Co-working spaces are places where one can rent a desktop in a place shared by other users for a very flexible period of time. Shared offices are nothing new. However, co-working spaces provide more than just work space. Apart from basic services like meeting rooms, storage and WiFi, they may also provide business advice, mentoring, rental and cash subsidies as well as sources of funding for projects of the entrepreneurs and other freelancers occupying such workplaces. The origin of co-working spaces can be traced to coffee shops where freelancers enjoy free WiFi and space at the cost of a few cups of coffee for several hours. What is more important is the opportunity of human interaction in coffee shops where one cannot find in a home-office setting. 

In the last couple of years, co-working spaces have been growing rapidly in Hong Kong from a few locations to more than 40. In 2015, the city is ranked the fifth fastest growing start-up ecosystem in the world. The presentation will explain the different typology of co-working spaces and their characteristics in Hong Kong. Examples in other cities are also examined. It is argued that whether co-working spaces will become a new business model remains to be seen. Equally uncertain is whether co-working spaces would herald a new social movement of workplace emphasizing on collaboration, openness, community, sustainability and accessibility. What is more certain though is the wider potential impacts of technology-driven start-up companies have had on land uses and the property market, which will be briefly mentioned in the presentation.