November 8, 2007



Tenders invited for Kai Tak cruise terminal

The Government will invite tenders for the development of a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak starting tomorrow. The successful bidder is expected to design, build, operate, manage and maintain the new cruise terminal for 50 years and begin operating the first berth in February 2012.

The Tourism Commission today said the Government plans to close the tender on March 7, after the completion of relevant statutory processes under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance and Foreshore & Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance, and to award the tender in the second quarter of 2008.

Tenderers are expected to fulfil a minimum requirement of three years' immediate experience in operating a cruise terminal with a minimum annual throughput of 200,000 embarking and disembarking homeport passengers.



Service agreement

The successful tenderer will be required to enter into a service agreement with the Government. The service agreement incorporates the successful tenderer's proposals and service pledges for the operation and management of the new cruise terminal. It will be co-terminous with the land lease.


The Government will adopt a two-envelope tender approach, with 70% weighting to be given to the quality aspects and 30% to the premium aspects in assessing the bids.


The tender assessment panel, chaired by the Commissioner for Tourism and comprising representatives of the relevant Government bureaus and departments, will assess the bids' technical aspects as well as the operation and management aspects.


International experts appointed by the Tourism Commission and Civil Engineering & Development Department wil advise the panel on the bids. The experts will act as consultants and provide input on cruise terminal operation and engineering aspects.



Expert advice available

The Legislative Council's Economic Development Panel Chairman Jeffrey Lam and Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau will serve as advisers to the panel on tourism and marketing aspects.



The Institute of Architects and Institution of Engineers are invited to each nominate a member to advise the panel on architectural and engineering aspects.



More information will be uploaded onto the Lands Department's website tomorrow. The Tourism Commission will also launch a designated web page tomorrow.

Kai Tak cruise papers studied
10 November 2007
South China Morning Post

Developers and cruise operators yesterday began studying government plans to redevelop the site of the former Kai Tak airport to include a cruise terminal .

A spokesman for Star Cruises said it was studying the tender documents and could not comment on the tendering exercise. "We are very supportive of the government on this issue," he said. The tender process opened yesterday.

Star Cruises operates the 1,287-passenger Star Pisces, the Wasa Queen with room for 608 guests and the SuperStar Aquarius, which can accommodate 1,529.

Spokesmen for developers Sun Hung Kai Properties and Henderson Land Development also said they were busy studying the project.

The deadline for the tender is March 7 and the government expects to award it in the second quarter of next year.

The first berth is scheduled to be commissioned by February 2012.

The successful bidder will be subject to a 50-year service agreement that specifies certain requirements. They include seeking government approval for any changes in the project team members during the initial stages and organising a market forum to promote Hong Kong as a regional cruise hub.

It is the first time the government has put the new cruise terminal project up for tender. In 2005, during the Kai Tak Planning Review, expressions of interests were invited for the development of a new cruise terminal at a location other than Kai Tak, resulting in six submissions. They were rejected due to technical difficulties.

The new Kai Tak terminal will feature a cruise terminal building for hotels, convention halls, offices, shops and dining areas totalling not more than 50,000 square metres. There will also be about 30,000 square metres of space for baggage handling, passenger waiting and queuing, customs, immigration and a health quarantine area.

9/26

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stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HK plans to become hub for maritime tourism
Vince Chong, Hong Kong Correspondent
9 November 2007
Straits Times

New cruise terminal to open by 2012 and attract up to 1.4m passengers a year

HONG KONG wants a multi-billion-dollar cruise terminal up and running by 2012 to make the city stand out on the sea tourism map.

The city's government today will start inviting tenders to build the 7.6ha terminal at Kai Tak, a former airport site which itself will be transformed into a leisure hub complete with a stadium, hotels, shops, convention facilities and waterfront homes.

The launch of the terminal project comes after the overall zoning plan for Kai Tak was finally approved yesterday following legislative debates that lasted for over a year.

The fact that the 323ha site is one of the last vacant plots in the city centre available for large-scale development made the long deliberations necessary.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang had earlier named the development of Kai Tak as one of many plans to develop the city's quality of life by improving the living environment, enhancing heritage protection and revitalising historical buildings.

The Victoria Harbour cruise terminal - estimated to cost at least HK$3 billion (S$560 million) - is expected to attract as many as 1.4 million cruise passengers yearly by 2020.

The terminal, the second in Hong Kong, is seen as long overdue as the existing Tsim Sha Tsui facility is plagued by lengthy berthing queues.

The present terminal is also unable to accommodate bigger ships like the 150,000-tonne Queen Mary II, which has to drop anchor at the Kwai Chung container port located some distance from the city centre.

Also, cruise tourists are coming in greater numbers, with more than 400,000 people arriving on cruise ships last year, a hike of almost 27 per cent from the previous year.

Consultancy studies have shown that a new terminal could fetch between US$1.4 billion and US$ 2.2 billion (S$3 billion) annually and generate up to 11,000 jobs by 2020.

The successful tenderer, the authorities said yesterday, will be expected to 'design, build, operate, manage and maintain the new cruise terminal for 50 years', with the first berth to operate by February 2012.

Supporting facilities for services such as customs, immigration and quarantine are to be incorporated in the design.

'With its prominent location, we expect the development to be iconic and project an image befitting the position of Hong Kong as Asia's world city and a major tourist destination,' said a Tourism Commission spokesman.

The commission has also reportedly met the world's three cruise giants - Carnival Cruise Lines, World Caribbean Cruise and Star Cruises - which account for 80 per cent of the global cruise market.

They could use the terminal as their home port, Hong Kong Tourism Commissioner Au King Chi has told the media previously.

The government said yesterday that, to be eligible, tenderers must have at least three years' experience in operating a cruise terminal with a minimum annual turnover of 200,000 passengers.

The government also announced a plan to set up an advisory committee on the cruise industry.

Among other things, the committee will help liaise with neighbouring coastal regions in China to develop itineraries and promote cruise tourism.

It will also look into training and recruitment of talent for the cruise market and related industries.

'The government attaches equal importance to the development of hardware as well as software facilities for the cruise market,' a spokesman said.

Hong Kong’s cruise bidder hunt resumes
12 November 2007
Lloyd's List

TENDERS have reopened for the development of Hong Kong’s new cruise terminal on the site of legendary former airport Kai Tak, writes Mike Grinter.

An attempt to attract two bidders two years ago fell flat due to lack of interest. So this time an advisory committee will be set up in an effort to convince travel operators and cruise lines of Hong Kong’s cruise credentials ready for the new terminal’s proposed opening in 2012.

The government said bidders would be expected to have a minimum of three years’ direct experience in running a cruise terminal with at least 200,000 arriving and departing passengers annually.

The contract for the terminal will run for 50 years. The government will adopt a two-pronged tender approach with a 70% weighting given to quality considerations and 30% to the land premium aspect in assessing the bids.

The tender assessment panel, to be chaired by the commissioner for tourism and on which other government representatives will sit, will assess the technical and managerial aspects of the bids.

The panel will take advice from international experts and independent advisers, including lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung and representatives from the Institute of Architects and Institute of Engineers.

The tendering process will close on March 7, and the winner is expected to be announced in the second quarter of next year.

To make the terminal a regional hub, the government will set up an advisory committee on the cruise industry to seek advice on improving areas such as the supply of workers for the cruise market and working with neighbouring coastal provinces to develop cruise itineraries.

I think Shanghai is a better prospect. China central government should develop Shanghai into maritime hub rather than HK. HK going down...

I think Shanghai is a better prospect. China central government should develop Shanghai into maritime hub rather than HK. HK going down...

Central government does not directly control the developments of Shanghai or Hong Kong. What those two cities want to become is ultimately up to their respective local governments.

There is a greater push to develop secondary ports such as Ningbo and Tianjin. Besides, much of China's container port projects have Hong Kong investor participation. Doesn't hurt to diversify the revenue base at all.

hehe agent1 is another one of those people who have it against hk.

Anyway. I agree with hkskyline. Diversity increases stability.

Runway tip - future site of the cruise terminal (11/11) :

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Race for new hot spots as cruise industry grows
27 November 2007
Hong Kong Standard

Tourists made a total of 450,000 visits to Hong Kong aboard cruise liners in the first nine months of this year - an increase of 150 percent over the same period last year.

The boom has led tourism bodies to explore new cruise destinations in the Greater China region and Asia Pacific, helped by the expected opening of the territory's second cruise terminal at Kai Tak in 2012.

Speaking at a ceremony yesterday to mark the arrival of Star Cruises' redeployed vessel, SuperStar Libra, Hong Kong Tourism Board executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said the cruise industry is now the fastest- growing tourism sector worldwide, and the Asia Pacific region will be the hot spot for growth.

Among the 450,000 cruise visits, more than half were made by tourists who flew here first and toured Hong Kong before boarding cruise liners.

Lau said Hong Kong needs to step up the game amid stiff competition from neighbors to become a regional cruise hub.

Star Cruises - the world's third- largest cruise operator owned by Malaysia's Genting Group - is one of the leading bidders for the Kai Tak cruise terminal project announced on November 9. William Ng Ko-yin, executive director of Star Cruises, said the company is interested in bidding for the project with partners, and hopes to submit its proposals soon.

Tenders will close on March 7 next year.

Tourism commissioner Au King-chi recently met with representatives from Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Hainan provinces in Kunming to discuss the possibility of opening up more destinations for cruise tourists.

Cruise operators are also positioning themselves as Hong Kong steps up efforts to become the region's cruise hub.

The 42,000-tonne SuperStar Libra, which can carry 1,480 passengers, will operate out of Hong Kong until March next year.

At present, Star Cruises is the only cruise operator to have three vessels based in Hong Kong. The other two are SuperStar Aquarius and Star Pisces, while another liner, Virgo, will join the fleet next year.

SuperStar Libra will soon begin cruises to Zhanjiang, Haikou and Sanya in the mainland, Halong Bay in Vietnam and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

Ng said exploring new destinations in the Asia Pacific and the Greater China region will help the group meet its future targets.

"The cruise business must have good connections with nearby countries - having a terminal is not enough,'' he said.

The Tourism Commission said having more cruise vessels based in Hong Kong will strengthen the territory's position as a regional cruise hub.

建築師行建議舊啟德建摩天輪
【19:06】2007年12月18日

http://news.on.cc/ncnews/hknews/img/ncbrka01_20071218190621_big.jpg

【on.cc專訊】 本港一家大建築師行建議在舊啟德機場跑道，興建1個平行轉動「中」字形的橫向摩天輪「香江飛環」，以作為未來新郵輪碼頭的地標。建議中的「香江飛環」高200米，直徑160米，內設商場、餐廳、卡拉OK等。

建築行凱達環球董事總經理施家殷表示，政府對有關建議反應正面，他希望發展商方面也感興趣。

Looks like a space station

Here is the English version :
Green spin on proposal for Kai Tak tower
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Architects of Macau's Venetian casino have proposed a landmark building for Hong Kong combining the best of the Eiffel Tower and London Eye.

The proposed Hong Kong Spin would be a carbon-neutral signature landmark featuring an observation tower overlooking the harbor and a horizontal ferris wheel housing bars and restaurant to be built on the former Kai Tak airport site.

Skypods, similar to those at the London Eye, would transport people up the 200-meter high observation tower.

"This is an iconic cutting-edge design with a strong sense of place. Hong Kong is a global city and we deserve a landmark feature to express our self- confidence as Asia's world city in China, selling the Hong Kong brand to the world," said Nigel Reading, senior associate at Aedas, the firm that has submitted the proposal.

Aedas says the structure could run on wind power and renewable energy, making it a carbon offset pioneer and Hong Kong's first carbon-neutral building. Power for lighting would be generated through wind turbines off the coast of Hong Kong or the mainland and wave and tidal power would be harnessed in the harbor. The aim is for the building to be cooled at no cost.

A feasibility study will have to be conducted to examine the social and economic impact of the proposal, after which it will be submitted to the planning board for approval.

The structure would take three years to complete.

Under the plan, a 160-meter-wide skywheel, which would sit half way up the podium at 100 meters, would house upmarket bars, eateries, karaoke zones and a capsule hotel.

There would be a concert venue at the base of the podium, and a public park nearby. A light-rail loop would link the site with MTR stations.

啟德跑道 倡建200米高「香江飛環」
2007年12月19日

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【明報專訊】繼澳門威尼斯人度假村項目、香港國際機場二號客運大樓等項目，凱達環球有限公司建議於前啟德機場跑道末端興建「香江飛環」，包括200米高的觀景梯及100米高、160米直徑的觀景摩天輪，內設旋轉餐廳、酒吧、卡拉OK等，希望成為郵輪旅客到港後首個視線焦點，預計造價高達14億元至20億元。該公司強調已與相關決策局提出有關建議，並指局方反應正面，但需研究會否以公私營模式興建和營運。

土木工程拓展署回應稱，政府會持開放態度，留意事態發展。「香江飛環」由凱達環球有限公司和奧雅納工程顧問公司合作設計，主要分為3部分﹕觀景台、觀景梯及摩天輪，總樓面面積約41萬平方呎。

建露天廣場旋轉餐廳酒吧

佔地最大的為地面約32萬平方呎的半橢圓形露天廣場，適合舉行演唱會等表演，基座設有餐廳平台、商場和音樂廳，地下則有多層地庫商場。市民可乘坐觀景電梯由地面直達100米高的摩天輪或200米高的觀景台，前者為45分鐘旋轉一圈的摩天輪，設有雙層旋轉餐廳和酒吧區，巨輪內亦會興建一間膠囊酒店，後者則設有直升機起降坪。

凱達董事總經理施家殷稱，香江飛環外形結合「中」和希臘字母「Φ」(意為對稱)，象徵香港中西文化薈萃和成功落實一國兩制。其照明和配套設施將採用風力發電，而巨輪底部會利用維港海水作波浪發電，建築外殼則採用多塊光電太陽能板，以提供電力給巨輪和觀景梯。

但他指暫未展開可行性研究，「我們正等待發展商，若找到有興趣的發展商，會向城規會申請」。負責設計「飛環」的凱達高級主任Nigel Reading曾參與倫敦BBC White City廣播中心、伊甸園、印度著名Maritreya佛像建設等項目。

Cruise control poised to step up a gear
17 December 2007
Lloyd's List

IT IS perhaps in accord with Hong Kong’s vision that while its ports slip down the container handling league, cruising would be the waterborne trade to take over. That decision, made at the beginning of this year, received a boost from mainland China in December when the central government revealed plans that would abolish the ‘Golden Week’ tradition.

Up until now China has offered annual week-long holidays to its citizens three times a year — Chinese New Year, the first week of May and National Day in October. If, as expected, the tradition is replaced by annual holidays as and when employees wish, then Hong Kong will almost certainly benefit.

Despite a terminal in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong to date has never been what one could call a cruise hub. This was demonstrated to the embarrassment of all when the Queen Mary II arrived earlier this year and was promptly turned away because it was too large for the facility. In the event, hundreds of cruise passengers were disembarked from the magnificent vessel into Kwai Chung container port.

Moreover, that is just one example as Kwai Chung container port regularly plays host to passenger liners of100,000 gt and above.

Up to now, Hong Kong has been better known for catering to overnight gamblers who jump on a Star Cruises vessel for a night in international waters where they can lose their money on the wheel.

Tenders for the development of Hong Kong’s new cruise terminal will close on March 7, 2008.

Much has been made by the Tourism Bureau of its ideal location at the old Kai Tak airport site, and, accordingly, the winning operator will have much to do much to fulfil the government’s dream. The new terminal is expected to have facilities for mooring two of the largest cruiseships at the same time.

Specifications laid down in the proposal allow for cruiseships of up to 220,000 gt. The successful bidder will have to design, build, operate and maintain the facilities, including customs, baggage handling and parking and loading areas, as well as the commercial area of the cruise terminal — which will include office, hotel and retail facilities in addition to catering. And it must all be done by 2012.

Even with the scrapping of the Golden Week concept, any cruise terminal operator pondering the Hong Kong government’s tender might want to take a look at Star Cruise’s latest results.

In November the Hong Kong-listed firm announced a net loss of $77.3m for the first nine months of the year. This compared with an $8.6m loss during the same period last year. The forlorn results occurred despite an unusual gain of $53.7m when it sold a 25% stake in Resorts World at Singapore’s Sentosa theme park.

Hong Kong’s record on government induced facilities is poor. One only has to look at the local Disneyland theme park which has struggled since its opening in September 2005, and into which the government pumped billions of dollars. In its second year of operation the theme park had yet to meet visitor projections, much to taxpayers’ chagrin.

The Skypod does look pretty interesting and it is a piece of art over the harbour. Hope it'll get built, but it's no doubt it's an expensive structure.

建築師行建議舊啟德建摩天輪
【19:06】2007年12月18日

http://news.on.cc/ncnews/hknews/img/ncbrka01_20071218190621_big.jpg

【on.cc專訊】 本港一家大建築師行建議在舊啟德機場跑道，興建1個平行轉動「中」字形的橫向摩天輪「香江飛環」，以作為未來新郵輪碼頭的地標。建議中的「香江飛環」高200米，直徑160米，內設商場、餐廳、卡拉OK等。

建築行凱達環球董事總經理施家殷表示，政府對有關建議反應正面，他希望發展商方面也感興趣。


It SURE will be an icon, IF it get build. I sure will fly back to Hong Kong for this one...it look sooooooo cool

They had a photoshopped image of it with the harbour and skyline in the background in SCMP...fwoar crikey!

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii127/aboveday2007/hkspin.jpg


http://www.hongkongspin.com/

They had a photoshopped image of it with the harbour and skyline in the background in SCMP...fwoar crikey!

http://www.hongkongspin.com/wallpaper/w1.jpg

I was looking at it and felt that the picture doesn't not right to me. And finally realized the structure is photoshopped at West Kowloon Cultural District, not Kai Tak!!!!!!!!!

Aye, it's more TST, from near the Clock Tower, than West Kowloon, but you're right in any case. (The angle from West Kowloon is more acute, with 2-IFC coming in closer to line with Bank of China).

It did seem odd then, but you still get a general glimpse of what it may look like. The view from Kai Tak towards the skyline is a fantastic one, not oft photographed either.

Aye, it's more TST, from near the Clock Tower, than West Kowloon, but you're right in any case. (The angle from West Kowloon is more acute, with 2-IFC coming in closer to line with Bank of China).

It did seem odd then, but you still get a general glimpse of what it may look like. The view from Kai Tak towards the skyline is a fantastic one, not oft photographed either.

That vantage point of the skyline can be easily shot from Megabox.

interesting indeed.

That vantage point of the skyline can be easily shot from Megabox.

And yet it's not photographed often...

