Members of the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (HKGTA) have written to the Legislative Council to protest a plan that would allow members of Carlyle & Co to use the HKGTA’s Town Club, a move they say breaches the spirit of their agreement. The Town Club, opened in 2022 on the 24th floor of the New World Tower, is described as a “hidden gem” in the city’s heart. HKGTA members worry that sharing the venue would dilute exclusivity and make lunchtime reservations harder.

A lifetime HKGTA family membership costs HK$2.68mn ($342,000) plus a HK$2,800 monthly levy, while Carlyle & Co charges an initial fee of HK$88,000 ($11,200) or HK$40,000 for under‑33s and a HK$2,400 monthly subscription. Members fear the resale value of their memberships could drop to HK$1mn if the club’s exclusivity erodes.

The clubs are overseen by the Cheng family; Sonia Cheng, granddaughter of founder Cheng Yu‑tung, heads Rosewood Hotel Group and is an executive director at New World Development. Rosewood says the changes aim to place the Town Club on a “more resilient and sustainable footing”.