on the types of businesses they wish to have in the shopping center, said Tang.

The MTRC said The Wai is a large-scale community facility rather than a shopping mall, to serve residents in the district with carefully considered catering, leisure facilities and public facilities. "It's not just a shopping center. It's more of a community facility for local residents," said Tang.

In addition to the first-ever cinema of the district - Emperor Cinemas Plus+ - The Wai also houses the first branch of the 98-year-old Japanese udon restaurant Yamatoya, the first Nintendo official store and the largest supermarket Market Place in Hong Kong.

Those who like to cycle may enjoy a ride to the mall as The Wai has the largest bicycle parking lot in Hong Kong with 330 parking spaces.

In addition, there is a two-story open-air pet park, which makes it convenient for animal lovers wanting a break or a spot of shopping.

One pet lover, Hung, who brought along her dog yesterday, found the park convenient as there are toilets for pets and garbage bins for collecting feces.

Legislative Council member Peter Shiu Ka-fai, who represents the wholesale and retail sector, said stores at The Wai are diversified and meets public needs.

The mall, he said, not only benefits Tai Wai residents but also people from elsewhere. He pointed out that in the past, there was only one large mall - New Town City Plaza - in Tai Wai and Sha Tin, but now "there is one more choice in the area if residents want to go to other places for dining and shopping in addition to Festival Walk."