The central pillar is slanted? If so, how can it support the horizontal wheel? It just doesn't look feasible to me.

And yet it's not photographed often...

Megabox is new after all. It's only been open a few months, and that open area next to the skating rink with the view hasn't been always open lately. Wonder why?

The central pillar is slanted? If so, how can it support the horizontal wheel? It just doesn't look feasible to me.

Those cables on the opposite side to which it will slant should provide enough tension to hold it in place, in a similar fashion to a few recently constructed cable-stayed bridges where the towers slant in one direction. It looks like a very interesting concept, most wheels I've seen have been planned in the vertical direction, not the horizontal.

HK's Sun Hung Kai teams up with Star Cruises, others for cruise terminal bid
7 January 2008

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) said it has teamed up with Star Cruises, VXL Capital and Nan Fung Development to bid for the Kai Tak cruise terminal project In Hong Kong.

It noted that the partnership brings together the experience of Star Cruises, the third largest cruise liner in the world, and VXL Capital and Nan Fung Development, which have a solid record in undertaking large-scale development projects.

The government started accepting bids for the Kai Tak cruise terminal in November. The tender will close on March 7. The winning developer will be given a 50 year franchise.

At 12.05 noon, Sun Hung Kai shares were up 0.6 hkd or 0.35 pct at 170.4, while Star Cruises was up 0.01 hkd or 0.38 pct at 2.62 and VXL Capital was down 0.04 hkd or 3.51 pct at 1.1.

1/1/2008

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A new spin on the future of Kai Tak
19 December 2007
South China Morning Post

Thousands of people could soon be getting airborne again at the former Kai Tak airport site, where architects have proposed building a horizontal Ferris wheel to rival the giant London Eye wheel and Paris' Eiffel Tower as a city icon.

Intrernational architecture firm Aedas envisages the wheel, 100 metres up a leaning tower, would house bars and restaurants, with a lift taking visitors to an observation deck 100 metres higher.

The project, which Aedas calls Hong Kong Spin, would cost between HK$1.5 and $2 billion to build, it says.

Nigel Reading, the senior associate who came up with the design, described it as the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye "rolled into one".

Its shape would combine the Chinese character for middle and the Greek letter phi, standing for symmetry, and would represent the fusion of eastern and western cultures to be found in Hong Kong.

The Town Planning Board envisages a maximum building height of 175 metres at the former airport site in Victoria Harbour.

However, Kyran Sze, Aedas' Hong Kong managing director, said the government had responded positively to the proposal. A feasibility study has yet to be carried out. Aedas' local projects include the Mandarin Landmark, Skyplaza at the airport, the Disneyland MTR station at Sunny Bay and Alexandra House retail.

Mr Reading said some of the energy to run the attraction could be generated using wind turbines.

A Tourism Commission spokeswoman said it would keep an open mind about the proposal.

Wong Kam-sing, chairman of the Institute of Architects' board of local affairs, said Aedas' idea merited public discussion. "Take the successful example of the London Eye. No one commissioned the architect to build something like that. It was the architect who thought that London needed the design and suggested it. At last, it materialised and became world-famous," he said.

Bernard Lim Wan-fung, architecture professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the public was against imposing tall structures on harbourfront sites such as Kai Tak. "We should think about whether Hong Kong really needs to build an icon," he said. "Isn't our Victoria Harbour our icon that we should try our best to protect and make more charming?"

It is not the first time the construction of a Ferris wheel has been proposed on the former airport site. In 2000, the Territory Development Department issued plans to site a Ferris wheel at the tip of the old runway.

In 2001, Wharf (Holdings) proposed building a 75-metre-high Ferris wheel at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Too bad we quite often have to follow the footsteps of other cities..

Too bad we quite often have to follow the footsteps of other cities..
Absolutely!
Whatever should happen, I'll always miss my landings there. No other city could offer such a unique kind of "events", much more exciting than the craziest helter skelter on earth.

What they should do -->


Reclaim the sea north of the runway. Turn it into a big fuck off park with trees/grass/small sports areas, maybe an artificial river or some such. Beautify it.

Mix in a few low rise restaurants, boutiques, art shops, whatever. Maybe even have an outdoor/or indoor performance area.

A large stadium (which has about 80,000 or so seats) and some other sports facilities may be built on the former site of the airport. The stadium may replace the existing 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. If the stadium is completed the Hong Kong stadium may be demolished to make way for a residential development.

Absolutely!
Whatever should happen, I'll always miss my landings there. No other city could offer such a unique kind of "events", much more exciting than the craziest helter skelter on earth.

Kai Tak was the closest fighter jet landing feeling you can get from a 747

A large stadium (which has about 80,000 or so seats) and some other sports facilities may be built on the former site of the airport. The stadium may replace the existing 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. If the stadium is completed the Hong Kong stadium may be demolished to make way for a residential development.

That shouldn't be allowed to go through.

A large stadium (which has about 80,000 or so seats) and some other sports facilities may be built on the former site of the airport. The stadium may replace the existing 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. If the stadium is completed the Hong Kong stadium may be demolished to make way for a residential development.

I remember seeing that in the original plans before.

Isn't that stadium still in the latest plan?

Gov't Press Release:
CEDD awards contract on decommissioning and decontamination works for Kai Tak development (http://info.gov.hk/gia/general/200804/30/P200804300185.htm)

http://www.pland.gov.hk/p_study/prog_s/sek_09/website_chib5_eng/english/digest_3_eng/images/pic23.JPG

Heritage find could alter Kai Tak plans
23 May 2008
South China Morning Post

Relics believed to be of a 130-year-old stone pier have been uncovered at Kai Tak during excavation for a heritage assessment of the former airport - a discovery that could lead to a change in development plans.

The Development Bureau said about 10 stone slabs had been found west of the former airport terminal building, where residential and commercial development is planned.

"Once they are confirmed as part of the pier, the government will consider possible options to preserve them," a spokeswoman said.

The slabs, thought to be part of a structure known as the Longjin Bridge - named after the Longjin River, as the Kai Tak nullah was once called - were dug up last month by the Civil Engineering and Development Department.

A Planning Department source said the department would adopt a flexible approach in preserving the relics, including changing planned land use. "It all depends on the scale of the preservation," the source said.

Formed with 100 stone slats, the pier was built between 1873 and 1875. It and the Kowloon Walled City were the only places kept by the Qing dynasty after Kowloon was ceded to Britain. The pier was covered by reclamation for housing in 1920.

According to the government's preliminary engineering study for the South East Kowloon Development, the pier was destroyed by the reclamation, except the first few sections at the landward end, buried under Prince Edward Road. Most of the site now lies under the western part of the old terminal building, the study says.

Conservancy Association campaign manager Peter Li Siu-man said it should be preserved in situ and connected with the Kai Tak nullah.

Cruise hub 'needs 10 to 20 years'
30 June 2008
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong needs at least one to two decades before it can fully develop its burgeoning cruise market, but in the meantime the government should give local operators more support, Asia Cruises president Benny Ki says.

"Hong Kong's cruise market has a long way to go," Mr Ki said. "The potential is there, although the market will probably take 10 to 20 years to mature."

Hong Kong is building terminal facilities at the former Kai Tak airport, which are due to open by 2012. Ocean Terminal, where passenger liners now berth, has a limited capacity and cannot accommodate the largest ships.

The government planned to announce the winning bid for the new terminal within the second quarter, a spokesman said.

Asia Cruises was set up in 1999 and operates Asia Star and Omar III. The twin-hull Asia Star is the world's biggest catamaran and was bought by casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun - an investor in Asia Cruises - from the Finnish government for nearly HK$500 million.

The ship can accommodate about 400 passengers and offers night cruises and itineraries to Shantou.

The Omar III cruise liner can take about 600 passengers and makes day and night excursions, as well as cruises to Shantou. Asia Cruises has no plans to sail to Macau.

"Everyone can see that there is already a demand here," Mr Ki said. "A cruise terminal is one of the infrastructures in a community that should be built regardless of the revenue it can generate."

Since last year, five international cruise liners have operated cruises out of Hong Kong and Mr Ki said local competition would only increase.

Oh, man! We have to re-tender again! :ohno:

From news.gov.hk:
Cruise terminal project to be re-tendered (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/080709/html/080709en03004.htm)

Tenders for cruise terminal scuppered
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, July 10, 2008

Submissions by Cheung Kong (Holdings) and Sun Hung Kai Properties for building the cruise terminal at Kai Tak have been rejected by the government, which will call for new tenders.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma Si- hang said the government will pay about HK$1.8 billion to HK$2 billion to the successful tenderer for site formation, government accommodation and the landscape deck in the cruise terminal - to be built at the former Kai Tak airport site - in order to increase the attractiveness of the project.

He said the government planned to apply for funding from the Legislative Council Finance Committee in the fourth quarter and to invite tenders by the end of the year.

The first berth is expected to commence operations in the second quarter of 2013, which is almost a year later than the original timetable.

"Due to the change in the economic environment in the past few months, and also since neither of the tender submissions fully conformed with the requirements, we have decided to reject their submissions and cancel the tender," Ma said.

A government source said one of the tenderers requested permission to develop an additional commercial site while the other proposed selling individual hotel rooms, which the government considered was similar to residential development.

The government now estimates the construction of the terminal to cost around HK$4 billion, about 20 percent more than last year's estimate. Originally, the government did not plan to pay for the project. To better monitor funding use, a government source said the HK$1.8 billion will be given to the successful tenderer in three stages.

Should the retender exercise fail, the government will develop the cruise terminal and then lease it to an operator.

Sun Hung Kai, which submitted a tender with Star Cruise, said it is interested in studying the retender. Cheung Kong, which partnered with Ceres Terminals, did not respond. Wharf Holdings, which did not bid last time, said it will study the retender and reconsider its position.

Inbound Travel Association chairman Paul Leung Yiu-lam said he is disappointed with the delay.

"Successful travel destinations such as Miami, Barcelona and Venice have allocated a lot of resources to cruise travel development," he said. "It is such a waste that Hong Kong has so many complementary facilities like good hotels and yet we have to wait for a cruise terminal."

Sunflower Travel assistant general manager Anthony Chan Hung-cheong said cruise vacations are becoming more popular and there is a need for a world-class terminal.

Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun said he is disappointed with the delay and asked the government to consider whether the tender conditions are too strict.

$2HKb carrot for cruise bidders
Kai Tak terms eased after terminal bids fail
South China Morning Post

Taxpayers will have to put up a $2HK billion sweetener to entice developers to build a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak, after the two consortiums bidding for the project were yesterday knocked back for failing to meet the government's requirements.

The administration will tweak its requirements and invite fresh bids by the end of the year in the hope of salvaging the botched tendering exercise and keeping further delays to a minimum.

However, the first berth will open at least 13 months later than planned, and that could have wider ramifications. Wharf Holdings' lease on the city's only cruise liner berths, at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, runs out in 2012, and the terminal at the former airport site will not be ready until spring 2013 at the earliest.

The government is prepared to take on the project itself if it does not receive any acceptable bids, but warns that doing so will push up the cost of the project and delay it by at least another year and possibly longer.

In the hope of securing acceptable bids, the government now says it will reimburse the winning bidder for the cost of preparing the site and building government facilities - estimated in September last year at between $1HK.8 billion and $2HK billion.

However, given spiralling commodity prices, that figure is likely to rise, a government source said. Former Hong Kong Institute of Engineers president Greg Wong Chak-yan said it could increase to $2HK.2 billion.

The government will seek Legislative Council approval for the sum this year.

Inflation means the project is now expected to cost $4HK billion, two-thirds more than the government's 2006 estimate of $2HK.4 billion.

The tender for the project launched in November attracted bids from only two consortiums, led by developers Sun Hung Kai Properties and Cheung Kong (Holdings). Both were rejected for going outside the tender requirements. One of them wanted to sell off hotel rooms individually while the other asked for up to 190,000 square metres more space for commercial development.

"Of course, between last November and the closing of the tender, the global macroeconomic environment had undergone some changes, causing the tenderers to ask for additional conditions in their tenders," Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma Si-hang said.

"For the sake of fairness and openness, we decided to retender the project."

Mr Ma said alternative berthing arrangements were in place to accommodate liners for as long as the new terminal was delayed.

Sun Hung Kai and Sino Land expressed interest in the fresh tender. Henderson Land Development and Star Cruises, partners of Sun Hung Kai in its rejected bid, said they would wait and see. Cheung Kong had not responded by last night.

Massimo Brancaleoni, a vice-president of the Costa Crociere cruise line, and Joseph Lam - who represents another line, Royal Caribbean, in Hong Kong - declined to comment until after today's regular quarterly meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Cruise Industry. Mr Lam said Asian cruise itineraries had not been planned beyond 2010.

Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun was disappointed both bids had been rejected and said the government's requirements might have been too tough.

He said inviting fresh bids would affect the city's tourism promotion.

"If we can't use the terminal in 2012, the cruise companies we are currently in talks with will have to make adjustments because they have to come a year later," Mr Tien said. "Of course, this is not that ideal."

Tourism sector lawmaker Howard Young said inviting new bids was the only option.

i love this pic, hkskyline!!!:okay:

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0101/IMG_4203.jpg

That shouldn't be allowed to go through.

I needed this stadium built. Where else in Hong Kong am I supposed to build my replacement stadium now? There ain't enough space in Hong Kong to build a huge sports complex.

Two HKSAR Government issued Gazettes Published on Friday, 29/8/2008 No. 35 Vol. 12

Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Chapter 370) as applied by section 26 of the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation (Chapter 358, sub. leg.)--PWP Item No. 469CL--Kai Tak Development--Infrastructure at North Apron Area of Kai Tak Airport--Stage I Infrastructure Works for Public Housing Sites and Government Offices--(Notice under section 8(2) of the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance as applied by section 26 of the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation) (http://www.gld.gov.hk/cgi-bin/gld/egazette/gazettefiles.cgi?lang=e&year=2008&month=8&day=29&vol=12&no=35&gn=5884&header=1&part=0&df=1&nt=gn&newfile=1&acurrentpage=12&agree=1&gaz_type=mg)

Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Chapter 370) (Notice under section 8(2))--PWP Item No. 469CL Kai Tak Development--Infrastructure at North Apron Area of Kai Tak Airport--Stage 1 Infrastructure Works for Public Housing Sites and Government Offices (http://www.gld.gov.hk/cgi-bin/gld/egazette/gazettefiles.cgi?lang=e&year=2008&month=8&day=29&vol=12&no=35&gn=5886&header=1&part=0&df=1&nt=gn&newfile=1&acurrentpage=12&agree=1&gaz_type=mg)

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0907/IMG_3649.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0907/IMG_3651.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0907/IMG_3652.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0907/IMG_3653.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0907/IMG_3655.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0907/IMG_3656.jpg

From news.gov.hk:
Gov't to finance Kai Tak cruise terminal (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/080930/html/080930en03006.htm)

From news.gov.hk:
Gov't to finance Kai Tak cruise terminal (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/businessandfinance/080930/html/080930en03006.htm)

2013!!!??? That's only 5 years from now.
The whole thing is not just the terminal building, but with the supporting infrastructures in the whole KT area. It's a huge remediation, planning, design and construction project.
I think the government wants it to be operational by 2013 is just too optimistic.

Well they're ONLY building the terminal for now, and for that matter only the first anchoring spot in 2013. They're doing everything else separately. After WKCD I doubt they'll try anything so sweeping anymore.

I just hope they're gonna get a starchitect for this. We can't afford another bland boring design, especially on the waterfront!

Well they're ONLY building the terminal for now, and for that matter only the first anchoring spot in 2013. They're doing everything else separately. After WKCD I doubt they'll try anything so sweeping anymore.

I just hope they're gonna get a starchitect for this. We can't afford another bland boring design, especially on the waterfront!

It's more than just the terminal. If you think about, there is nothing out at the end of the runway today. In order to support the operation for the terminal, there is a need to also provide roadway, electricity, water, sewage etc. etc. basic infrastructures. These services have to be brought in from somewhere relatively far, either from Kowloon Bay or cross the water from Kwun Tong.

Usually when there is a project like this out in the middle of nowhere, it is not just going to build and design for just the only building out there. The future development in between would also be considered. Therefore the infrastructures can not only support the terminal, but also have reserve capacity for future use.

Plus, as far as I know, the government has not had cleaned up entirely from the pollution back in the old days. Remediation of any airport is a pain and long process. It can take years to do it easily.

It's already October, 2008, 2013 is a very tight schedule to do all these works.

Kai Tak set for $1.4b green air-con system
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, October 16, 2008

A HK$1.4 billion project to provide water-cooled air-conditioning to future occupants of the Kai Tak development was unveiled by Donald Tsang yesterday.

The Environmental Bureau project, starting 2012, is expected to break even in 27 years, saving 85,000 kilowatt-hours a year and emitting 60,000 less tonnes of carbon dioxide than conventional cooling. Users would pay the government and save roughly 20 percent in costs.

The project, available to government buildings that will form 35 percent of the development, is expected to attract at least another 15 percent of residential and commercial buildings, he said.

A swath of environmental measures were also announced, but green groups expressed concern over the lack of details behind pledges.

Connecting a quality living environment with air quality and declaring it "just as important as economic growth," Tsang said the objectives will "give due regard to the World Health Organization's guidelines."

Greenpeace campaign manager Edward Chan Yue-fai said Tsang's proposals lacked substance, adding the bar was set too low by not adopting the WHO's strictest standards.

He was also unhappy with a lack of roadside emission policies, which should have been considered in reducing overall pollution.

Calling for better energy efficiency and a low- carbon economy, Tsang said post-2010 emission reduction arrangements would be made with Guangdong while balancing the region's power generation fuel mix with a boost in the use of renewable energy.

Objectives for vehicle emission reductions, conservation, greening and other specific measures on both sides of the border, along with a mechanism on how the two jurisdictions will coordinate, will be discussed, he said.

World Wildlife Fund for Nature chief executive Eric Bohm said absolute carbon reduction targets and mandatory carbon emission standards for buildings and transport should be adopted.

Tsang pledged the share of coal in the energy mix would be lowered, floating the possibility that natural gas could make up 50 percent of the city's power generation.

With a study to control emissions from the airport and container ports expected, he said the government is considering switching to ultra-low sulfur diesel for ferries.

To tackle building energy efficiency, he is proposing HK$150 million from the Environment and Conservation Fund to partially subsidize building owners for energy and carbon audits, good for 6,000 buildings, while another HK$300 million would be for energy-efficiency projects.

Aside from phasing out incandescent light bulbs, the government will also look into banning their sale while regulating exterior lighting through legislation.

