Editing Link REIT (section)

==Reception==

===Economic hardship on lower classes===
The Link was called a "bloodsucker" by [[Housing_estate#Hong_Kong|public housing estate]] residents after the company acquired the Housing Authority shopping centres, [[renovation|renovated]] them, and raised rents. This has led to local shops being pushed out, higher prices, and the dominance of chain stores within the estates.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=Joyce|last2=But|first2=Joshua|title='Callous' career man Victor So takes helm of Urban Renewal Authority|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1255044/callous-career-man-victor-so-takes-helm-urban-renewal-authority|accessdate=29 August 2014|work=South China Morning Post|date=7 June 2013}}</ref><ref name=scmpapr12/> This trend has reduced entrepreneurship opportunities for lower income people in Hong Kong's public housing estates and new towns, diminishing their chances to achieve [[social mobility]],{{cn|date=September 2024}} and has increased the cost of living.

A 2012 campaign by The Link to promote "nostalgic restaurants" in its shopping centres was widely derided on social media as hypocritical. Users on [[Hong Kong Golden Forum|Golden Forum]] and Facebook wrote that the company "first killed the shops, then makes money from their death" and criticised the company for only allowing chain stores in their properties.<ref name=scmpapr12>{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Ada|title=Hundreds hit out at Link Reit 'hypocrisy'|work=South China Morning Post|date=11 April 2012|page=3}}</ref>
In 2006, The Link cut thousands of staff, a move "fiercely criticised by unionists, who said Link Management had dishonoured a pledge to protect the welfare of its frontline workers when it took over the operation from the Housing Authority". The Link replied that "the job cuts were in line with private practice".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wu|first1=Helen|title=Link Reit to shed at least 1,400 jobs. Unionists say management ignored promises to protect non-skilled workers|work=South China Morning Post|date=30 May 2006|page=1}}</ref>

By mid 2015, NGO Link Watch ({{zh|領匯監察|labels=no}}) published a report that showed big chains made up 76 per cent of the 2,075 shops in 22 shopping centres run by the firm, but the Link's CEO claimed, "We continue to maintain roughly 60 per cent of our shops leased to smaller operators."<ref name=scmp1866365/>

Anti-Link REIT protests have become increasingly common in recent years.<ref name="cancels">{{cite news|last1=Yuen|first1=Chantal|title=Residents protest as Link REIT cancels meeting about rent hikes, outsourcing|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/06/residents-protest-link-reit-cancels-meeting-rent-hikes-outsourcing/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=6 May 2016}}</ref> Link REIT headquarters in [[Kwun Tong]] has been the site of demonstrations, scuffles, and sit-ins, leading the company to seek a court order to bar activists from entering the building.<ref name="courtorder">{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Gene|title=Link REIT seeking court order to bar activists from entering HQ after protest|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/04/29/link-reit-seeking-court-order-to-bar-activists-from-entering-hq-after-protest/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=29 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Security guards bar Link Reit protesters|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=74363|work=The Standard|date=5 May 2016}}</ref>

===Market management===
[[File:Cheung Fat Modern Market.JPG|thumbnail|Cheung Fat Market, rebranded by The Link as "Cheung Fat Modern Market"]]
In addition to indoor shopping centres, The Link also acquired many local estate markets in 2005. Such markets are covered facilities with small stalls and shops let out to local residents, generally offering fresh meat and vegetables as well as daily necessities and home wares. As with the shopping centres, The Link has raised rents and also renovated some properties, leading to increased [[food prices]] and financial hardship on low-income households.<ref name="hkfpcheungfat1">{{cite news|last1=Yuen|first1=Chantal|title=Stall owners to close up shop for 7 days in anger over outsourcing of market management|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/15/stall-owners-angry-over-link-reit-outsourcing-of-market-operations/|work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]]|date=15 February 2016}}</ref>

In [[Tin Shui Wai]], where The Link exercises a near-monopoly on commercial space, the company was criticised by local residents and Legislative Councillors in 2015–16 for planning to convert the Tin Yiu Market into a conventional shopping centre.<ref>{{cite web|title=Conversion of Tin Yiu Market by Link Asset Management Limited|url=http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr15-16/english/panels/hg/papers/hg20151207cb1-230-6-e.pdf|publisher=Legislative Council|date=7 December 2015}}</ref> The market supplies fresh vegetables, meat, and fish to residents of the surrounding public housing estates. The next closest market is 5 to 10 minutes' walk away.

