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Link REIT
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===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|ι ε―η£ε―|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>
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