It's more than just the terminal. If you think about, there is nothing out at the end of the runway today. In order to support the operation for the terminal, there is a need to also provide roadway, electricity, water, sewage etc. etc. basic infrastructures. These services have to be brought in from somewhere relatively far, either from Kowloon Bay or cross the water from Kwun Tong.

Usually when there is a project like this out in the middle of nowhere, it is not just going to build and design for just the only building out there. The future development in between would also be considered. Therefore the infrastructures can not only support the terminal, but also have reserve capacity for future use.

Plus, as far as I know, the government has not had cleaned up entirely from the pollution back in the old days. Remediation of any airport is a pain and long process. It can take years to do it easily.

It's already October, 2008, 2013 is a very tight schedule to do all these works.

Hmm you're right about the infrastructure needed, but Hong Kong is renowned for getting things done quick (once it's been approved)... So I don't think 2013 is completely unreasonable.

I was very surprised that the West Kowloon site was not adequate for a cruise terminal. Considering all that was reclaimed land, the depth should have been enough as that whole zone used to be a bit offshore.

I was very surprised that the West Kowloon site was not adequate for a cruise terminal. Considering all that was reclaimed land, the depth should have been enough as that whole zone used to be a bit offshore.

The old runway is the perfect location to build numbers of docks to dock those huge cruise ships since the runway is a perfect straight edge. The West Kowloon reclamation project didn't plan to provide such a long straight edge for cruise terminal, and the new coast line is fairly rugged. Without doing more reclamation, it is not possible to construct the same scale of cruise terminal in West Kowloon compares to at Kai Tak along the runway; and we all know reclamation inside the Victoria Harbour is a big NO these days. The government tries to avoid reclaiming land from the sea in any possible way for all the new projects come after the Protection of Harbour Ordinance. By building the new terminal at Kai Tak, it saves lots of time from reclamation and rezoning the Western Kowloon Cultural district.

Moreover, the new cruise terminal will probably bring the good old Kowloon Bay back. But people won't come from the sky, but by sea in the future.

The old runway is the perfect location to build numbers of docks to dock those huge cruise ships since the runway is a perfect straight edge. The West Kowloon reclamation project didn't plan to provide such a long straight edge for cruise terminal, and the new coast line is fairly rugged. Without doing more reclamation, it is not possible to construct the same scale of cruise terminal in West Kowloon compares to at Kai Tak along the runway; and we all know reclamation inside the Victoria Harbour is a big NO these days. The government tries to avoid reclaiming land from the sea in any possible way for all the new projects come after the Protection of Harbour Ordinance. By building the new terminal at Kai Tak, it saves lots of time from reclamation and rezoning the Western Kowloon Cultural district.

Moreover, the new cruise terminal will probably bring the good old Kowloon Bay back. But people won't come from the sky, but by sea in the future.Actually, my radical proposal was to get rid of the typhoon shelter entirely and have the cruise ship terminal split into 2 - one along the typhoon shelter's edge, and the other along the southern straight edge where Foster's huge dome would have been. That should easily accomodate 4 ships at the same time. Over time, for expansion, the typhoon shelter breakwater can be widened to accomodate 4 more ships.

Actually, my radical proposal was to get rid of the typhoon shelter entirely and have the cruise ship terminal split into 2 - one along the typhoon shelter's edge, and the other along the southern straight edge where Foster's huge dome would have been. That should easily accomodate 4 ships at the same time. Over time, for expansion, the typhoon shelter breakwater can be widened to accomodate 4 more ships.

I can see that idea may work but there are many constraints.
If the cruise terminal would put in there, the breakaway will have to be removed for sure to accommodate the big ships. Second, relocating the typhoon shelter is a big challenge since there is simply nowhere to relocate it nearby. Third, available land space between the existing shore line and the West Kowloon Expressway is very narrow, and not suitable house any structure as big as a cruise terminal.

I can see that idea may work but there are many constraints.
If the cruise terminal would put in there, the breakaway will have to be removed for sure to accommodate the big ships. Second, relocating the typhoon shelter is a big challenge since there is simply nowhere to relocate it nearby. Third, available land space between the existing shore line and the West Kowloon Expressway is very narrow, and not suitable house any structure as big as a cruise terminal.

True, but I think the overall development cost is likely cheaper than having to build all the infrastructure from scratch and the connection points to existing transit networks at Kai Tak. The key is the West Kowloon site can make use of existing roads and rail connections (ie. Kowloon Station, making ICC even more attractive as a new hub). The final price tag is not likely cheap, and hopefully with a declining fishing industry, the existing occupants can move elsewhere. Actually, that typhoon shelter is mostly a parking area for larger commercial ships and not really the mom-and-pop fishermen families like in Aberdeen.

True, but I think the overall development cost is likely cheaper than having to build all the infrastructure from scratch and the connection points to existing transit networks at Kai Tak. The key is the West Kowloon site can make use of existing roads and rail connections (ie. Kowloon Station, making ICC even more attractive as a new hub). The final price tag is not likely cheap, and hopefully with a declining fishing industry, the existing occupants can move elsewhere. Actually, that typhoon shelter is mostly a parking area for larger commercial ships and not really the mom-and-pop fishermen families like in Aberdeen.

Overall infrastructure cost shouldn't be lump summed into only the cruise terminal project, because these infrastructures are not exclusively used by the terminal, but will also be used by future developments in the airport area.
True, the initial construction cost may be huge, but it takes care the future expense. Even if we don't spend the money now, we still will.

Typhoon shelter isn't necessary only for the fisting boat, but the mid-size commercial ships which also need to be protected during the typhoon. Even Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter isn't entirely for fishing boats, half of it is actually used by the yacht club. Indeed, I don't think there is any fishing boat still in YMT Typhoon Shelter these days.

But if West Kowloon were a feasible location, it certainly is the place. The terminal would be greatly connected with rest of the world. It's only 20 minutes from the international airport by Airport Express; when the HKIA-SZ HSR link completes, it's 40-min from the national airport; when the HK-GZ HSR link completes, it's only an hour away from GZ.

Overall infrastructure cost shouldn't be lump summed into only the cruise terminal project, because these infrastructures are not exclusively used by the terminal, but will also be used by future developments in the airport area.
True, the initial construction cost may be huge, but it takes care the future expense. Even if we don't spend the money now, we still will.

Typhoon shelter isn't necessary only for the fisting boat, but the mid-size commercial ships which also need to be protected during the typhoon. Even Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter isn't entirely for fishing boats, half of it is actually used by the yacht club. Indeed, I don't think there is any fishing boat still in YMT Typhoon Shelter these days.

But if West Kowloon were a feasible location, it certainly is the place. The terminal would be greatly connected with rest of the world. It's only 20 minutes from the international airport by Airport Express; when the HKIA-SZ HSR link completes, it's 40-min from the national airport; when the HK-GZ HSR link completes, it's only an hour away from GZ.
I believe the feasibility was studied, and concluded that it was not an appropriate site for a cruise terminal, which was a bit strange to digest since Ocean Terminal is working fine nearby.

I believe the feasibility was studied, and concluded that it was not an appropriate site for a cruise terminal, which was a bit strange to digest since Ocean Terminal is working fine nearby.

It's probably more a constructibility decision rather than operational.
Either sites is deep enough for cruise ship to access and dock without underwater trenching.
But West Kowloon requires relocating the typhoon shelter and reclamation, which are more problematic than Kai Tak.

It's probably more a constructibility decision rather than operational.
Either sites is deep enough for cruise ship to access and dock without underwater trenching.
But West Kowloon requires relocating the typhoon shelter and reclamation, which are more problematic than Kai Tak.

My concern is primarily on how to bring cruise passengers into the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. I'm expecting the terminal to finish before the rest of the development, which means incoming passengers will get off in the middle of nowhere and will need to transfer into the city. But even when the Kai Tak development is complete, I doubt the demographic profile is rich enough to support an Elements-style introduction to cruise passengers.

By heyman from HKADB :

http://www.hkadb.com/forum/files/dsc_0003_203.jpg

My concern is primarily on how to bring cruise passengers into the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. I'm expecting the terminal to finish before the rest of the development, which means incoming passengers will get off in the middle of nowhere and will need to transfer into the city. But even when the Kai Tak development is complete, I doubt the demographic profile is rich enough to support an Elements-style introduction to cruise passengers.

It's better than dock the cruise ship at the container port which we did a few years back. :nuts: And recently there was one had to dock off shore and be shuttled back and fro using connecting boats and shuttle buses for only four times a day.

The main connection in the first phase probably won't be in and out of Kowloon City which is 2-3 km away from the end of the runway and through construction sites, but in and out through Kowloon Bay / Kwun Tong just few hundred metres across the water gap. Running shuttle back and fro between the MTR will be a whole lot easier that way.

It is still hard to say what is the demographic in the new Kai Tak development will be since it is still in planning. It's more likely going to be
a mixed of middle class housing complex as well as public housing in medium density rather than high density. The stadium is still going around as well.
Anyways, the entry of Victoria Harbour from the cruise is going to be the grand intro of HK. :lol:

The main connection in the first phase probably won't be in and out of Kowloon City which is 2-3 km away from the end of the runway and through construction sites, but in and out through Kowloon Bay / Kwun Tong just few hundred metres across the water gap. Running shuttle back and fro between the MTR will be a whole lot easier that way.

It is still hard to say what is the demographic in the new Kai Tak development will be since it is still in planning. It's more likely going to be
a mixed of middle class housing complex as well as public housing in medium density rather than high density. The stadium is still going around as well.
Anyways, the entry of Victoria Harbour from the cruise is going to be the grand intro of HK. :lol:
That's actually the biggest problem with the Kai Tak plan. A grand entrance via Kwun Tong / Kowloon Bay is hardly a great way to welcome visitors to Hong Kong.

I highly doubt that even with that income mix an Elements-style high-class shopping experience is sustainable at the tip of the runway and survive on cruise passengers alone. This will also mean the grand entrance to Hong Kong will likely need to diminish.

10/19

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/IMG_3350.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/IMG_3381-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/IMG_3382-1.jpg

Interesting posts above.

What kind of infrastructure/experience requires 20 or 30 years to mature before you can have a cruise terminal?

Surely it is 'simply'...
- berths for large ships
- maintenance (paintworks, catering, laundry) facilities for ships to use shoreside
- adequate hotel facilities for tourists
- experience in handling cruise ships and operations (can be brought from abroad??)

Not sure why it is a 20 year process?

Interesting posts above.

What kind of infrastructure/experience requires 20 or 30 years to mature before you can have a cruise terminal?

Surely it is 'simply'...
- berths for large ships
- maintenance (paintworks, catering, laundry) facilities for ships to use shoreside
- adequate hotel facilities for tourists
- experience in handling cruise ships and operations (can be brought from abroad??)

Not sure why it is a 20 year process?There is a lot of decontamination work being done and I believe some land reclamation might be necessary as the runway itself may be too narrow to support the full development.

I actually haven't seen much about hotels and the facilities to support the cruise terminal yet. I wonder how those will complement this plan?

Cruise terminal transport plan
(10-24 18:15)
Hong Kong Standard

There will be temporary transport facilities in place to connect the Kai Tak cruise terminal and other parts of the city by 2013 when the first berth is due to be completed.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said the government made a resolute and wise decision in shouldering the entire construction of the terminal before the financial tsunami struck Hong Kong.

Lau added the price tag of the project jumped from HK$2.4 billion to HK$7.2 billion because the HK$2.4 billion was intended as a subsidy to a development first intended to be private.

Meanwhile Lau will discuss with Walt Disney Company on the expansion of the Hong Kong Disneyland next month.

By fatshe :

http://api.photoshop.com/home_11e5fbb8309740b9aa8ad5872ce63dff/adobe-px-assets/319d5963f4de4530b61470459c080f01

http://api.photoshop.com/home_11e5fbb8309740b9aa8ad5872ce63dff/adobe-px-assets/68c635625ec44a4c8ad5f07df0a31f34

啟德中央冷凍系統14億元
明報11月1日 星期六 14:00

環境局長邱騰華指，在啟德發展區設立中央冷凍系統將要14億元。

他指，預計2012和2013年，啟德發展區建築物陸續落成啟用，為整個區域提供冷氣，每年可節省8500萬度電，區內建築物亦不需建水塔，令整個區域得益，減少炭排放。


啟德擬建水冷系統料省電三成半
(星島)11月1日 星期六 12:24

環境局局長邱騰華表示，今年年底或明年年初，推出一籃子改善空氣質素的方案，諮詢公眾；並出資在啟德 興建中央水冷系統，預計可為區內減少20至35%的用電量。 目前香港的空氣質素指標，早於80年代訂立，與世界衞生組織所訂的指標有相當距離，《2008-09年度施政報告》提出按部就班，達到世衛的階段性指標。 邱騰華今天（11月1日）出席電台節目時表示，目前本港的指標是每天排出每立方米350微克的二氧化硫，要減少三分二，才可達到世衞第1期標準，即每立方米125微克；雖然不容易，但必須達到，包括逐步轉用燃氣發電，取代燃煤。 說，今年年底或明年年初推出一籃子方案，諮詢公眾；市民需考慮處理那些問題，例如是否針對發電源頭、如何處理交通運輸及工商業的排放、市民願意付出多少代價及時間表等。 當局本立法年度內會提交法案，落實推行建築物能源效益標準；並出資在啟德發展區興建中央水冷系統，節省能源，有助達致目標。 透過設立區域供冷系統，預計可為區內減少20至35%的用電量，或8,500萬度電，每年的溫室氣體排放量，減少60,000噸；由於建築物毋須興建水塔，也可令天台的使用更靈活。 當局亦已預留1.5億元，資助大廈業主進行能源及二氧化碳排放綜合審計，以及3億元作改裝設施及提升能源效益工程費用的資助；計劃詳情容後公布。

九龍灣地盤三級火個多小時後救熄
(星島)10月18日 星期六 16:08

Video : http://hk.news.yahoo.com/video.html?url=%2F081018%2F11%2F8s7m.html

http://hk.l.yimg.com/ls.hk.yimg.com/p/news/atv_video/20081018/14fjblq00jdlks-i1.jpg

九龍灣一建築地盤18日下午發生三級火，個多小時後被救熄，初步消息指事件中無人受傷。消防正調查起火原因。現場是九龍灣啟福道宏天廣場對出一建築地盤，是啟德機場舊消防局。火警於下午一時十三分發生火警，並於下午一時二十六分升為三級，消防員動用六條喉及六隊煙帽隊進行灌救，火警於下午二時二十五分被救熄。起火地點接近舊啟德機場的跑道尾，現場一度有大量濃煙升上半空，維港對岸都清晰見到。消防事後表示，起火現場為一個空置貨倉，儲存塑膠水馬，所以起火時冒出大量濃煙。

By 1.21.6 from HKADB :

http://www.hkadb.com/forum/files/img_9624_filtered_113.jpg

http://www.hkadb.com/forum/files/img_9589_175.jpg

維港東擬供郵輪中流碇泊
11月20日 星期四 05:30

(星島日報報道)啟德郵輪碼頭啟用前，來港的巨型郵輪安排在將軍澳對開水域中流碇泊，但由於位置偏遠，對旅客不便，政府正與郵輪業研究在維港東面海岸，物色公眾碼頭供郵輪作中流碇泊；北角和觀塘海岸均有登岸點，有機會供郵輪旅客上落，以縮短他們的登岸時間。

啟德郵輪碼頭首個泊位在二○一三年啟用前，巨型郵輪來港時仍需要以不同方式停泊。旅遊事務署數字顯示，明年暫時預計有二十一班次的來港郵輪，未能停泊於尖沙嘴海運碼頭；若然未能安排於葵涌 貨櫃碼頭或堅尼地城招商局碼頭「埋岸」，可能需要選擇中流碇泊於將軍澳對開水域。

郵輪業諮詢委員會成員韋榮恩表示，郵輪以中流碇泊方式上落客，在海外也很常見，只是將軍澳的選址路途較為遙遠，旅客須搭近四十分鐘駁船登岸很不方便。他表示，隨着當局落實興建啟德郵輪碼頭，前機場跑道對開水域遲早也要展開挖泥工程，令維港日後有足夠水深讓郵輪進入，故業界早前向當局反映，希望加快展開有關挖泥工程，讓巨型郵輪可於內港位置中流碇泊，縮短旅客的登岸時間。

須足夠空間停旅巴

旅遊事務助理專員蘇貝茜接受訪問時表示，當局已因應業界建議，與海事處等部門考慮於多個水域作中流碇泊可行性，包括前機場跑道對開水域。她指出，郵輪下錨作中流碇泊後，會隨水擺動，因而較一般靠岸停泊要求更大水域空間，「以巨型郵輪鑽石公主號為例，料須大約直徑一公里水域空間。」

她又指出，新郵輪碼頭的船隻迴旋區，處於維港主航道及前機場跑道間，即使挖泥工程完成後，仍不足以容納瑪麗皇后二號或鑽石公主號等巨型郵輪安全碇泊，因此水面平靜及海域廣闊的將軍澳對開位置，仍是目前可用作中流碇泊的最合適地點。

不過，當局嘗試進一步改善現有的中流碇泊安排，旅遊事務署正與有關部門及旅遊業研究，為郵輪乘客在維港東面兩岸物色適合的登岸點，以縮短接駁渡輪的航程和時間。

該署高級經理盧錦欣表示，目前在灣仔至鯉魚門 的沿岸，尋找適合碼頭或公眾上岸梯級，黃埔、北角及觀塘沿岸也有類似的登岸設施，正與業界商討其中一至兩個地點，作為郵輪中流碇泊的駁船上岸點，但前提是不影響原有公眾碼頭運作。他又指出，駁船登岸點須適當配套設施作配合，因此會與運輸署研究，「讓旅客以最短路程前往觀光點是很重要，加上郵輪旅客眾多，因此會確保登岸點擁有足夠空間，可以停泊大量旅遊巴士，並且貼近主要公路。」

受惠啟德發展 貧民區變天
28 November 2008
香港經濟日報

過去九龍城曾經是一個貧民區，但是隨著啟德機場的發展，帶動區內商業活動，令該區成為美食天堂。

據了解，九龍城過去有不少舊式圍村聚集，較多人認識的包括鶴佬村，鶴佬本聚居廣東的歸善縣，即今天的海豐、陸豐、惠陽、惠東、五華等地，方言是潮州語。

客家族群聚居

與客家同時期進駐香港，他們最擅長打石，今香港各區墳場必定有他們的作業存在，由於他們來港的時候，族群比較少人，多聚居於九龍城。

至1930年機場工程始正式完成，為配合機場及周邊城市發展，以及行政管理的需要，九龍城多條街道如：賈炳達道、福佬村道、獅子石道、龍崗道、南角道等皆在1933年同時刊憲命名。

