Located on the south side of Hong Kong Island, just over six miles from Central, Repulse Bay is one of the territory’s most sought-after districts. Anecdotally named for pirates who once populated the area but were repulsed after the arrival of the British Royal Navy in 1841, colonial settlers were quickly seduced by the bay’s charms, which remain bountiful to this day.
Far removed from the quintessential image of Hong Kong as a condensed concrete jungle, Repulse Bay is an exclusive coastal enclave encapsulated not by its urban composition but by its proximity to the beach and spectacular views out across the South China Sea. Add to this a resort-like ambience, accessibility to luxury amenities and a property market where demand greatly exceeds supply, and it comes as little surprise that it is such a desirable area.
Boundaries
Repulse Bay is bordered by Deep Water Bay to the west, Red Hill to the east, Wong Nai Chung Gap and Tai Tam to the north, and Chung Hom Kok and Stanley to the south.
Price range
The property market in Hong Kong continues its meteoric rise, and this is equally true of Repulse Bay, where sea views and limited availability drive prices up further still.
"There are very few properties on the market for sale at the moment," said Edina Wong, senior director of residential services at Savills, Hong Kong.
The average saleable price per square foot for Hong Kong property in January 2018 was HK$12,382 (US$1,583), according to Midland Realty. By comparison, the minimum price per square foot in Repulse Bay is HK$45,000 (US$5,752) and a townhouse begins at about HK$250 million (US$32 million), although properties can reach far beyond that, Ms. Wong said.
In Repulse Bay, the average price for a 1,700-square-foot apartment is around HK$50 million (US$6.4 million), according to Jenson Au of Christie’s International Real Estate in Hong Kong, while a townhouse in a complex can range from HK$200 million (US$26 million) to HK$900 million (US$115 million).
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Housing stock
Luxury high rises offering spectacular ocean vistas monopolize Repulse Bay’s architectural offerings, and consequently the majority of homes available are apartments, most with access to facilities, such as swimming pools, gyms, gardens and parking spaces.
And although units in the city are small in comparison to other cities around the world, those in Repulse Bay tend toward the larger end and all take advantage of the abundance of natural light. "Most of the housing there offers very nice sea views," Ms. Wong said.
"The area is dominated by The Repulse Bay Complex, owned by the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group, which is the holding company responsible for The Peninsula Hotels and numerous luxury developments, and Sun Hung Kai’s development at number 3 Repulse Bay Road," Ms. Wong said.
However, it is not exclusively condominiums. Repulse Bay is also home to glass-fronted water-side duplexes, modernist-inspired townhouses, neoclassical villas and a Sir Norman Foster-designed residential complex, almost all of which have been built in the past 40 years.
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What makes it unique
The presence of green-covered mountains and the ocean give Repulse Bay excellent feng shui, something that has been capitalized on as the district has developed. Famously, The Repulse Bay Complex incorporates a large opening, or "dragon gate" as it’s called, so that the mythical creatures can pass through.
Mr. Au noted that the beach and all of the commercial facilities surrounding it make Repulse Bay a popular choice for families. However, he believes that its appeal lies more in its unhurried yet upmarket coastal vibe, something that is particularly rare in Hong Kong.
Ms. Wong agreed, adding that, "Repulse Bay has been one of Hong Kong’s gilded enclaves since the 1920s when the Repulse Bay Hotel was completed... It’s really as close as Hong Kong gets to the French Riviera."
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Luxury amenities
Despite its relative detachment from the hustle and bustle of the city, Central can be reached by car in just 20 minutes, although there is no reason to leave the immediate area much at all. As Ms. Wong points out, Repulse Bay is within the catchment area of a number of the best private international schools in the city (Hong Kong International School, Canadian International School of Hong Kong and Singapore International School among them), as well as 10 minutes from the newly opened Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital.
Daily amenities and dining options abound at premium shopping mall The Pulse, which opened in 2014. It is host to a number of international restaurants—including relaxed, beachfront eatery Limewood, authentic Balinese restaurant Tri and French fine dining spot The Ocean, which received its first Michelin star in 2017—a high-end supermarket and a range of lifestyle boutiques.
Who lives there
Due to its proximity both to esteemed educational establishments and the beach—where children can play under lifeguard supervision on the gently sloping sand—Repulse Bay is a magnet for high-net-worth families and professionals, including a significant number of expats, many of whom are employed in the city’s financial sector.
Tin Hau and Kwun Yum Statues along Repulse Bay, Hong Kong
Joe Chen Photography / Getty ImagesNotable residents
Cheng Yu-tung, the late billionaire founder of New World Development Group, lived in the area, and his eldest son, Cheng Kar-shun, current chairman on New World Development, now lives in his home. Guzheng (traditional Chinese stringed instrument) master Zou Lunlun and Angela Leong On-kei, executive director of Macau gaming operator SJM Holdings and the fourth wife of Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun, also live in the neighborhood.
Hong Kong celebrity Nicholas Tse Ting-fung is also said to own property in Repulse Bay, and several high-ranking government officials are believed to live in the district. too.
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Outlook
"This is an investment into a prime location," Ms. Wong said. "Property values should maintain, especially for those properties that offer unobstructed sea views."
Resale is also close to guaranteed, she said, as most owners are reluctant to sell, while demand continues to increase.