# School Construction Cost Planning: Mei Foo, Hong Kong SAR, China > Mei Foo school cost planning using the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index of 141.8, plus a GeoNames-based local comparable-search shortlist. - Canonical: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-mei-foo-hk/ - Last updated: 2026-09-15 - Data source: National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/HKG/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames HK dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/HK.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 12640681). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | National construction PLI | 141.8 (World Bank ICP 2021; World = 100) | | Screening ratio to world | 1.418 (dimensionless PLI ÷ 100; not a city location factor) | | Locality reference | 22.3372, 114.1386 (GeoNames ID 12640681) | | Snapshot population | 45,990 (37 of 50 listed Hong Kong SAR, China places) | | Nearest listed peer | Mei Foo Sun Chuen · 0 km (great-circle distance between GeoNames reference points) | | Estimate currency | HKD (obtain a current local rate and named base date) | ## Direct answer For early school construction cost planning in Mei Foo, the World Bank ICP reports a 2021 Hong Kong SAR, China construction price-level index of 141.8, with the world equal to 100. This is a national comparison—not a Mei Foo HKD/m² rate or tender estimate—so replace it with current local evidence before budgeting or procurement. The observation covers construction across Hong Kong SAR, China in 2021; it does not measure a Mei Foo market basket or current school tenders. GeoNames 12640681 records the locality at 22.3372, 114.1386, with snapshot population 45,990. That ranks Mei Foo 37 of 50 listed places, while Mei Foo Sun Chuen is the nearest listed peer at about 0 km. Use these facts only to plan the comparable search. Obtain current local rates on a consistent area basis, then reconcile scope, taxes, fees, contingency and escalation. Retain the source, base date and reviewer when local evidence replaces the screening ratio. *Content and cited inputs reviewed by [Scott Barrington](https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barrington), Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-15.* ## What does the 141.8 construction index mean? The World Bank ICP 2021 construction PLI for **Hong Kong SAR, China is 141.8**, compared with a world benchmark of 100. It is a national spatial price comparison assembled for the 2021 reference year. It does not say that school work in Mei Foo costs 1.418 times a current world rate. ## Which Mei Foo inputs are known? The reproducible locality point is **22.3372, 114.1386** (GeoNames 12640681). Its snapshot population is **45,990**, ranked 37 of 50 listed places; GeoNames classifies it as a populated place in administrative area KSS. These facts shape the local comparable search, not the price. ## What must a project estimate add? For a Mei Foo school project, reconcile teaching spaces, specialist rooms, safeguarding, sports provision and external works. Use a consistent gross-floor-area basis and record the following before reliance. | Estimate field | Screening record | Project requirement | | --- | --- | --- | | National context | ICP 2021 PLI 141.8 | Retain only as dated cross-country context | | Local HKD/m² rate | Not supplied | Current comparable with named source and base date | | Area and scope | Gross floor area; scope unresolved | Measurement standard, specification and procurement route | | Additions | Not supplied | Taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation | | Review | Automated source and arithmetic QA | Qualified local cost review | ## Mei Foo comparable-location search screen This shortlist is computed from the checked GeoNames snapshot. Distance and population help prioritize where to request comparables; neither is used as a cost multiplier. | Listed place | Great-circle km from Mei Foo | Snapshot population | Admin area | | --- | ---: | ---: | --- | | Mei Foo Sun Chuen | 0 | 37,299 | KSS | | Nam Cheong | 2 | 74,780 | KSS | | Sham Shui Po | 2 | 431,090 | KSS | | Kwai Chung | 3 | 331,600 | NKT | | Mong Kok | 4 | 62,967 | KYT | | Ping Shan | 18 | 45,400 | NYL | | Kai Tak | 6 | 42,552 | KKC | | LOHAS Park | 15 | 50,000 | NSK | ## Price-level normalization worksheet For a validated reference rate **R** from a country with construction PLI **P**, the transparent screening calculation is **R × (141.8 ÷ P)**. At P = 100 the dimensionless ratio is 1.418; no world cost rate is asserted. Keep the reference rate's currency, base date, area basis and scope attached. | Input | Recorded value | Release condition | | --- | --- | --- | | Target national PLI | 141.8 (World = 100, 2021) | Screening context only | | Reference construction PLI P | User-supplied from the same ICP classification/year | Must match reference rate country | | Validated reference rate R | User-supplied | Named source, currency, date, area and scope | | Local Mei Foo adjustment | Not asserted | Replace with current local comparable evidence | | Result status | Screening normalization | Not a budget, quote or tender estimate | ## Where can you explore related guidance? - [Explore all construction costs guidance](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs.md) - [Office Construction Cost Planning: Mei Foo, Hong Kong SAR, China](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/office-construction-cost-mei-foo-hk.md) - [House Construction Cost Planning: Mei Foo, Hong Kong SAR, China](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/house-construction-cost-mei-foo-hk.md) - [Retail Construction Cost Planning: Mei Foo, Hong Kong SAR, China](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/retail-construction-cost-mei-foo-hk.md) - [School Construction Cost Planning: Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Hong Kong SAR, China](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-mei-foo-sun-chuen-hk.md) - [All construction costs guidance for Hong Kong](https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/hong-kong.md) - [Daylight & Orientation: Mei Foo, Hong Kong](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/daylight-orientation-mei-foo-hk.md) - [Solar Altitude & Azimuth: Mei Foo, Hong Kong](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-altitude-azimuth-mei-foo-hk.md) - [Solar Shading Design: Mei Foo, Hong Kong](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/solar-shading-design-mei-foo-hk.md) - [Sun Path: Mei Foo, Hong Kong](https://harth.build/resources/solar-data/sun-path-mei-foo-hk.md) ## Sources and method National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/HKG/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames HK dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/HK.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 12640681). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate. ### Source links - [api.worldbank.org](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/HKG/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) - [worldbank.org](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data) - [download.geonames.org](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/HK.zip) ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the 141.8 index give a school cost per m² for Mei Foo? No. 141.8 is the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index for Hong Kong SAR, China, with the world equal to 100. It is a cross-country screening statistic, not a Mei Foo HKD/m² rate, escalation index, quote or tender estimate. ### How should a Mei Foo school estimate replace this screening benchmark? Collect current Mei Foo comparables on a consistent gross-floor-area basis, reconcile teaching spaces, specialist rooms, safeguarding, sports provision and external works, and state base date, currency, taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation. A qualified local cost professional should review the resulting project estimate. --- - Continue in Harth (open this topic in the Harth agent): https://app.harth.build/agent?context=%2Fresources%2Fconstruction-costs%2Fschool-construction-cost-mei-foo-hk%2F - View this page in a browser: https://harth.build/resources/construction-costs/school-construction-cost-mei-foo-hk/ - All resources for agents: https://harth.build/llms.txt