可以說，機場填海工程帶動著九龍城的發展，原有的歷史面貌如福佬人居住的村落已逐一消失，街道的名稱於是成為這段歷史的唯一證明。

Great pics..

a cool airport for a cool city.:)

北角觀塘上岸 可節省時間 維港東擬供郵輪中流碇泊
星島日報
20 November 2008

啟德郵輪碼頭啟用前，來港的巨型郵輪安排在將軍澳對開水域中流碇泊，但由於位置偏遠，對旅客不便，政府正與郵輪業研究在維港東面海岸，物色公眾碼頭供郵輪作中流碇泊；北角和觀塘海岸均有登岸點，有機會供郵輪旅客上落，以縮短他們的登岸時間。

啟德郵輪碼頭首個泊位在二○一三年啟用前，巨型郵輪來港時仍需要以不同方式停泊。旅遊事務署數字顯示，明年暫時預計有二十一班次的來港郵輪，未能停泊於尖沙嘴海運碼頭；若然未能安排於葵涌貨櫃碼頭或堅尼地城招商局碼頭「埋岸」，可能需要選擇中流碇泊於將軍澳對開水域。

郵輪業諮詢委員會成員韋榮恩表示，郵輪以中流碇泊方式上落客，在海外也很常見，只是將軍澳的選址路途較為遙遠，旅客須搭近四十分鐘駁船登岸很不方便。他表示，隨着當局落實興建啟德郵輪碼頭，前機場跑道對開水域遲早也要展開挖泥工程，令維港日後有足夠水深讓郵輪進入，故業界早前向當局反映，希望加快展開有關挖泥工程，讓巨型郵輪可於內港位置中流碇泊，縮短旅客的登岸時間。

須足夠空間停旅巴

旅遊事務助理專員蘇貝茜接受訪問時表示，當局已因應業界建議，與海事處等部門考慮於多個水域作中流碇泊可行性，包括前機場跑道對開水域。她指出，郵輪下錨作中流碇泊後，會隨水擺動，因而較一般靠岸停泊要求更大水域空間，「以巨型郵輪鑽石公主號為例，料須大約直徑一公里水域空間。」

她又指出，新郵輪碼頭的船隻迴旋區，處於維港主航道及前機場跑道間，即使挖泥工程完成後，仍不足以容納瑪麗皇后二號或鑽石公主號等巨型郵輪安全碇泊，因此水面平靜及海域廣闊的將軍澳對開位置，仍是目前可用作中流碇泊的最合適地點。

不過，當局嘗試進一步改善現有的中流碇泊安排，旅遊事務署正與有關部門及旅遊業研究，為郵輪乘客在維港東面兩岸物色適合的登岸點，以縮短接駁渡輪的航程和時間。

該署高級經理盧錦欣表示，目前在灣仔至鯉魚門的沿岸，尋找適合碼頭或公眾上岸梯級，黃埔、北角及觀塘沿岸也有類似的登岸設施，正與業界商討其中一至兩個地點，作為郵輪中流碇泊的駁船上岸點，但前提是不影響原有公眾碼頭運作。他又指出，駁船登岸點須適當配套設施作配合，因此會與運輸署研究，「讓旅客以最短路程前往觀光點是很重要，加上郵輪旅客眾多，因此會確保登岸點擁有足夠空間，可以停泊大量旅遊巴士，並且貼近主要公路。」

Leisure liftoff sought for Kai Tak site
8 December 2008
Hong Kong Standard

The government has been urged to open parts of the former Kai Tak airfield for recreation.

The call came from legislator Starry Lee Wai- king who told RTHK one of her aims as a district councillor was to turn a piece of unused land into a park. However this had failed to materialize because of constraints in trying to win approval as well as insufficient funds.

``The government's response to the Kai Tak proposal was negative simply because the land has been earmarked for development into a cruise terminal,'' said Lee, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.

She said she cannot understand why the government has ruled out short- or medium-term use of Kai Tak even though the start of the cruise center project is still some years away.

Speaking on the Letter To Hong Kong program, Lee doubted the effectiveness of consumer coupons to boost spending, as proposed by the Liberal Party, because they would involve high administrative costs.

She believes the current annual budget of HK$300 million for local projects is sufficient.

``However, very often district councils have great difficulty getting approval for their projects, so they are delayed and opportunities to create jobs are missed,'' Lee said.

The DAB has proposed a HK$32.1 billion revitalization plan to create 20,000 jobs.

One suggestion is to raise the appropriation of capital works projects for district councils to HK$1 billion.

The party has also proposed a HK$500 million lucky draw to be supported by the government and private companies with homes, cars and holidays as prizes.

啟德明渠擬覆蓋除臭
10 December 2008
東方日報

啟德發展區的建造工程明年初展開，涉及三百二十八公頃土地，工程預計可創造八萬三千八百多個就業機會。工程顧問公司的環境影響評估報告指出，啟德明渠臭味問題嚴重，建議覆蓋明渠、對明渠進行局部維修挖泥、在舊跑道北段開出一個六百米寬的缺口，改善明渠水流，並以生物除污法處理啟德明渠進口道和觀塘避風塘所積累的沉積物，但承認部分地方在最壞情況下仍會受臭味影響。另外，因應區內人口增加，觀塘初級污水處理廠需要進行改良工程，提升處理能力。

啟德工程亦會造成噪音滋擾，其中聖匠小學及文理書院部分時段的噪音水平，會達七十四至七十五分貝；住宅翔龍灣、囱景閣更達七十八分貝，南苑在二○一五年全年的噪音水平亦達七十二分貝。至於居民擔心多途體育館產生噪音滋擾，顧問認為可透過裝設伸縮屋頂或固定屋頂解決問題。

龍津碼頭遺址原地保留

另外，舊啟德機場的文物資源，如舊遠東飛行學校及魚尾石文物價值屬中等，但宋皇臺石刻文物價值高，若要遷移要進行適當保育，而早前在區內發掘到的龍津碼頭遺址，會原地保留。

啟德發展區除建造郵輪碼頭外，亦會興建公私營房屋、商用辦公室及酒店，樓宇高度上限為六十層，呈梯級狀發展，減低屏風效應。

政府會興建沙中線、環保運輸系統及地區冷卻系統等配套設施，預計工程在二○二○年後完成。

Study plain sailing for proposed cruise hub
11 December 2008
Hong Kong Standard

An environmental and impact study has given the proposed Kai Tak cruise terminal the all clear.

The study by engineering consultants Maunsell Aecom found emissions at residential areas from cars and cruise ships and industrial emissions from San Po Kong, To Kwa Wan and Kwun Tong would comply with current air quality objectives.

Although a planned industrial building on the development's south apron is expected to exceed the one-hour average objective set for sulfur dioxide, the analysis said this is tolerable as the building will be centrally air-conditioned.

The report also recommends central air system intakes for the 328-hectare project be at or below 40 meters above sea level to draw cleaner air.

A total of 1,363 trees will be felled and 887 transplanted, with 5,000 planted in new open spaces and about 1,000 on new roads.

The loss of sea views from nearby districts will be compensated by open space, of which 89.5 hectares will be developed and 1.4 hectares from neighboring areas, the report said.

Hot waste water and chlorine from an ambitious cooling system will only affect a localized area before being broken down.

A 600-meter gap will be opened at the northern section of the former airport runway to improve water circulation and accumulated sediment will be treated to combat odor.

An estimated 1.38 million cubic meters of seabed will be removed for the cruise terminal with another 350,000 cubic meters removed every five to 10 years for maintenance.

To combat traffic noise, the report recommends buildings be set back as far as possible from roads.

Noise barriers are set for some roads to mitigate the effects of a proposed light public transit system.

The report said sensitive areas of schools and housing estates should be also be away from roads.

Windows should be closed during construction to reduce noise.

Areas subject to construction noise include Buddhist Chi King, SKH Kowloon Bay Kei Lock, and Holy Carpenter Primary schools, along with Cognitio and Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College, Lee Kau Memorial School, CCC Kei To Secondary, South Mansion, HK Society for Blind Hostel Grand Waterfront and Hang Chien Court.

The site of the Old Far East Flying Training School, Fish Tail Rock, Sung Wong Toi Inscription Rock and Longjin Pier will be preserved or protected.

By 1.21.6 from HKADB :

http://www.hkadb.com/forum/files/img_9624_filtered_113.jpg

http://www.hkadb.com/forum/files/img_9589_175.jpg

Whoever designed the colour scheme for this orange & green building needs to be shot :ohno:

The land leftover by the closure of Kai Tak has so much potential - I really hope HK does something amazing with it.

Whoever designed the colour scheme for this orange & green building needs to be shot :ohno:

The land leftover by the closure of Kai Tak has so much potential - I really hope HK does something amazing with it.

It's a new residential. There are a few more tall ones in the area but I agree that colour is too sharp against the grit.

Hope for $718m cruise terminal plans
17 December 2008
Lloyd's List

SEVERAL false starts and criticism from cruise line executives have dogged plans by the Hong Kong government to develop a state-of-the-art HK$5.6bn ($718m) cruise terminal at the former airport at Kai Tak, writes Keith Wallis.

But there has been renewed hope that the complex will go ahead after officials pledged taxpayers’ cash for the scheme rather than rely on private sector investment.

This followed an abortive tender earlier this year when the government received just two bids, neither of which conformed to the tender requirements, for a franchise to build and operate the facility.

Instead, the government will seek funding approval possibly as early as next year from local lawmakers to build the two- or three-berth terminal, which will be capable of handling cruiseships up to 220,000 gt.

Commerce and Economic Development Bureau secretary Rita Lau said the first berth will come into operation in mid-2013, about 18 months later than planned.

The delay has already led to an increase in the cost of the terminal from HK$4bn to HK$5.6bn as a result of the rising price of construction raw materials, although given the global economic downturn it is possible the estimated cost could fall.

The go-ahead for the terminal is unlikely to stop criticism of Hong Kong’s lacklustre facilities for cruiseships. In October, the 115,875 gt Diamond Princess became the latest casualty of the inadequate facilities when the ship had to anchor in the harbour and passengers had to embark and disembark using pontoons and launches. Princess Holidays, the general sales agent for Diamond Princess, said dropping anchor in the harbour was equivalent to “dropping a diamond into the water”.

While the territory’s cruise facilities have come under the spotlight, Hong Kong’s ferry network with neighbouring cities in the Pearl River delta has continued to grow.

The latest additions have been made by Turbojet, which, with 31 vessels, already operates Asia’s largest fleet of jetfoils and high-speed catamarans on routes between Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen. In October, Turbojet took delivery of two 47.5 m catamaran ferries that were originally built by Western Australia-based Austal for fellow Hong Kong operator New World First Ferry.

The vessels, capable of operating at speeds of more than 42 knots and carrying 418 passengers, have been deployed on Turbojet’s regional routes including the Hong Kong-Macau service, which carried 17m passengers in 2007, and Macau-Shenzhen international airport.

Turbojet has continued to expand its fleet despite competition from Cotai WaterJets (Macao), which also operates 14 high-speed catamarans between Hong Kong and Macau mainly in support of the gambling-orientated resorts in Macau controlled by Las Vegas Sands.

Ten of the 47.5 m vessels were initially ordered by Cotai WaterJets (Macao) but the company placed an order with Austal for four further ferries, which will be delivered in the first half of 2009.

RTHK News:
Govt go-ahead for HK$103bln Kai Tak plan (http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20090113/news_20090113_56_552014.htm)

Kai Tak takes off
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Details of a long-awaited HK$100 billion plan to transform the Kai Tak airport site into a city-within-a-city with its own international cruise terminal were unveiled by the government yesterday.

Officials also expressed hope to fast- track the first phase of the government- bankrolled scheme by creating 1,500 jobs this year in a bid to ease the strain of the economic crisis.

To do this, the Legislative Council will be asked to release HK$3.3 billion from the public coffers in the second quarter of this year so that seven initial sub-projects can be started.

One of the key features of the plan for the 320-hectare site is to turn the notoriously pungent Kai Tak nullah into a pleasant, more open stretch of water.

Phase one is due to be completed by 2013 and includes the building of 13,000 public housing flats, three schools and a government office building on the north apron of the old airport. It will also contain the first berth of the cruise terminal, a park and a 200-meter long waterfront promenade along with a new cooling system.

This phase - excluding the cruise terminal and runway park - will cost HK$15 billion.

Key transport projects, including Route Six and the MTR Sha Tin to Central Link, will be included in the HK$66 billion phase two part of the scheme to be completed by 2016.

The Kai Tak Approach Channel - better known as the Kai Tak nullah - will be cleaned up using bio-remediation treatment, the creation of a 600-meter wide opening in the former runway to improve water circulation in the channel and the interception of polluted discharges in the hinterland.

"The bio-remediation project is expected to commence in 2011," a government spokesman said, adding that they hoped a significant reduction in odor and improvement in water quality will be seen by 2014.

The second phase will see the completion of the second berth of the cruise terminal, underground streets connecting the new development to Kowloon City and San Po Kong, and a heliport.

The HK$22 billion final phase is due to be completed by 2021. This will include a multipurpose stadium with more than 45,000 seats, sites for residential, commercial developments, a metro park and, perhaps, a monorail and bridge link to Kwun Tong waterfront.

In a separate development, the government is seeking HK$988.3 million from Legco to implement 22 additional minor works projects, bringing the Capital Works Reserve Fund from HK$7.57 billion to HK$8.56 billion and creating 1,600 jobs.

The government spokesman said: "These projects will provide jobs for Hong Kong workers returning from Macau."

The projects include refurbishment of the exterior of 50 government buildings, renovation of aged protective surfaces of 500 slopes, the installation and retrofitting of energy-efficient facilities for various government departments, and provision of green roofs on 40 government buildings.

Total cost of the projects is HK$1.6 billion, of which HK$990 million will be spent in 2009-2010.

From Mingpao (and my translations:)
The former Kai tak Airport will be undergoing massive renovation. The project will be completed in three stages. of which will be completed in 2013, 2016 and 2021 respectively.

Phrase 1 will be a crusier port, a promaide along kuwn tong, and some residental developments.

Phrase 2 will be a cleanage of the current Kai Tak drain, which fouls the smell around it, a heliport, a commercial area and another cruiser port.

Phrase 3 will be a 24km square Metropolitan park, hotels and residental buildings on the former runway, and a multi use sports complex.

The project will also create 86,000 new jobs. The project is expected to cost around HKD 103 billion.

Finally~~~

Now create a harbour we can take pride in
14 January 2009
South China Morning Post

After years of making and revising plans, the government has finally unveiled a development blueprint for the former Kai Tak airport site that looks set to go ahead. At long last, officials have come up with a viable plan that seems to have bypassed the sort of pitfalls and minefields that held up development of Tamar, the Central-Wan Chai bypass and the West Kowloon arts hub. Moreover, the economic climate has worsened, changing public sentiment. It is easier, now, for the government to push ahead with major infrastructure and development projects, given the need to provide work and stimulate the economy.

Along with West Kowloon, the 320-hectare Kai Tak site is the most valuable piece of vacant urban land we have, and one that does not have roads blocking access to our beautiful waterfront. We must make sure it stays that way. The site's development is important to the whole city, not only to those who will move to live there. One major concern is the relative geographic isolation of the site. Planners must ensure easy access for future residents, visitors and tourists. Its success will very much depend on accessibility.

There are two reasons why the latest blueprint will be acceptable to the public. First, the government will pay most of the bill, which will amount to more than HK$100 billion over 12 years. This will help the administration avoid any allegations of collusion with big business interests. Suspicions of this kind contributed to problems for the original plan for West Kowloon to be built by a single developer. The government was forced to backtrack and parcel out the site as individual projects for different bidders. The proposed cruise terminal, a major component of the Kai Tak site's development, was originally to be built and run by a single private operator. But several private bids failed to meet minimum government requirements. Now, the government will be the main builder.

Second, the government recognises the Kai Tak site amounts to a sub-district, so it has something for everyone: schools, public housing flats, private residential development, government offices, parks, a cleaned-up nullah to be turned into a river, a major stadium, tourist attractions and shopping malls. An MTR station connecting Sha Tin and Central will be built, and possibly a monorail. There is also the possibility of a bridge linking the tip of the runway to Kwun Tong. Questions have been raised about whether building this will contravene harbour protection laws against reclamation and block the flow of vessels. It must be carefully thought through.

With the latest blueprint, the government has made an attempt to avoid flaws in the way it had conducted previous public consultations. Since 2004, it has made extensive use of the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee to gauge opinions across different sectors regarding the Kai Tak development. In the past, critics have accused officials of failing to highlight the salient points and hiding the real agenda behind major public projects. In turn, officials have become upset that attempts at transparency have opened them up to attacks and criticism. So even now, Kai Tak's planners should listen to legitimate concerns about their project and, where possible, adopt changes that can bring improvement.

With the Kai Tak blueprint, all the major development plans are now in place. The future landscape of our city is taking shape. Our children will have to live with this for a long time. Let's now create a new harbourside of which Hong Kong can be proud.

hkskyline, I appreciate your updates on Kai Tak. Cheers and thanks.

What scale are of the residential buildings going to be?

I really hope they don't go gung-ho and build massive 屏風樓 there, hope they
won't try to maximise profits for these visual eyesores.
We deserve better !

By nislrahc from dchome :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3248843017_ef20aba1d8_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3249671314_3a90ff676f_o.jpg

QUE BELLA CIUDAD!!

i really really like this plan. How deep is victoria harbour?

Victoria Harbour is famed for being deep - it is Hong Kong's only natural resource and is why the port sprang up in the first place.

I hope they reclaim the nullah and then put a moritorium on all reclamation for good. What's the point of having it there?

Hong Kong's battle to preserve waterfront
5 February 2009
Financial Times

Six of the 14 stations on Hong Kong's Island underground railway line are named after bays or streams that no longer exist, obliterated decades ago by landfill projects that greatly diminished what had been one of the world's most beautiful harbours.

The government's original redevelopment plan for Kai Tak, the city's former airport, threatened to eradicate Kowloon Bay, the last vestige of the once spacious Victoria Harbour.

But when a 12-year, HK$100bn ($12.9bn, €10bn, £8.9bn) blueprint for Kai Tak was finally released last month, environmental activists were pleasantly surprised to find that the Hong Kong government had taken a "zero reclamation option".

"It is a major success - there will not be one square foot of reclamation," says Winston Chu, a solicitor who has led the fight to preserve what remains of the harbour. "This is the last bay left."

Mr Chu, who began his crusade in 1994 at the urging of his late mother, and his fellow campaigners owe much of their success to Hong Kong's independent judiciary and the rule of law, tools not available to would-be citizen activists in other Chinese cities.

