Lease Break @ 6months - what can I do??? Pls help

I relocated to HK in April and have been living in my apartment for around 6 months now. My lease is a 'standard' 12+2 break, but now my building has suddenly decided to undergo a massive renovation of the entire place - which will last until at least May 2012 (approximately the earliest I can easily break my contract).


My landlord doesn't seem willing to agree to let me break my lease early despite the fact that the rent I previously agreed to was based on the fact that I wasn't living in a construction zone for the majority of my time in the building!


I just want to move somewhere else - but don't understand my rights clearly. My landlord says that even if I were to leave early - I would need to pay the entire rent due up to my 12+2 break date... which clearly I can't afford.


I'm pretty surprised by this as everywhere else I've lived - if I gave up my deposit - that would at least mean I would be in the clear and could move on with my life.


Pls pls help - I wanted to propose to my girlfriend in December - but at this rate - she already hates HK and this never-ending construction certainly isn't going to help much.....


(Btw - my landlord has offered to reduce my rent by a massive... 1k HKD... so generous..)

As an additional note - I have been able to dig up proof that as recently as 1-2 months before I moved in - the building was having active discussions to undergo a renovation.


I specifically was looking for a property that would NOT have any construction in the foreseeable future. In the states - if a landlord doesn't fully disclose something that will significantly change the quality of the living experience - it would be cause to break a lease.


Would the same be true for HK?


Pls - any thoughts appreciated.