Stall operators at Cheung Fat Estate on [[Tsing Yi]] have gone on strike, in 2010 and 2016, to protest rent increases.<ref name="hkfpcheungfat1"/> By the latter strike it was reported that rents had doubled in ten years. Some local residents stated that they visit a government-run market in Tsuen Wan instead owing to the higher prices at Cheung Fat.<ref name="hkfpcheungfat1"/> The Cheung Fat stall owners also protested the [[outsourcing]] of the market's management to Uni-China (Market) Management Limited, which they feared will lead to untenable rent increases.<ref name="hkfpfeature">{{cite news|last1=Yuen|first1=Chantal|title=Feature: Paranoia and fear in the fight to save Cheung Fat Market|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/24/feature-paranoia-and-fear-in-the-fight-to-save-cheung-fat-market/|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=24 February 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Leung King Estate Roadblock against hawkers 20160210.jpg|thumbnail|Barriers set up by management at Leung King Estate against hawkers]]
Uni-China (Market) Management also manages the market at Leung King Estate in Tuen Mun, which is also owned by The Link.<ref name="hkfpfeature"/> In February 2016 a group of men dressed in dark jackets with "manager" (管理員) printed on the backs acted in an intimidating manner toward [[Hawkers in Hong Kong|hawkers]] in the area of the shopping centre since 2 February. More than 200 showed up to protest against the men combating hawkers on the night of 8 February. Some minor clashes broke out between the self-proclaimed managers and the protesters, and required mediation by the police.<ref name=20160208hk01>{{cite news|url=http://www.hk01.com/%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E/6400/-%E6%96%B0%E6%98%A5%E5%B0%8F%E8%B2%A9-%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%BF%E9%A0%98%E5%B1%95-%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E5%93%A1-%E7%A6%81%E9%8C%AE%E8%89%AF%E6%99%AF%E5%B0%8F%E8%B2%A9-%E5%B8%82%E6%B0%91%E8%81%B2%E6%8F%B4%E7%88%86%E8%A1%9D%E7%AA%81|work=HK01|title=【新春小販】不滿領展「管理員」禁錮良景小販 市民聲援爆衝突|date=8 February 2016}}</ref> Two protesters were arrested and one reporter was injured during the clash.<ref name=mingpao1454961216>{{cite news|url=http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160209/s00001/1454961216461|newspaper=Ming Pao|date=9 February 2016|title=良景邨夜市爆衝突 記者被推倒在地 兩男子被捕}}</ref>

Conflicts between the management and the public reoccurred on the night of 9 February. The men were filmed beating up protesters while police stood by and prevented others from being involved. A reporter was also beaten up by the control team.<ref name=nextmedia54743942>{{cite news|title=惡煞「管理員」暴力趕良景小販 高永文避答|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20160210/54743942|date=10 February 2016|newspaper=Apple Daily}}</ref> A 31-year-old man was arrested for causing disorder in a public place. He allegedly interfered with a worker performing his duties at Leung King Estate. The Link REIT distanced itself from the clashes and denied the hawker control team was part of its staff.<ref name=scmp1911453>{{cite news|title='I will be here until they kill us' – street vendors at Hong Kong estate defiant after simmering unrest turns violent|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1911453/i-will-be-here-until-they-kill-us-street-vendors-hong-kong|date=10 February 2016|newspaper=South China Morning Post|first1=Owen|last1=Fung|first2=Eddie|last2=Lee}}</ref>

===Illegal wastewater discharges===
In 2016 the [[Environmental Protection Department]] initiated prosecution against the Link REIT under the [[Water Pollution Control Ordinance]] because wastewater from the Mei Lam Shopping Centre, owned and managed by the Link, was being illegally discharged into the [[Shing Mun River]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Management company fined for illegal wastewater discharge into Shing Mun River|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201611/01/P2016110100370.htm|publisher=Hong Kong Government|date=1 November 2016}}</ref> The company was fined $15,000 in November 2016 and ordered to rectify the situation immediately.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chung|first1=Flora|title=Link fined for dumping wastewater in river|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=175813|work=The Standard|date=2 November 2016}}</ref>

===Bloodsucking landlord===
Due to its history as monopoly landlord of community shopping malls, controversial business ethics and unfriendly treatment to neighbourhoods, small business owners and investors. The company is well known as a "bloodsucking landlord"<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-06|title=工黨社民連斥領展「吸血鬼」 促減租與小商戶渡時艱 {{!}} 獨媒報導|url=https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1071347|access-date=2021-06-26|website=獨立媒體}}</ref> as bipartisan parties has put it over the years for its unyielding fist on its tenants. According to Richard Harris's opinion, Link Reit has been widely considered a "corporate monster" in Hong Kong partly responsible for the city's socioeconomic issues.<ref name="mountains">{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Richard |title=Hong Kong's three 'mountains' — the MTR, MPF and Link Reit – are now the foothills of an Everest of public discontent that Carrie Lam must climb |url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/3040578/hong-kongs-three-mountains-mtr-mpf-and-link-reit-are-now-foothills-everest |work=South China Morning Post |date=6 December 2019}}</ref>

=== Ill managed rodent issue during COVID-19 ===
In Aug 2020, dozens of rats were found crawling over fresh pork laid on the floor outside the vendor during the early hours in Link REIT's [https://www.linkhk.com/en/shop/26528 Sau Mau Ping wet market].<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 Aug 2020|title=Link-REIT closes vendor for rats on pork|work=The Standard|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/153167/Link-REIT-closes-vendor-for-rats-on-pork|access-date=26 Jun 2021}}</ref>

=== Effects of renovation on air quality and pollution ===
{{seealso|Renovation|Construction dust|Particulates|Paint|Formaldehyde|Welding|Power tools}}
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