Mr Chu has won five of seven lawsuits against the government. Another victory was the protection of the harbour bill adopted on the eve of the former British colony's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. It declared that the harbour "is to be protected and preserved as a special public asset and a natural heritage of Hong Kong people, and for that purpose there shall be a presumption against reclamation".

Six years later, a legal test case set a high bar for proposed reclamations, saying they could proceed only if they met an "overriding public need". One that did is a bypass expressway to be built on the controversial Central and Wanchai (Cantonese for "Little Bay") reclamation, which is in full swing and will reshape the waterfront of Hong Kong's main business district.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's secretary for development, calls it "the final, final piece of reclamation - that's it".

"We respect the law," Ms Lam says. "We should do much better on enhancing the waterfront because Victoria Harbour is such a natural asset . . . It's also about respecting the history of the place." Much of the damage to Hong Kong's harbour was in fact done decades ago by British rulers trapped by huge development pressures in the cramped colony and their fiscal dependence on land sale revenues. Roughly half of Kowloon Bay was lost to reclamations completed by 1977; the new plan for Kai Tak will preserve the bay's remaining 300 hectares.

Mr Chu jokes that Hong Kong's former rulers, perhaps homesick for the Thames, set out to turn Victoria Harbour into Victoria river. He compares the government sanctioned erosion of the harbour that is the city's raison d'être and gave it its name - "Hong Kong" is Cantonese for "fragrant harbour" - to the slow but steady mastications of a silk worm. "It's only one small bite at a time - chomp, chomp, chomp - but then the leaf is gone," he says.

While activists pledge to remain vigilant of future landfill encroachments, their focus is turning to the revitalisation of Hong Kong's dispiriting waterfront. Public promenades are piecemeal and often truncated by industrial installations.

These waterfront wastelands contrast sharply with Hong Kong's world class natural park system, which encompasses almost half the territory's land area. When people seek solace and natural beauty, they head to the hills not the harbour.

"There's no vision for what the harbour might look like one day," says Margaret Brooke, who chairs the best practice committee at the Harbour Business Forum, a concern group backed by many of Hong Kong's leading companies.

"Providing a [continuous] promenade is going to be a nightmare because you've got so much engineering stuff on the harbour . . . We just have to improve it inch by inch. It's a dead economic asset at the moment."

Ms Lam agrees: "We have tended to put a lot of functional things by the waterfront." She says she maintains "an open mind" about the possible creation of a more powerful harbour authority. But she also defends the government's current "bits and pieces" approach to harbour development, citing an HK$18m project to pedestrianise a 200-metre stretch along Kowloon Bay. "We don't want to lose any opportunity to make improvements."

HK never cease to amaze me, always finding space where to create great urban environments! Go HK !

Kai Tak bidders sought
7 March 2009
South China Morning Post

The government is inviting preliminary applications for the design and building of the cruise terminal building at Kai Tak.

Application details have been gazetted. Forms can be obtained from the Architectural Services Department and must be submitted by March 31. The department will then "prequalify" four candidates to take part in the tender exercise.

The Tourism Commission said it was working simultaneously to prepare for the invitation of tenders for the site formation and the cruise terminal building. The move will shorten the construction lead time.

The government will seek funding approval from the Legislative Council later this year for carrying out the site formation work, which is expected to begin before the end of the year. It is hoped the first berth can begin operation by mid-2013.

A Development Bureau spokesman said the 320-hectare development would include residential and commercial buildings, a sports stadium, a cruise terminal and a park. The site has been vacant since the new airport opened in 1998.

The Kai Tak project - drawn up 10 years ago with plans to reclaim about 200 hectares - underwent a major review in 2004 after a court ruled that harbour reclamation had to pass a test of overriding public need. The development scale was reduced to avoid reclamation, and building heights were lowered.

Green issues spur rethink of Kai Tak bridge project
Hong Kong Standard
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The government is having second thoughts about the proposed bridge connecting the former Kai Tak airport southern runway to Kwun Tong because of harbor reclamation concerns, it was claimed yesterday.

The proposed bridge over the Kwun Tong typhoon shelter was set to connect the old town with the Kai Tak redevelopment and at the same time support the environment-friendly monorail system.

But the government is now looking for an alternative route or the possibility of extending the rail system by connecting the monorail to the Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay MTR stations, the source said.

The monorail system is a part of the final stage of the Kai Tak development targeted to be completed in 2021.

Meanwhile, the government plans to ask the Legislative Council in May for HK$1.185 billion to start four public works projects for the Kai Tak development.

Work on the first two projects may begin in the summer, and all four projects are expected to create 739 jobs.

Infrastructure at the north apron area of the old airport will cost HK$564.9 million. It includes the construction of new roads; the realignment of Concorde Road and the extension and widening of Kai Wah Street; construction of footbridges; improvements to existing subways; and the construction of box culverts.

The second project, costing HK$538.1 million, will cover advance infrastructure works at the southern runway including the construction of new roads; improvements to the existing bridge, roads and junctions; construction of a fireboat berth; and a sewage pumping station.

The third and fourth programs are design and consultancy works costing HK$50 million and HK$32 million, respectively.

The Legco panel on development will discuss funding approval Tuesday.

Applications for three other projects - a district cooling system, sewage system in Kowloon City and Truck Road T2 - have been submitted to the panels on environmental affairs and transport.

Plan for Kai Tak monorail may be extended into east Kowloon
25 March 2009
South China Morning Post

Residents of Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong may be able to commute to the future Kai Tak City by monorail under the latest plan for bridging the gap between east Kowloon and the former airport site.

A monorail is already proposed to run the length of the new city, from the tip of the former runway in the south to Kai Tak MTR station in the north.

Now the Civil Engineering and Development Department is looking into whether it could be extended to east Kowloon.

A new bridge had been planned from the tip of the old runway to Kwun Tong but a recent study by the department found this might not be feasible in the short term because the construction could infringe the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.

"To allow vessels to pass under the bridge, it would have to be very high, which is not very user-friendly," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.

As an alternative, the department is studying the feasibility of extending the monorail to neighbouring areas, including Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong, across an existing bridge.

The preferred route would be from the MTR stations in Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay to Kai Tak station on the Sha Tin-Central Link. The rail system is expected to be completed in 2021, subject to the detailed design.

"The extended rail link looks more user-friendly and it serves the same purpose, strengthening the connection of old and new districts," the bureau's spokesman said.

But the spokesman said the study was still at a preliminary stage and a lot of problems had to be solved to implement the plan.

He said the government had to ensure streets in old areas were wide enough for the monorail.

Construction work on the monorail could also be complicated by the busy road traffic and the public utilities carried underground.

The Development Bureau will seek funding of HK$1.18 billion from the Legislative Council for the infrastructure and detailed design of Kai Tak, including a study of the monorail. The infrastructure is expected to be completed in three phases: public housing, cruise terminal and waterfront promenade in 2013; residential development, underground street to Kowloon City and San Po Kong, heliport and Kai Tak station in 2016; and monorail, stadium complex, remaining residential and commercial developments, and the last stage of the district cooling system in 2021.

The first phase is expected to commence in July this year.

Panel smells trouble for Kai Tak nullah plan
1 April 2009
Hong Kong Standard

The stench of the infamous Kai Tak nullah could blight a cruise terminal planned for the site, lawmakers fear _ despite claims by government engineers that they can clean it up.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Wing-tat fears the lingering odor will drive tourists away.

He outlined his worries as the Legislative Council's panel on development began discussions on giving the green light to HK$1.185 billion in funding for four public works programs to transform the old airport site.

One of the programs is made up of site investigations and design of the environmental improvement works in the Kai Tak Approach Channel and Kwun Tong typhoon shelter.

It also includes bioremediation treatment, or the clean-up of contaminated sediment, and the creation of a 600-meter-wide opening on the former runway.

The majority of lawmakers said they have reservations about the government's claim because odor problems in Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, Belcher Bay in Sai Wan and Sha Tin's Shing Mun River are still bothering residents after years of work.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong's Chan Kam-lam said the party supports the projects in principle. But the Kowloon City District Council and residents of To Kwa Wan are worried that once a 600-meter opening is created on the northern runway, the sediment will flush to To Kwa Wan causing a stench.

The Civil Engineering and Development Department said tests on a sample obtained from the Kai Tak Approach Channel and a computer simulation showed satisfactory results.

The department will not create the opening unless repeated tests prove the To Kwa Wan neighborhood will not be polluted.

Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government will continue to listen to public opinion.

Cruise ships in HK set to get a wholelot bigger even before Kai Tak's ready
10 April 2009
South China Morning Post

A leading Europe-based cruise operator plans to base bigger, more modern liners in the city and may do so as soon as 2011 - though they will have to dock at container terminals until the first berth at the new Kai Tak cruise terminal is ready in 2013.

Italy's Costa Crociere cruise line plans to base ships weighing between 90,000 gross tonnes and 115,000 gross tonnes in the city.

Until now, the biggest cruise liner to have been based in the region is Royal Caribbean's 79,491 tonne Rhapsody of the Seas, though it was replaced by a slightly smaller ship that can more easily dock at existing terminals in the region, including Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The European line's 28,400 tonne, 800-passenger Costa Allegra has operated from Hong Kong since 2006. Yesterday, the line's 53,000 tonne Costa Classica arrived to begin service. A second 53,000 tonne liner, the Costa Romantica, will replace the smaller Allegra in May next year.

Although these ships can dock at Ocean Terminal, bigger liners such as the 105,000 tonne Costa Magica, have to berth at the container port in Kwai Chung or anchor in the middle of Victoria Harbour.

The limited berths at Ocean Terminal also mean that not all ships can dock there when they want to. The arrival of the Costa Classica meant the Costa Allegra would have to berth at Kwai Chung today, Massimo Brancaleoni, Costa's vice-president of Asia-Pacific operations, said.

He hopes Costa's bigger liners will be based in Hong Kong "very soon".

"But for sure, it will not be in 2010," he added.

"If we find the same kind of growth rate that we had in the past years, maybe we can consider starting in 2011. But this decision will only be taken in the coming six to eight months because I need to see how active the bookings are for Romantica in 2010."

Costa has cut prices by single-digit percentage points because of the economic downturn, but Mr Brancaleoni said the outlook for the cruise industry was "pretty good".

The government has decided to build a cruise terminal at the former Kai Tak airport after rejecting tenders from the private sector to build it. The first berth is expected to be ready by mid-2013, though terminal facilities may not be completed until 2015.

Singapore expects to complete its International Cruise Terminal next year. It will have two berths capable of accommodating ships nearly twice as big as the largest liners Costa is planning to send to Hong Kong - the 220,000 tonne Genesis-class vessels operated by Royal Caribbean.

Speak out for Kai Tak promenade
15 April 2009
South China Morning Post

Would you like to enjoy an outdoor dining experience on the waterfront of the former Kai Tak airport - the last large piece of undeveloped urban land in Hong Kong?

If the answer is yes, now is the time to speak out, suggests Ah Pak.

Eric Wong Chun-yu, a co-head of Asia property research at UBS, supports an e-mail campaign launched by Designing Hong Kong, a group founded by four individuals including Christine Loh Kung-wai, the chief executive of think-tank Civic Exchange, to oppose the government's current intentions for the site.

There will be no outdoor dining under the government proposal since 80 per cent of the site will be given over to roads.

"Recent international studies showed that every great harbour front, whether in Singapore, Sydney, Vancouver or Cape Town, have roads away from the waterfront. Properties shield the waterfront promenade and provide facilities for culture, entertainment, restaurants and marine support," the group said. "A promenade could be used by pedestrians and cyclists for leisure, recreation, with facilities for outdoor seating and boating."

The solution: just set back the roads from the waterfront and follow the example of successful waterfronts around the world.

Mr Wong declares he is not a member of Designing Hong Kong but shares their view by forwarding the e-mail to friends, relatives, and people of influence to spread the idea.

The roads and the upgrading of the existing taxiway bridge will cost HK$1.1 billion of public money.

The Development Bureau will seek $1.185 billion for the Kai Tak Development's detailed design and construction, and the detailed design of environmental improvement works to the Kai Tak approach channel.

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HK Gov't Press Release:
Infrastructure Works at Kai Tak North Apron gazetted (http://info.gov.hk/gia/general/200904/17/P200904170162.htm)

Tenders invited for infrastructure works for Kai Tak Development (http://info.gov.hk/gia/general/200904/17/P200904170103.htm)

Could put a few good sized skyscrapers there.

You could have a Sheik Zayed Road-style development in that area. For those not familiar with SZR, its basically a road in Dubai lined with skyscrapers.

Come on! FAI DI LA!!!!!

$100m to blow our way as mainlanders cruise in
20 April 2009
Hong Kong Standard

Hong Kong may land an extra HK$100 million a year in a central government plan that will allow mainland tourists to visit the SAR while on Taiwan cruises.

National Tourism Administration director Shao Qiwei, at Boao Forum on Hainan Island, said yesterday he had discussed cruises to several ports including Hong Kong with Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

"The central government has allowed mainland tourists to take Hong Kong- based cruises to Taiwan," Shao said. Cruise operators are mainly based in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"We are considering cruise trials from selected ports, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao, Dalian, Hainan, and Xiamen."

Tourists may visit Hong Kong before going to Taiwan or after returning to the mainland, Shao said.

But he said many details need to be worked out, including immigration and customs matters, to ensure the business is sustainable and of long-term economic benefit.

"Tourists will stay in the cruise ships but not hotels, which means we need comprehensive facilities.''

Most cruise ships berth at Ocean Terminal, which can accommodate vessels of up to 500,000 tonnes. It cannot cater for larger vessels such as the world's second-largest liner, the 151,400-tonne Queen Mary II, which was forced to berth at Kwai Chung container terminal.

The government is building a cruise terminal at Kai Tak but it is scheduled for completion in 2013.

A fewer-than-expected 170,000 mainland tourists visited Taiwan from January to March.

Shao said cross-strait direct flights have just started and it will take time for numbers to grow.

Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association chairman Simon Hau Suk-kei urged the government to build the Kai Tak terminal sooner.

"There will be an annual increase of 20,000 to 30,000 mainland tourists visiting Taiwan when the cruise tours begin. This will translate to an extra HK$100 million of annual economic benefit to Hong Kong," Hau said.

More than 16 million mainland tourists visited Hong Kong last year.

Separately, Premier Wen Jiabao offered a list of sweeteners to Hong Kong on Saturday after talks with Tsang.

They include expanding the number of institutions allowed to issue yuan- denominated bonds, the launch of more bond funds, letting Hong Kong companies in Shanghai and Guangdong use SAR assets as collateral for loans, aiding the distribution of products from Hong Kong-owned factories in the mainland, and expanding access for Hong Kong firms to accountancy, education and training in the mainland.

Work on Kai Tak terminal has to go full speed ahead, say cruise operators
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Cruise operators and the tourism sector have called on the government to speed up work on the Kai Tak cruise terminal and implement interim measures so Hong Kong can cash in on an expected surge in mainland passengers.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai- lan has vowed to improve Hong Kong's soft infrastructure and move full speed ahead on the project, at which the first berth is expected to open in 2013.

Beijing has announced plans to allow mainland tour groups to travel from here to Taiwan on Hong Kong-based cruises. A government spokesman said it is in talks with Beijing on when and how the policy will be implemented.

Half a million mainlanders boarded cruises in Hong Kong last year, but the majority were interested only in overnight gambling, tourism board figures show. Just 80,000 traveled elsewhere.

Inbound Tours Operators' Association chairman Simon Hau Suk-kei expects the policy to bring more than 200,000 mainland tourists - with a spending power of HK$1 billion a year - to Hong Kong. Hau called on the government to help cruises and the ferries carrying passengers to shore to find room for embarking and disembarking at cargo terminals and piers before the completion of the Kai Tak terminal.

Royal Caribbean International operated itineraries between Hong Kong and Taiwan in February, March and April last year and has one cruise using Hong Kong as home port every season. Its representative Joseph Lam Shu-tak said Beijing's plan is good news.

Star Cruises operates five trips a year between Hong Kong and Taiwan. Its spokesman urged the government to enhance communication with the sector on dealing with issues such as high oil prices, facilities and pricing.

Hong Kong set for Taiwan cruise boost
21 April 2009
Lloyd's List

HONG Kong is expecting to pick up substantial new business if the Chinese government gives the green light to cruiseships from Taiwan making calls in Hong Kong, writes Sandra Speares.

Local press reports suggest that China’s central government will allow tourists from mainland China to take cruises from Hong Kong to Taiwan.

Hong Kong has been keen to boost its cruise business with development of a new terminal at Kai Tak, the site of the old airport. The Hong Kong tourism administration is understood to be considering trial cruises from a number of mainland Chinese ports, including Shanghai, Dalian and Qingdao.

Hong Kong’s cruise development will concentrate initially on a 7.6 ha site earmarked at the southern end of the runway. Land next to the cruise terminal is scheduled for development of tourism-related facilities, such as hotels, shopping malls and conference facilities, as Hong Kong seeks to develop a one stop shop to encourage turnaround cruise business. The cruise terminal is scheduled to be completed in four years’ time, following a tender process.

啟德鐵路擬接九龍灣觀塘
3月25日 星期三 09:55

【明報專訊】政府研究未來於啟德發展區興建的環保鐵路運輸系統，打算伸延至九龍灣、觀塘舊區，作為活化新舊區之間的聯繫；但連接機場跑道與觀塘區的鐵路橋工程，可能觸犯《保護海港條例》，或要以其他路線代替。

啟德發展計劃橫跨2013至2021年，2021年區內環保運輸系統就會建成，發展局早前表示，屬意興建單軌鐵路，但原定路線只在啟德兩岸行駛。政府消息人士昨日指出，九龍灣和觀塘的地區人士有意見，希望鐵路延至區內，故政府正考慮更改鐵路走線。

政府消息人士說，延伸鐵路擬採高架路方式，由將來的港鐵啟德站，連接現時的九龍灣站和觀塘站，由於兩區屬已發展的舊區，故要小心考慮高架路、車站等的落點，目前未決定具體走線。

往觀塘天橋或觸《保護海港條例》

現時啟德機場跑道已有一條橋連接九龍灣，原是飛機滑翔跑道，消息人士說，只要略為改建就可供鐵路行走；而跑道南端連接觀塘的天橋，則可能難產。消息指出，《保護海港條例》規定，不可阻礙船在維港航行，而該處卻是通往觀塘避風塘必經航道，當局會研究是否可行，必要時放棄興建，改在九龍灣繞路往觀塘。

Source : http://www.pbase.com/middlehill/

http://www.pbase.com/middlehill/image/88958442.jpg

Source : http://www.fotop.net/samuelng/06052009

http://images5.fotop.net/albums3/samuelng/06052009/DSC_6555.jpg

Gov't Press Release:
LCQ2: New cruise terminal at Kai Tak (http://info.gov.hk/gia/general/200905/20/P200905200144.htm)

Kai Tak residents want flying club out of district after helicopter crash
21 May 2009
South China Morning Post

More than 90 per cent of the residents who live near the former Kai Tak airport in Kowloon City want the Hong Kong Aviation Club - located next to the airport site - to move out, a survey has found.

The Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood interviewed 243 residents between May 4 and May 16 - just days after a chopper crashed into a parked tour bus in the district on May 1. Some 84 per cent of those polled said they were affected by the club's flight activity, while 83 per cent were worried a similar accident could happen again.

Rosanda Mok Ka-han, the association's vice-president and a Kowloon City district councillor, said noise from the flight activity had bothered residents for years. "The May 1 accident is a wake-up call. The population in the district keeps increasing. It is dangerous to allow flying activity in the district," she said.

The helicopter carrying pilot Ng Shu-keung, 48, and his son, Ng Yu-hin, smashed into the front of the bus about 100 metres from where the aircraft was scheduled to land at the club in Sung Wong Toi Road.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department said an investigation into the accident was still under way and a report was expected to be completed early next month. "We have also issued a notice to the club to suspend flight activity at the site until further notice," he said.

Yolanda Wong, the club's general manager, said the club understood residents' concerns.

"Safety of those flying in the air and those on the ground has always been our top agenda. Flight activity is regulated by the Civil Aviation Department and we have to follow guidelines too," she said.

"We hope the residents understand that our work is more than just flying helicopters. We also do lots of aviation education for members of the public."

About 4,000 people - including children - had registered to visit the club during the summer holiday, she said. "But they might be disappointed when they come, as flight activity has been suspended after the accident and we don't know when flying can be resumed."

Cruise ships to get on-shore power supply
12 June 2009
South China Morning Post

The planned terminal for cruise liners at Kai Tak will be one of just a few in the world to offer on-shore power supply to ships - an environmentally friendly alternative to keeping the vessels' engines running.

"Previously when a cruise liner anchored at a terminal, its electricity generator had to keep running, so there would be some emissions [of pollutants such as] carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide," CLP Power director Paul Poon Wai-yin said yesterday after the topping-out ceremony for the first electricity substation at the Kai Tak site.

"But with the on-shore supply system, liners get electricity on shore and can switch off the generators so that there will be no emissions {hellip} in the city centre," he said.

Cruise liners mainly used diesel to generate electricity, Mr Poon said, while the power company used more environmentally friendly resources - apart from coal - such as natural gas and nuclear power.

Another advantage of the on-shore system was its reliability.

Five power substations will be built at Kai Tak. Apart from the cruise terminal, the facilities will also supply energy to nearby government offices, the Sha Tin-to-Central MTR link, the district cooling system, and residential and commercial projects.

The first substation is expected to be commissioned in mid-2012.

Source : http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f40/peace6/

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啟德不填海 造價貴30億
19 June 2009
文匯報 (香港)

【本報訊】啟德郵輪碼頭落實興建，政府最快會於8月就跑道平整工程招標，包括移除跑道兩邊的防波海堤。惟消息人士表示，當局為免牴觸《保護海港條例》，舊啟德機場跑道兩旁的防波海堤不會採用填海方式填平，政府建議將整幅海堤由水面至海床削走，之後加建樁柱，直插海床，上面則興建碼頭設施。業界估計填海需8至10億元，但削堤則貴2至3倍，造價最多需40億元。

昔日讓飛機升降的啟德跑道，至2013年會陸續變身成為有2個泊位的郵輪碼頭，首先要解決的是跑道兩旁的防波海堤，傾斜的海堤原本是用來擋大浪的衝力，保護跑道。不過，日後會阻礙郵輪泊岸，要解決此問題，較為簡單又便宜的方法是填海，將當中的三角位填平，業界估計所填的闊度約是30米。

削堤加樁再建碼頭

但有傳媒引述消息人士指出，因為難以證實填海有凌駕性需要，並不符合《保護海港條例》可能引起訴訟，建議將整幅海堤由水面至海床削走，之後加建樁柱，直插海床，上面則興建碼頭設施，業界估計填海需8至10億元，但削堤則貴2至3倍。

避法律爭議免誤時

工程師學會會長黃耀新表示，削堤是可行方法，亦不是最昂貴的方法，贊成盡量保護海港。而俯瞰下去，海港面積沒有縮細，其他陸地面積亦沒有增大，相信較符合法例上要求。學會認為，為了保護海港，多花公帑亦是值得。

早於2004年保護海港協會就灣仔北填海區上訴，終審法院裁定城規會錯解《保護海港條例》的法律定義，訂下維港填海準則，訂明必須通過「有凌駕性公眾需要」單一測試，而「公眾需要」即指經濟、環境和社會影響需要。其中，啟德郵輪碼頭的填海工程受《保護海港條例》規範，為免牴觸及引起法律爭議，填海時需考慮「有凌駕性公眾需要」及「其他合理選擇」，包括金錢成本、時間及引起延誤。

HK slow to join Asian cruise ship gravy train
6 July 2009
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong is among the last of the major Asian ports to develop a terminal that can handle the world's largest cruise ships, which means planning the itineraries for such liners is not likely until 2011 at the earliest.

The government's planned cruise terminal will be at the former Kai Tak airport site, with the first berth scheduled to be ready by mid-2013. However, terminal facilities may not be completed until 2015. Singapore is on track to complete its International Cruise Terminal next year. Itinerary planning for cruises usually starts about two years in advance.

Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International, said several factors had to be considered.

"If the new terminal in Hong Kong is ready to take ships in mid-2013, then during the year 2011 into early 2012 will be the decision time for us. How do we take advantage of this facility? We have little more than two years from now to see how Legend of the Seas performs, how the market in Asia is performing overall, where we think Hong Kong fits into the strategic picture medium-to-long-term, and what other infrastructure development there is in the region.

"One thing about the cruise industry is it's regional in nature. The home ports are key but you can't be an effective home port if there aren't great ports of call to visit."

US cruise operator Royal Caribbean will deploy its Legend of the Seas in the region for a year from November. At about 70,000 gross tonnes and capacity for more than 2,000 passengers, Legend of the Seas is the smallest ship in its fleet. By the end of next year, the fleet will have 22 ships, 14 of which will be between 90,000 and 220,000 gross tonnes; its Oasis of the Seas is the world's biggest cruise ship.

Hong Kong's new cruise facilities are designed to handle ships like the 6,000-passenger Oasis of the Seas, set to be in service in five months. Mr Goldstein said Royal Caribbean strove to have all passengers embark or disembark within 15 minutes.

At Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Oasis of the Seas would initially sail from, there were 90 immigration counters to process incoming passengers and 24 customs counters, although this was not necessarily what Hong Kong needed, he said.

At present, ships larger than Legend of the Seas cannot dock at Ocean Terminal and are usually diverted to the container terminal in Kwai Chung or have to anchor in the middle of the harbour.

Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbarkey/sets/72157620907047119/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3694260837_ba3605b3e7_b.jpg

Source : http://www.pbase.com/specialteam

http://www.pbase.com/specialteam/image/114828791/original.jpg

Tenders invited for Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Development work
Friday, July 17, 2009
Government Press Release

The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (July 17) invited tenders for site formation works for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Development.

The scope of the project "Site Formation for Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Development" comprises construction of an 1,100-metre-long seawall, two alongside berths and necessary mooring and fender systems, including 850m-long berthing structures and about 150m-long associated transition structures at two ends, for berthing of cruise vessels.

It also provides for a 35m-wide apron area along the berthing length, and dredging of adjoining seabed to allow manoeuvring and berthing of cruise vessels with deep drafts.

The works are scheduled to begin this December with target commission of the first berth to receive cruise vessels in mid-2013. The remaining works will be completed in 2014.

The Civil Engineering and Development Department has commissioned Scott Wilson Ltd to design and supervise the construction works.

The invitation to tender was gazetted today and the closing time of the tender will be noon on August 28.

Hong Kong invites cruise terminal tenders
21 July 2009
Lloyd's List

OFFICIALS have formally invited tenders for the construction of two berths and associated facilities as part of Hong Kong’s HK$5.6bn ($718m) cruise terminal at the city’s former international airport, writes Keith Wallis in Hong Kong.

Construction contractors have until August 28 to submit their bids for the Hong Kong government-funded scheme, which has been designed by marine engineering consultancy firm Scott Wilson.

Under the plans, contractors will build an 850 m long berthing structure that will be capable of handling two cruiseships together with mooring and fender system offshore from the former airport’s old runway. There will also be a 1,100 m long sea wall and two 150 m link structures to connect the berthing piers with the shore. Extensive dredging will be carried out to create a turning basin and deepen the harbour alongside the terminal.

Work is due to begin in December in time for the first berth to handle its first cruiseship in mid-2013. This is about 18 months later than was originally planned when the terminal was first proposed in 2006.

The first berth will be capable of handling cruiseships up to 220,000 gt.

The Tourism Commission, which is co-ordinating development of the terminal, is also preparing to invite tenders for the design and construction of the main 103,140 sq m cruise terminal building and ancillary facilities. Construction is expected to take about 30 months.

Gov't Press Release:
CEDD (Civil Engineering and Development Department) awards contract for Kai Tak development infrastructure works (with photo) (http://info.gov.hk/gia/general/200907/28/P200907280115.htm)

HK is awesome !!

New home arising. An exhibit showing plans for the old Kai Tak airport area has...
29 July 2009
South China Morning Post

New home arising. An exhibit showing plans for the old Kai Tak airport area has opened at the Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery. The model has been set up across 460 square metres in the Murray Road multi-storey car park building while the permanent venue at City Hall undergoes expansion. It will serve until the five-storey gallery opens in 2012. The model includes interactive displays featuring railways, new towns, heritage works and harbour developments.

All-new Kai Tak gets ready for take off
29 July 2009
The Standard

The first contract - worth HK$350 million - to build the infrastructure at the Kai Tak project has gone to the engineering firm Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong.

The Civil Engineering and Development Department said work will begin on Friday and is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

A total of 306 jobs will be created, comprising 243 workers and 63 professional and technical staff.

The contract involves building about 2.6 kilometers of road in the Kai Tak north apron area, including traffic control, maintenance and diversion of existing roads and two footbridges. Associated drainage includes box culverts, sewerage and water mains and enhancing and extending existing subways, landscape and environmental mitigation measures.

The infrastructure will serve public housing and government office development at Kai Tak.

The waterfront site has stood empty since the airport moved to Chek Lap Kok in 1998.

The project, which will cost more than HK$100 billion will be completed in three phases.

Phase one, to be finished in 2013, includes 13,000 public housing flats, three schools and a government offices.

It will also contain the first berth of a cruise terminal, a park and a 200-meter long waterfront promenade.

The second phase will see the completion of the second berth of the cruise terminal, underground streets connecting the new development to Kowloon City and San Po Kong, and a heliport.

The final phase is due to be completed by 2021.

It will include a multipurpose stadium with more than 45,000 seats, sites for residential and commercial development. A metro park is also planned and possibly a monorail and bridge link to Kwun Tong waterfront.

Source : http://www.pbase.com/specialteam/beacon_hill

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Source : http://www.fotop.net/KinInNature

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啟德研究環保運輸系統
http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20090829/00407_015.html

【本報訊】啟德規劃發展即將動工，土木工程拓展署邀請顧問提交意向書，研究啟德發展區內的環保運輸系統。研究範圍除了單軌列車外，還包括磁浮列車、纜索系統、無軌電車及自動行人扶手電梯等，分析各有關系統的可行性及成本效益，研究預計需時約一年。

啟德發展區進行的基建工程將分三個階段完成，首階段包括興建學校、政府合署及郵輪碼頭等，預計將於二○一三年完成。按照構思，啟德發展區會採用環保運輸系統，貫通發展區南北及區內的沙中線車站，當局曾考慮在啟德跑道南端興建天橋接駁至觀塘海濱，但因天橋要橫跨觀塘避風塘，有機會牴觸《保護海港條例》。政府要求顧問公司研究啟德交通網絡系統，並研究替代路線，包括考慮改為以啟德跑道中端的舊飛機滑行道，改建成連接天橋。

政府屬意在啟德使用環保鐵路運輸系統，顧問公司需分析啟德未來住宅發展及人口數目，研究使用既安全、可信賴、高質素及舒適的鐵路運輸系統，又切合區內實際發展需要。

CEDD awards contract for Kai Tak development infrastructure works
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Government Press Release

The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (September 2) awarded a contract of about $407 million for Stage 1 infrastructure works at the former runway area of Kai Tak Airport.

The contract comprises construction of about a 1.8 km long single two-lane carriageway, associated drainage, sewerage and water mains works, and a fireboat berth and public landing steps at the former runway and south apron of Kai Tak Airport.

The main objective of the works is to provide infrastructure to serve the early development in the southern part of the former runway area – the first berth of the cruise terminal and the runway park.

The works will begin on Friday (September 4) and are scheduled for completion in about 46 months. The works will create 308 jobs, comprising 245 for labourers and 63 for professional/technical staff.

The works have been designed by AECOM Asia Co Ltd, which will also supervise the construction.

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Hong Kong's airport set for multi-billion dollar takeoff
Agence France-Presse
2009-09-30
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1069684&lang=eng_news


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RTDejS47j8


It's probably the most valuable strip of derelict land in the world.

The defunct Kai Tak airport sits right in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor and is estimated to be worth up to US$40 billion - the equivalent, experts say, of around 30 of the world's tallest skyscrapers.

"It is a jewel," said Nicholas Brooke, chairman of Hong Kong-based Professional Property Services. "I'm sure it's the most valuable piece of derelict land in the world."

And Kai Tak was, until it closed in 1998, also one of the scariest airports in the world.

Planes would make a gut-tingling sharp turn over hilly Kowloon and then pass so close to apartment blocks that passengers felt they could almost touch laundry as it dried on balconies. But, since the new Norman Foster-designed airport was opened on reclaimed land a half-hour's fast train ride from the city, the Kai Tak site has been crumbling.

"Kai Tak is right at the heart of Hong Kong," said Brooke, who sits on the Harbor Enhancement Committee, a group that advises the government on land use around the city's waterfront.

"To have the opportunity to create a business district or a residential district right in the center of a capital city - it's unique," he added.

"And that is why it has attracted such a high value, a land value of between US$25 and US$40 billion."

The land is worth around 30 International Finance centers, Brooke said, referring to a huge glass and steel tower that dominates Hong Kong's skyline and is the world's fifth biggest office building.

To further try to illustrate the sheer scale of the land's value, Brooke added: "In terms of medium rise property, it's worth two square kilometers of Manhattan - and all of (London's) Canary Wharf."

In a city where a luxury studio apartment sold recently for more than US$3 million, there is no shortage of developers who would be keen to get a slice of the old airport pie.

There is water on two sides, views over the harbor and no pesky residents or businesses that need to be moved out of the bulldozers' way.

Kai Tak has been dormant for more than a decade because the city's authorities struggled to reach a consensus about what exactly to do with it. It is in their interests to make use of the site, as almost a third of the Hong Kong government's revenues come from land sales.

Also, thanks to a moratorium on land reclamation from the ever-shrinking harbor, there is unlikely to be any more new land in the future to sell-off - further pushing up Kai Tak's value and increasing the need for action. And now, finally, work has begun on an ambitious redevelopment scheme.

A scale model of plans for the site sits in the lobby of the government's planning offices on the outskirts of Kowloon.

The 320 hectare site will have a sports stadium, a public park and, at the tip of the peninsula, a cruise terminal. And, of course, in the middle of the old runway will be some of Hong Kong's most exclusive housing.

Eric Yue Chi-kin, Kowloon's chief planning officer, buzzed proudly around the model: "Going down here is the runway precinct," he said, pointing at some apartment blocks that look - even in model form - hyper expensive.

"It is a very unique location, because it has water on two sides and has a very spectacular, panoramic view to the Victoria Harbor."

The Hong Kong government plans to pump US$2.6 billion into getting the infrastructure up to scratch, and hopes to put the contract for the first phase, the cruise terminal, out to tender by the end of the year.

Mak Chi-biu is the chief engineer for the site and the man in charge of turning Yue Chi-kin's dream into reality.

He stands in a tall building looking down over the long slab of broken, weed-infested land that cuts into Victoria Harbor - and out into Hong Kong's future.

"The whole development cost will be about US$12.8 billion," he said, sweeping his hand up to the tip of the peninsula, where the cruise terminal will be. "The idea is to make Hong Kong a cruise hub of the Asia-Pacific region."

So the runway, which was expanded by the slave labor of prisoners of war during the Japanese occupation in World War II, will again have construction workers swarming all over it. It should all be finished somewhere around 2025.

But property experts urge the government to be cautious and stick to the elements of the plan which offer something to the public.

"Kai Tak is an asset that I think has to be shared by everybody," Brooke said. "You could build luxury there and sell it all off to investors from mainland China.

"But I think we have to build something where there is a range of housing so that people from all walks of life can participate. There is a great danger that you do something very exclusive and you shut out the majority."

:banana:

I have one suggestion on these project. Please don't build any commie block building please. This city is already the most expensive city in term of real estate. They need to build something like a Dubai-like buildings were it is fancy and modern. How come the realtors always build something cheap yet they set the price to hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. That doesn't make any sense. Are they taking advantage of it due to the location? I am not going to live in apartment that looks simple yet it cost too much. For example, studio apartment that costs $3 million US dollars and it's in a commie block building. It's a new building but it looks like a simple commie block.

I have one suggestion on these project. Please don't build any commie block building please. This city is already the most expensive city in term of real estate. They need to build something like a Dubai-like buildings were it is fancy and modern. How come the realtors always build something cheap yet they set the price to hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. That doesn't make any sense. Are they taking advantage of it due to the location? I am not going to live in apartment that looks simple yet it cost too much. For example, studio apartment that costs $3 million US dollars and it's in a commie block building. It's a new building but it looks like a simple commie block.

Developers don't pay a lot for the building, but a lot on the land premium. That's where all the money goes.

Dubai-like buildings are exactly what I don't want.

Did that proposed aviation museum at the tip of the runway ever get the green light? Methinks it would be more of a feature than the planned cruise ship terminal.

Did that proposed aviation museum at the tip of the runway ever get the green light? Methinks it would be more of a feature than the planned cruise ship terminal.

