Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club secures new 3-year lease for premises, although duration of tenancy reduced, national security clauses added
- The FCC’s existing seven-year lease at the historic Old Dairy Farm Depot at 2 Lower Albert Road ends on January 1
- Government spokesman says that after careful consideration, it has offered the FCC a new tenancy for a fixed term of three years at market rent
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) has secured a new three-year lease on its premises in Central, although the government has more than halved the duration of the tenancy and added clauses related to national security.
The FCC’s existing seven-year lease at the historic Old Dairy Farm Depot at 2 Lower Albert Road ends on January 1, and the club earlier had submitted a request to the government to renew it.
In a reply to the Post’s inquiries, a government spokesman on Wednesday said that after careful consideration, it had offered the club a new tenancy for a fixed term of three years at market rent, starting on January 2.
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club seeks lease renewal of premises in Central
The spokesman said the renewal was in line with a new leasing policy of setting the duration of tenancies for all historic buildings let out by the Government Property Agency to not more than three years.
“This allows a certain degree of flexibility in the use of these historic buildings, and meets the government’s policy and objectives and the development needs of Hong Kong better at different times,” he said, adding a three-year term provided an appropriate duration for the tenant to make arrangements for its operations.
The spokesman also said the authorities had introduced standard clauses in the new tenancy to safeguard national security and to sufficiently protect the government’s rights and interests.
Hong Kong FCC axed human rights press awards to avoid risk of jail
He added that all new tenancy agreements for premises let out by the Government Property Agency had standard clauses to safeguard national security in accordance with existing policy.
Asked about the addition of the national security-related terms in the FCC’s new tenancy agreement, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said: “I think it is very sensible that if a location is being used to act against the national interests of our country, why should we allow them to use the premises? I think this is a very simple question.”
In an announcement to members on Wednesday, FCC president Keith Richburg confirmed the extension of the tenancy to January 1, 2026, adding that the club expected to sign the new lease in coming days.
He said the new version contained other provisions which were now standard in all government leases, including allowing the authorities to terminate it at any time with three months’ notice, or immediately if in the interests of national security.
While acknowledging that the past few years were challenging for the club, Richburg said: “With our immediate future now secure, we can continue to be the world’s best press club and we look forward to welcoming all members to continue enjoying our unrivalled ambience and hospitality.”
He also announced club fee increases to strengthen its financial position, including raising monthly subscriptions for all categories of membership by HK$100 to HK$1,200 from January 1. Joining fees for “associate” members will rise to HK$45,000, while those for new correspondent and journalist members will increase to HK$3,850 from January 21.
The club’s membership is a mix of correspondents and journalists, and non-media members known as associates, including bankers, lawyers, PR executives and businesspeople.
CY Leung dares FCC to surrender lease in row over Andy Chan talk
The FCC has rented the premises, a grade one historic building, since 1982. The club last year revealed that it paid a monthly rent of HK$610,000.
The current lease, which started in January 2016, was signed in December 2015.
However, the club has been involved in controversies and targeted by the city’s pro-establishment camp in recent years, with former chief executive Leung Chun-ying challenging the FCC to give up its lease in 2018 after the club gave a platform to separatist party leader Andy Chan Ho-tin to deliver a speech.
The FCC suspended its annual Human Rights Press Awards this year, citing legal concerns. The Post learned that the decision was made after now-defunct online outlet Stand News was slated to win nine titles at the event. The news outlet shut down last December after seven members were arrested for publishing allegedly seditious material.