As far as I know, the originally proposed Aviation Museum has been ruled out due to the cancellation of reclamation.

heeee wow

Develop some of it but also turn some of it into a public park

By fatshe :

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Kai Tak key to World Cup hopes
30 October 2009
SCMP

A new 50,000-seater stadium at Kai Tak would seal the deal for Hong Kong to host a pool of the 2019 World Cup, according to top official Trevor Gregory.

Hong Kong Rugby Football Union chairman Gregory yesterday called for a pledge from the government for the venue to be ready, despite the stadium being earmarked for the third phase of construction at the old airport, with a completion date of 2021.

Gregory will meet his Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Tokyo to continue pressing claims to host a pool of the 2019 World Cup, which has been awarded to Japan. He said his task would be made easier if the government gave an assurance that the new stadium, which is part of the HK$100 billion Kai Tak development project, would be ready by 2019.

"If we can get a solid confirmation from the government the new stadium will be ready by 2019, then that would be the most compelling reason we can offer Japan, and ultimately the International Rugby Board, that the World Cup should be spread around Asia," Gregory said.

"The last we heard was the stadium will now be ready by 2018. But we need a firm guarantee that this is the case. If we have a bigger stadium, with a minimum of 50,000 seats, we can sell more tickets, which would mean more financial reason to have the World Cup in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong Stadium has a capacity of 40,000.

The Japanese Rugby Football Union had said Hong Kong and Singapore could host some matches in 2019. But tournament organiser the Rugby World Cup Ltd has stated a host country could not use outside venues unless there were compelling reasons. Gregory said the best assurance he could give Japanese officials would be a bigger and better stadium, which could translate into larger financial returns.

"They [JRFU] have not insisted we have a new stadium," Gregory said. "But it will make our case much stronger if the new facility is available. That will tick a big box if the government can guarantee the Kai Tak Stadium will be ready before 2019."

JRFU chairman Nobby Mashimo said yesterday he would respect the decision of tournament organisers but underlined the importance of boosting the game across Asia.

"We will meet with the RWCL [Rugby World Cup Limited] next week and formally begin the planning process for 2019," Mashimo said. "The tournament may be 10 years away but while the IRB council ultimately decides on venues, it is our responsibility to highlight the legacy benefits for Asia."

Japan and Hong Kong officials will be closely watching the English RFU, which as host of the 2015 World Cup, has asked to stage matches in Wales.

"The RWC wants compelling reasons for a host to move the tournament outside. What more compelling reason can we give them than the fact that it would spread the game around Asia," Gregory added.

Mashimo, who will host IRB president Bernard Lapasset at the Bledisloe Cup, added:

"We plan to deliver a tournament that puts Japanese rugby on the world map and leaves a lasting legacy that will benefit Asia."

Third hub at Kai Tak to `help wealth gap'
10 November 2009
The Standard

Hong Kong will eventually have three important commercial districts which should help narrow the wealth gap, development minister Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday.

In response to criticism by Democrat lawmaker Lee Wing-tat that the wealth gap will continue to worsen if important commercial activities continue to be concentrated in Central and Wan Chai, Lam said the government was also looking to develop high-class commercial clusters in West Kowloon and Kai Tak.

She said West Kowloon would eventually become a first-class commercial district figuring clusters of commercial buildings and activities on 50 to 100 hectares of land.

After Kai Tak is developed it will become another commercial district, though it will probably be a class lower than either Central or West Kowloon.

``There are not much Class A or Class A-plus office space in the city. We cannot just allocate a piece of land in Kwun Tong and say it is Class A,'' Lam said. ``Just one or two blocks will not be enough. We need to set aside at least 500,000 square meters.''

As such, the first goal is to develop West Kowloon as it is closer to Central, Lam said. After that the government will look at Kai Tak.

Civic Act-up lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau- lan and Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan Shuk-chong, meanwhile, expressed concern as to whether the government's decision to relocate 58,000 square meters of commercial floor area _ originally destined for New Central Harborfront Site 1 and 2 _ to the Wan Chai North waterfront will worsen traffic congestion despite the construction of the Central bypass. Permanent secretary for development (planning and lands) Thomas Chow Tat-ming said it would not.

Hong Kong to monitor cruiseship waiver fees
13 November 2009
Lloyd's List

THE Hong Kong government said it will closely monitor waiver fees paid by cruiseships berthing at container terminals after cruise operators said the charge would weaken the city’s cruise industry, writes Hui Ching-hoo in Hong Kong.

Many cruiseships are unable to berth at Ocean Terminal, the main passenger terminal in Hong Kong, due to conflicting schedules and ships exceeding the terminal’s handling capacity. The vessels are instead forced to berth at the city’s container terminal in Kwai Chung.

Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So said that container terminal operators were required to settle a waiver fee with the Lands Department for exemption from the restriction of land use.

However, cruise operators voiced concerns about the criteria the authorities had applied in determining the waiver fee. They asked whether the fee should be reduced or abolished before the launch of the first cruise terminal in 2013 in order to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s cruise industry.

Answering the questions in a meeting of the Legislative Council, Mr So said that the fee was calculated on the basis of the enhancement in rental value brought about by the new land use. Container terminal operators might request cruiseship operators to pay the fee.

“The Lands Department will continue to monitor the various indicators for waiver fee assessment to ensure they reflect actual market situations,” Mr So added.

He said that the number of cruiseships berthed at container terminals had increased from six in 2008 to 10 this year. “Diamond Princess, for instance, has increased its number of calls at Hong Kong from three in 2008 to six for both 2009 and 2010,” he said.

He added that the waiver fee alone was not critical to the development of cruise tourism in Hong Kong. The government’s top priority was to ensure the completion of the first berth of the new cruise terminal in mid-2013. The HK$5.6bn ($718m) cruise terminal is located at Hong Kong’s former international airport, Kai Tak. The first berth will be capable of handling cruiseships up to 220,000 gt.

According to Hong Kong Tourism Board, a total of 123 cruises called in Hong Kong terminals in 2009, with up to 158,000 passengers.

LCQ17: Temporary supporting facilities of Shatin to Central Link
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Regina Ip and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 18):

Question:

I have learnt that the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has planned to build a large-scale temporary concrete plant, a stockpiling depot, a rubble crushing facility and a barging point next to Hoi Sum Park and in the Kai Tak Development Area during the implementation of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project. The barging point therein will be located only about 300 metres away from the residential area in the vicinity. Moreover, the Government is going to carry out a number of projects under the Kai Tak Development plan (including Kai Tak City Centre, the cruise terminal and Metro Park, etc), as well as the project for the Kowloon Bay section of the Central Kowloon Route which will be constructed within the Kai Tak Development Area. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether the various government departments concerned will communicate and coordinate with MTRCL to arrange for the projects in the Kai Tak Development Area to make use of the temporary supporting facilities of the SCL project so as to minimise the impact on the residents and the environment in the district?

Reply:

President,

We have suggested setting up temporary stockpiling areas, concrete batching plant and barging points adjacent to Hoi Sum Park and in the Kai Tak Development Area to handle the huge amount of excavation materials which will be produced during the construction of the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) and the Kwun Tong Line Extension (KTE) railway tunnels and stations, with a will to treat these excavated materials in the most efficient and environmental friendly way. With these facilities, the excavated materials can be stored temporarily and sorted properly. Good quality rocks which are sorted out as suitable for concrete production will be transported to the batching plant. Soil can be used for backfilling near the tunnels and stations. Those unsuitable materials or surplus rocks and soils will be delivered to the barging points via the shortest route and be transported by barges to the designated handling area. Such an arrangement will not only reduce the amount of construction wastes, but also minimise the possible environmental and traffic impact caused by the transportation of the excavated materials.

Originally, we also proposed to set up a temporary barging point near Hoi Sham Park. During the public consultation of the SCL and KTE railway projects, we received a lot of concerns expressed by the local bodies and residents about the aforesaid temporary facilities. Taking into account these concerns, we decide not to set up a barging point adjacent to Hoi Sum Park.

In future, the excavated materials from the KTE project will be transported to the temporary barging point near the International Mail Centre at Hung Hom and it will not affect the surrounding environment. The excavated materials from the SCL project will be handled by the temporary barging point at the ex-Kai Tak Airport Runway. The selected site at the ex-Kai Tak Airport Runway has sufficient distance from the nearest residential buildings so that the impact due to the operation of the barging point on the residents nearby can be minimised.

The Government and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) understand that both citizens and Council members have serious concern about the adverse environmental effects due to the setting up and the operation of the temporary facilities in Kai Tak Development Area. As such, consultants have been engaged to carry out a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment for the project and to propose the associated mitigation measures. The report of the Environmental Impact Assessment will be released for public inspection and comments. The report will also be examined by the Environmental Protection Department before the Environmental Permit for Construction is issued. The temporary facilities will be properly controlled under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, such that there will not be any adverse impact on the residents nearby and the surrounding environment.

Relevant government departments and the MTRCL have been closely communicating and coordinating with each other for the implementation of all the projects in the Kai Tak Development Area with a will that the implementation programmes, the arrangements on the associated works sites and the use of supporting facilities, etc can be properly coordinated.

Relevant government departments will also continue to study the possibility of using the SCL project temporary supporting facilities for the other projects in the Kai Tak Development Area, if the time and land constraints can be accommodated. However, we have to point out that the SCL project temporary supporting facilities will be used mainly on the project itself at its initial stage because of the huge demand. When the construction peak of the railway project is over, the facilities may accommodate the need from other engineering projects. The Railway Development Office of Highways Department will take up the coordination role proactively so that the MTRCL can co-operate with other works departments with a will to reduce the impacts of the construction activities on the residents and the environment in the district.

Cool savings as Kai Tak project sets green trend
The Standard
Tuesday, December 08, 2009

The HK$1.67 billion district cooling system set to be installed at the Kai Tak development is expected to cut electricity consumption by up to 35 percent compared to traditional air- conditioning systems.

The eco-friendly cooling system can cover 1.73 million square meters and cool 30 40-story buildings. It is expected to save up to 850 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, equivalent to the annual consumption of 18,000 households.

It can also reduce 59,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide - equivalent to the emission from 9,000 people.

It will cool all government buildings and government- funded facilities such as schools and hospitals.

The first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in time for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal's opening in 2013.

"Once the land for private development is sold, the government will encourage developers to adopt the system as well," Principal Assistant Secretary for the Environment Katharine Choi Man-yee said yesterday.

She said the exact tariff rate will need approval from the Legislative Council, but she is confident the system will appeal to private developers.

The system's massive ground level plant in the north of the Kai Tak development and an underground plant in the south will make chill water which will be distributed to buildings through underground pipes. Heat exchangers at each building will then turn the chilled water into cool air.

"Extra spaces such as rooftops can be turned into gardens and the heat island effect can be reduced," Assistant Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Alfred Sit Wing-hang said.

The tender process will end early next year and construction will begin immediately. The second and final phases will be completed by 2016 and 2021, respectively.

The same cooling system is being considered for the West Kowloon cultural district project.

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Asian Games bid 'more likely'
15 December 2009
SCMP

The success of the East Asian Games has strengthened official resolve to explore the possibility of Hong Kong staging the 2019 Asian Games.

Tsang Tak-sing, the Secretary for Home Affairs, said yesterday he was confident the territory could stage a successful Asian Games in 10 years, and also promised that the new sports hub, which will include a new stadium at the former Kai Tak airport site, would be ready by then.

"These East Asian Games have shown us what benefits hosting an Asian Games will bring to Hong Kong, but we have to listen to the people and we would have to devote a substantial amount of resources to it," said Tsang, the government's top sports official.

"But first, a decision [to make a bid for 2019] has to be made by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee. We can only act after a formal decision has been taken, for right now we have only spoken informally."

Hong Kong Olympic chief Timothy Fok Tsun-ting was bullish about a 2019 bid, but said he would wait until the dust settled from the East Asian Games euphoria before assessing whether to go ahead with plans to host the bigger Games.

"The success of the East Asian Games shows we have got a mandate from the government as well as the public to host the 2019 Asian Games. But I know quite a few countries have expressed interest in hosting these Games and we will have to assess everything before making a decision," Fok said.

It is believed that Manila, Dubai and Taipei were all interested in hosting the 2019 Asian Games.

Hong Kong made an unsuccessful bid - which cost HK$15 million - to host the 2006 Asian Games, losing out to Doha, Qatar.

The next Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou next year, while the 2014 event will be held in Incheon, South Korea. The Asian Games cycle will be changed then, with the 18th edition to be held a year late, in 2019, so that it falls a year before the Olympics.

While only nine countries and regions took part in 22 sports in Hong Kong's first multi-sports event over the past fortnight, the Asian Games will feature about 40 sports and about 44 countries, which means Hong Kong will need extra facilities.

Tsang promised that the sports hub on the old airport site - part of the government's HK$100 billion Kai Tak development project - which would include a 45,000-seater stadium, would be ready.

"We will have the facilities in place by then. The Kai Tak sports hub will be finished by 2017, or no later than 2018," Tsang said.

Tsang was also pleased at the medal tally won up the local athletes - 100 medals, including 26 golds.

"I'm especially pleased that we won a gold medal in team sports - in soccer - for the first time at an international games," he said.

Hong Kong beat Japan in a penalty shoot-out to secure soccer gold at Hong Kong Stadium.

SCED speaks on Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Government Press Release

The following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, to the media after attending the ground-breaking ceremony of the site formation for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal today (December 23):

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: We are very pleased to witness the commencement of the site formation works for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. The commencement signifies a very big and major step forward in the development of cruise tourism in Hong Kong. Work is also being undertaken to proceed with the design and construction of the cruise terminal building. We are hoping to get our proposal to the Legislative Council for funding support probably in the middle of next year. This will be an iconic building not only in Hong Kong, but also in this whole part of the region. Passengers on board will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of our Victoria Harbour. The terminal facilities will of course be on a par with the best of international facilities. The hospitality services that Hong Kong are renowned for will be offered in this new cruise terminal building.

Reporter: Singapore is also going to be developing its own cruise terminal. But because of delay, it is going to open before Hong Kong. Are you concerned about Hong Kong being overshadowed by other regions' lead?

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: We have our own development plan to promote the tourism industry in Hong Kong. We are aware of the developments in the region. Each city or each economic entity may have its own plan for development. The important thing for Hong Kong and the tourism industry is to really try to enhance its strength so that we remain a very competitive and attractive tourist destination, not only within this region but also around the world.

Anchors aweigh at cruise site
24 December 2009
The Standard

Construction of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal has begun, with officials confident they can stick to the HK$2.3 billion budget for site formation work, which includes berthing facilities.

The whole project will cost HK$7.2 billion.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday marks a milestone in the territory's efforts to further develop cruise tourism.

``The government is committed to enhancing tourism infrastructure and supporting software to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a premier cruise hub in the region,'' Tsang said.

Ultimately, the SAR will have four cruise berths catering to ships of various sizes.

The new terminal will have two berths with no height limit on the vessels it services.

The first is expected to be completed in 2013 and will have room for the world's largest cruise ships, such as the Costa Classica and the Oasis of the Seas that have a gross tonnage of more than 220,00 tonnes.

The second berth, available in 2014, will be able to accommodate medium-sized vessels.

The government is also assessing tenders for a second works contract, which involves the design and construction of the terminal building.

Construction on that project is expected to begin next year and should be completed by 2015.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said the terminal will become an iconic landmark.

Lau hopes to get the terminal proposal to the Legislative Council for funding by the middle of next year.

She said the government is committed to developing the cruise market in Hong Kong.

As a result, it will continue to liaise with the industry and neighboring ports and concentrate on improving service quality to ensure it remains a leading competitor in the industry. The Advisory Committee on the Cruise Industry has been established to advise the government on policies to further develop the territory as a regional hub.

In April, Beijing brought in regulations allowing mainland tour groups traveling to Taiwan to board cruise ships that are based in Hong Kong.

About 20 sailings from Hong Kong to Taiwan with a total capacity of about 30,000 passengers will be launched next year.

Costa Crociere marketing manager Eunice Lee Sau-yan and Royal Caribbean International international representative Joseph Lam are upbeat about the Hong Kong market.

Lam said: ``There should be more terminals that can berth larger vessels, as well as more training of talent to handle the cruise business.''

I have blog and I thanks to say you thanks. Regards!

By watermark from skyscrapers.cn :

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Full speed ahead as work finally starts on Kai Tak cruise terminal
24 December 2009
SCMP

Construction work on the long-awaited Kai Tak cruise terminal finally began yesterday, after the site lay vacant for more than a decade.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the terminal's site formation work, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said the government was building the terminal at "full pace" in view of the tremendous potential of the cruise industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

"After the first berth commences operation in 2013, the new terminal will be able to berth the world's largest and most advanced cruise vessels," he said. "It will provide high-quality infrastructure for the long-term development of the cruise industry in Hong Kong and in the region."

The second berth will be available in 2014 for medium-sized cruise vessels and will begin to accommodate mega-cruise ships after underwater gas mains are relocated.

With Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong will have a total of four berths for different types and sizes of vessels.

The HK$2.3 billion site formation work involves the construction of berthing facilities, including the building of a sloping sea wall of 1,100 metres and an apron area to berth cruise vessels of different sizes and capacities. It also involves the dredging of 1.38 million cubic metres of sediment.

The government is assessing tenders for the design-and-build contract for the terminal building, for which construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2014/15.

"We are hoping to get our proposal to the Legislative Council for funding support [of this contract] in the middle of next year," Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said.

Late last year, the government abandoned tendering and decided to build the cruise terminal by itself, after its failure to find a suitable candidate in two rounds of tendering.

The administration will fund, design and build the cruise terminal, and lease it to an operator while retaining ownership of the site and terminal. Situated at the tip of the old Kai Tak airport runway, the new terminal will form part of the 320- hectare Kai Tak project that was first drawn up 10 years ago.

The current scheme, approved in 2007, will be developed in three phases and include public housing flats, schools, a government office building, a hospital and railway link. The whole project will be completed in 2021.

The chief executive said the government would strengthen liaison with the cruise market and neighbouring ports, improve service standards and enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong in the regional cruise market.

Green public housing estate to rise at former Kai Tak airport
18 January 2010
South China Morning Post

An energy-saving system will be installed at the public estate planned at the former Kai Tak airport to help cut carbon emissions, according to the Housing Department.

Occupying 9.17 hectares, the estate will comprise 15 blocks with 13,300 flats and is expected to be completed by 2013.

Deputy director Ada Fung Yin-suen said the housing estate had adopted a sustainable and environmentally friendly principle for the development.

"We will use an energy-saving system to help cut down carbon emissions. Solar energy will also be used," she said.

"The public housing estate has reserved areas for the green belt. The green belt is about 2.7 hectares, which is about 30 per cent of the construction site."

A cooling system will be installed in the shopping mall.

There will also be LED (light emitting diode) lighting and a water-saving system.

A grid-connected solar energy system covering 1,200 square metres will be installed, supplying about 2 per cent of the electricity in each block.

Paths and flower beds will be built using recycled construction materials, some of them coming from the demolition of old public housing estates in the city. There also will be an electric car-charging system in the estate's car parks.

The department has conducted micro-climate studies to ensure good ventilation around the estate.

It also will reserve an area to set up an exhibition gallery showcasing the history of Kai Tak airport.

Shenzhen to launch seaplane service as HK delays approval
7 January 2010
SCMP

Hong Kong-based WaterfrontAir, which originally planned to operate a seaplane service between the city and Macau, will launch seaplane flights from Shenzhen to Macau and Guangzhou in the fourth quarter of this year.

WaterfrontAir and Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal Services Company, a subsidiary of the Shenzhen Airport Company, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding to provide seaplane services from the Shenzhen Airport ferry pier to neighbouring cities in the Pearl River Delta.

WaterfrontAir, which will have its headquarters in Shenzhen, hopes to launch seaplane services from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macau next year. The company will start with seaplane flights from the special economic zone to Macau and Guangzhou.

The firm, set up by entrepreneurs Michael Agopsowicz of Canada and Peter de Kantzow of Australia, will lease a fleet of 18-seater DHC-6 Twin Otter floatplanes for the flights.

WaterfrontAir has been pressing ahead since last year with the plan to operate a scheduled seaplane service between a new Kai Tak waterfront aerodrome and the Pak On ferry terminal near Macau's Cotai Strip.

The Tourism Commission and the Tourism Board have given their backing for the proposal, saying it will enhance Hong Kong's appeal. But the project needs to pass an assessment of its environmental impact.

Scheduled seaplane services operated between Hong Kong and Macau between the 1930s and 1950s.

"It takes a long time to get approval for launching seaplane flights in Hong Kong, and we have decided to start our operations in Shenzhen as the city happened to be a lot faster in granting the green light," Agopsowicz said.

The company intends to commission an environmental impact assessment and a noise impact assessment in the first half of the year.

"If things proceed smoothly, we expect to launch seaplane flights between Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macau next year," said de Kantzow, the son of Cathay Pacific co-founder Sydney de Kantzow, who also set up Macau Air Transport Company in 1948.

The flight from Hong Kong to Shenzhen will take 15 minutes, compared with 45 minutes for the Hong Kong to Guangzhou trip. The flight from Hong Kong to Macau would take 20 minutes.

The firm plans to charge about HK$2,800 for a one-way trip between Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

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Aging areas want to get on track
19 February 2010
The Standard

Most people living in Kowloon City want the Kai Tak light rail system to pass close to their homes to help revitalize the old district.

A survey by the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong found more than 95 percent of respondents agreed with the construction of the railway.

Some 85 percent felt it would revitalize their aging area and help merge it with newer districts.

More than 85 percent of 795 respondents also wanted it to link up with To Kwa Wan, another aging area in the district, where a building collapsed earlier this month killing four people.

``The lack of attention to the To Kwa Wan area is probably one of the reasons why a building there actually collapsed. With the light rail system, the area may be revitalized,'' Legislative Council member Starry Lee Wai-king said.

Lee, who is also a Kowloon City district councillor, said the construction of the light railway posed less of a threat to the foundations of buildings than an underground system like the MTR.

``The light rail does not go underground, so it should not affect the foundations of buildings,'' she said.

According to the government's most recent proposal, neither To Kwa Wan nor Kowloon City are included in the light rail route.

The DAB said 82 percent of the respondents said it would ease the traffic jams and about half that it would help improve air quality, as well as increase the pace of redevelopment.

As the government is now still in the consultation process before arriving at a final plan, the DAB said it will meet Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Ir Mak Chai-kwong at the Development Bureau next week to present the survey results.

Future of the old Kai Tak airport mirrors changing sensibilities
Vancouver Sun
5 April 2010

Landing at Hong Kong's trademark Kai Tak airport, jutting out into Victoria Harbour from the teeming tenements of East Kowloon, used to be an adrenalin rush that rivalled any fairground ride.

But since Kai Tak was shut down after the opening of Hong Kong's revolutionary new international airport on a man-made island off Lantau Island in 1997, its 320-hectare site has become perhaps the world's most valuable derelict property.

It is a unique site in the heart of a city where property and land prices are always close to the boiling point -- under pressures from a growing population of over seven million and a finite stock of usable land heavily constrained by sea and mountains.

Real estate industry valuations of the Kai Tak site range from $25 billion to $40 billion, a price tag of record proportions in this city where records fall with ho-hum regularity.

But that is not the main reason why it has taken a dozen years to develop a plan, get agreement and start construction on the Kai Tak site.

Just as in the old days, landing at Kai Tak was a foretaste of the excitement and possibilities lurking on every Hong Kong street corner, so in retirement the airport site has become a symbol of the people's vision of their community, its culture and future.

The first plans for what to do with Kai Tak were very much in line with the old-style Hong Kong approach to property development -- demolish, then build, build, build.

In the case of Kai Tak, though, the plans were influenced to a degree by that final few minutes of the plane bouncing so close to the Kowloon apartments you could see what people were watching on TV, the sharp right turn at the traffic lights, the heart-thumping drop onto the runway, and the scream of the brakes as the pitch into the harbour approached at breakneck speed.

When the plane doors opened and it was safe to take a deep breath of gratitude for another safe landing, the lungs and nose were greeted by the stench of Kai Tak's notorious nullah.

A nullah is essentially an open sewer. The one flowing by the eastern side of Kai Tak's runway contained many generations of sewage from the old Kowloon walled city and the many communities that grew up around it.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's secretary for development and the government minister responsible for the Kai Tak project, said in a recent interview that the original idea was to fill in the nullah, thus burying the accumulated submarine poisons, and also to "reclaim" land by filling in the fishing boat harbour and typhoon shelter to the west of the runway.

This, she said, would have added almost 300 hectares to the 320 hectares of the existing Kai Tak site, and provided space for homes for 280,000 people.

But over on the other side of the harbour in the late 1990s, a campaign launched by former member of Hong Kong's legislative assembly, Christine Loh, to stop further filling in of the harbour without compelling reason caught the public mood.

In 2002, the government responded to the new reality by revising the Kai Tak plan and cutting the land to be reclaimed to only 133 hectares.

But even that scheme fell away when Loh's group took the issue of land reclamation to the Court of Final Appeal. In 2004, the court ruled that the government had to prove that reclamation schemes were in the public interest and that there was no reasonable alternative to landfill.

Lam said that even though the court's ruling was not directly aimed at Kai Tak, the government realized the general principle applied.

The government began a process of public consultations, information seminars and town hall-style meetings that went on for two years.

What came out of the dialogue was a consensus that there should be no filling in of the harbour to expand the site at all. Now even the noxious nullah is to have only a chemical refurbishment.

People said they wanted a mixture of public and private housing, and a maximum of open space and recreational facilities. The result is a plan that will see housing for only 88,000 people -- nearly 200,000 less than the first plan.

Construction of the public housing portion of the development is already under way, and the $12.8-billion plan will proceed in three stages culminating with the opening in 2021 of a new cruise ship terminal at what was the harbour end of the Kai Tak runway.

Lam expects the development will help the regeneration of neighbouring areas, some of the most rundown in Hong Kong.

But it is clear she has some doubts about the force with which public opinion has moved.

"Society has changed and people's aspirations have changed," she said. "They used to be proud of the pace of development -- building skyscrapers, making efficient use of the limited land supply, and so forth.

"But the pendulum has moved the other way, and people want to conserve everything. There's a price to be paid for that, and we are starting to struggle to find the centre, the middle ground."

Renders of the chosen design for the cruise terminal building

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Speech by the FS at the Signing Ceremony for the Design-and-Build Contract for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Building
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Government Press Release

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at the Signing Ceremony for the Design-and-Build Contract for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Building held in New Annex, Central Government Offices, this morning (May 8):

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

It is indeed my great pleasure to be here this morning to attend this signing ceremony today.

Kai Tak is a name that elicits fond memories. As a legendary airport, Kai Tak touched the lives of people here and around the world. Now it is about to enter a new chapter in its development.

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate Dragages on being awarded the design-and-build contract for the Cruise Terminal Building.

Indeed, this project is something of a homecoming for Dragages, and completes a full circle of the company's presence here in Hong Kong for over half a century.

Dragages came to Hong Kong in 1955. One of its first projects was to redesign the runway of the former Kai Tak International Airport. And many other projects since followed.

I am confident that Dragages has the experience and the expertise to transform this site into a major Cruise Terminal that will also provide a fitting sequel to the legend of this iconic location.

The cruise market in the Asia Pacific Region has been growing quickly, and Hong Kong is well-positioned to benefit from this growth.

First, with a magnificent and deepwater harbour, world-class tourism infrastructure and great shopping, Hong Kong is widely regarded as a must-see cruise destination. Second, we are located at the heart of East Asia, with close ties and proximity to the Mainland market as well as excellent connections with the rest of the world.

We also have a professional and versatile tourism sector that is well-versed in welcoming cruise vessels and their guests.

These are significant attributes that will help to establish Asia's world city as a major cruise hub in the region.

The site formation works for the Cruise Terminal started last year, and the first berth will be commissioned in mid 2013. It will be capable of accommodating the world's largest cruise vessels.

The signing of this contract today will propel the works of the Cruise Terminal Building ahead at full steam. The building will be completed in 2013 – a year ahead of our original schedule – to provide world-class services to cruise passengers from the get go.

It will also provide another landmark to grace our spectacular harbour and welcome visitors from around the globe.

The Terminal Building will uphold our city's reputation for providing state-of-the-art facilities with high levels of comfort and efficiency. It will also adhere to the highest levels of environmental awareness and incorporate the latest energy saving technologies.

At its busiest, the facilities will be able to accommodate two mega cruise ships at the same time.

During off-peak cruise periods, the cruise terminal operating area may be converted for other uses to achieve maximum potential from this prime location.

The Government will continue to promote Hong Kong as a cruise hub. We are strengthening co-operation with neighbouring Mainland coastal provinces and promoting cruiseoperation. We also recognise the need for an adequate supply of talent to meet the demands of an expanded cruise sector as well as related industries.

As a youngster, I remember coming to the former airport to watch planes come and go. I am pleased the Cruise Terminal will continue this tradition of connecting with the public. A landscaped deck on the top floor will be a great spot for families and friends to meet and enjoy the spectacular view of the great Victoria Harbour.

Once again, congratulations to Dragages on being awarded the design-and-build contract. I wish the project every success.

Thank you very much.

AECOM Provides a Wide Range of Design and Professional Services to the Hong Kong Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Project

HONG KONG, May 28 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM), a leading provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, announced that it had been engaged to provide a wide range of design and professional services for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal project by the design and build contractor, Dragages Hong Kong Limited. This is the latest key infrastructure project at the Former Kai Tak International Airport working together with the Architectural Services Department, HKSAR Government and Dragages.

Located at the southern end of the former runway, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal will be developed on a 7.6 hectare site, aiming to sustain Hong Kong's position as the regional cruise hub. Alongside the cruise terminal will be a range of tourist facilities including hotels, malls and an aviation themed park, which provide unique leisure open space for tourists as well as local residents.

AECOM, as an international design consultancy firm, has been assigned to provide a wide range of services to this milestone project in Hong Kong. Together with our global expertise, AECOM will be working on areas including civil, structural and geotechnical engineering, building services and fire engineering, traffic engineering, environmental, acoustic and sustainable design, space planning for cruise terminal design, as well as landscape design.

Tony Shum, AECOM Chief Executive, Asia comments, "The project features long span structures, and many green initiatives will be incorporated into the design. Our multi-disciplinary collaboration and extensive knowledge of the Kai Tak area will be an added value contribution to the success of the project."

"This is a prominent, iconic building on the famous Hong Kong harbor front, demonstrating world class architecture and incorporating innovative engineering solutions," he added.

The first berth is targeted to be completed in mid-2013.

Rebuild bridge as heritage attraction, planners urge
5 June 2010
South China Morning Post

Planners have suggested recreating the 140-year-old Lung Tsun stone bridge, found in the Kai Tak redevelopment area, to attract tourists and showcase Kowloon City's history.

The bridge, built in the 1870s, functioned as a pier for official use in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Officials were welcomed at a pavilion close to it and were escorted to the Kowloon Walled City to execute their duties.

Town Planning Board member Ho Puay-peng said the remains should not just be protected by a glass box because "it will stop visitors from having direct interaction with the heritage". Lau Chi-pang said the bridge could be rebuilt with similar materials so people could walk on it and experience the past. This idea was echoed by Maggie Chan Man-ki, a Wong Tai Sin district councillor, who said: "The bridge can be presented as a time tunnel, bringing people back to the Qing dynasty." She said the area had always been a transport hub, including through the pier, an airport and soon a cruise terminal.

Kai Tak Office head Stephen Tang Man-bun said the government would release preservation options for public consultation by the end of this year.

Rebuild bridge as heritage attraction, planners urge
5 June 2010
South China Morning Post

Planners have suggested recreating the 140-year-old Lung Tsun stone bridge, found in the Kai Tak redevelopment area, to attract tourists and showcase Kowloon City's history.

The bridge, built in the 1870s, functioned as a pier for official use in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Officials were welcomed at a pavilion close to it and were escorted to the Kowloon Walled City to execute their duties.

Town Planning Board member Ho Puay-peng said the remains should not just be protected by a glass box because "it will stop visitors from having direct interaction with the heritage". Lau Chi-pang said the bridge could be rebuilt with similar materials so people could walk on it and experience the past. This idea was echoed by Maggie Chan Man-ki, a Wong Tai Sin district councillor, who said: "The bridge can be presented as a time tunnel, bringing people back to the Qing dynasty." She said the area had always been a transport hub, including through the pier, an airport and soon a cruise terminal.

Kai Tak Office head Stephen Tang Man-bun said the government would release preservation options for public consultation by the end of this year.

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Three schools get go-ahead to move to Kai Tak as enrolment declines
25 June 2010
South China Morning Post

Three schools in Wong Tai Sin which have been struggling to retain pupil numbers are to be moved to two new premises at Kai Tak, which is about to undergo a burst of development.

Principals of Kowloon schools say the shift could ease enrolment pressure on other schools in the district, where supply of places has outstripped demand in recent years.

The adjacent Yat Sau and Ching Shan primary schools, operated by the Anglican Primary Schools Council in Choi Hung Estate, will be combined and moved to one premises.

The Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Sau Nan Primary School will move to the other.

The moves, part of the government's drive to redevelop the old Kai Tak airport site, came as the government announced the results of applications for three premises, including one in Kwai Chung.

Yat Sau school principal Ho Yick-yee said teachers and parents from the school - which currently offers only 12 classes in spite of its 24-class capacity - were thrilled by the move, which would take place in 2013.

"Both schools were established 45 years ago. The facilities are quite old. The new campus is within 10 minutes' walking distance from our current site. So it won't inconvenience current students," she said, adding that new residential developments in Kai Tak would boost the student intake. "Old districts like Wong Tai Sin face enrolment pressure.

"After relocation, there won't be any problems offering 30 classes of 25 students each."

Sister school Ching Shan with a 24-class capacity, offers just nine.

Of about 1,700 primary one places on offer in Wong Tai Sin last year, 1,354 were filled.

Law Lai-yin, principal of Carmel Leung Sing Tak School in Kwun Tong near the Kai Tak area, says moving the three schools could help lessen the enrolment pressure in the district. "It's a good government policy to move schools in districts, where supply of school places outstrips demand, to new residential areas that will have a big demand," he said.

With one school offering four classes of 25 students, Law said 300 places would be taken out of the district following the relocation of the three schools.

Shek Lei Catholic Primary School has been given the site of the Sheung Kwai Chung Government Secondary School in Kwai Chung, which was closed last year due to insufficient enrolment.

The Education Bureau said it received 19 applications from 14 bodies for the three school sites.

It said competition was very keen, in particular, for the two new school premises in Kai Tak.

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Preserving bridge to a fascinating past
23 June 2010
The Standard

Development work in the city has, on several occasions, uncovered secrets from the past.

Just over two years ago, archaeologists doing environmental impact assessment at the Kai Tak redevelopment found something amazing right under the old airport's passenger terminal building - the remains of a 19th-century stone bridge.

It was part of the Lung Tsun stone bridge, first built in 1873 as a landing pier on the coast near Kowloon Walled City.

It was used by imperial Chinese officials to reach the Walled City, which remained under their jurisdiction even after Kowloon became part of Hong Kong. Two years after it was built, a gateway with a pavilion was built to receive these visiting officials.

Photographs of these places do survive.

However, after the structures were buried by reclamation in the 1920s and airport work during World War II, it would not have seemed likely that anyone would actually see any traces of them again.

But we now have several segments, including part of the bridge deck and some support pillars.

What should we do with these remains?

The government has classified the site as highly significant, so the remains will be preserved, on-site, in some way. But how exactly?

The government is keen to get the public involved, and a two-stage engagement program is taking place.

The first stage is about sharing information and views. District councils have already taken part, with community workshops scheduled for this Saturday and the next. The second stage later in the year will help decide how best to preserve and display these fascinating relics. Bernard Charnwut Chan, chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, sees culture from all perspectives.

Source : http://www.fotop.net/jacksklam

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Bridge at Kai Tak site too big, advisers say
22 July 2010
South China Morning Post

Harbour advisers have suggested the government review the designs of a bridge and a helipad planned at the tip of the Kai Tak development to give the public more access to the harbourfront.

The proposed bridge, which would connect the runway of the former airport and Kwun Tong, could become an eyesore taking space away from a future park on the runway, said Vincent Ng Wing-shun, a member of the government's Harbourfront Commission.

The architect said the bridge's anchor points must stand on the two sides of the channel and not on the seabed, given reclamation in the harbour was not allowed anymore.

"The bridge must be built high enough to allow barges to pass underneath. This means the ramps on both sides would have to be several storeys high, swirling like spaghetti before reaching the ground," Ng said.

Paul Zimmerman, of the Society for Protection of the Harbour, agreed that the bridge would take up some beautiful open space at the runway. The society is member organisation of the Harbourfront Commission. Both men were expressing their individual views.

The Kai Tak development into a cruise terminal, and residential, commercial and community facilities covers more than 320 hectares and will be completed in three phases in 2013, 2016 and 2021.

Concern over the layout was also expressed at a meeting of professionals from a committee that advises on bridge designs earlier this week. An engineer said the bridge, carrying vehicles and pedestrians, would be too bulky for the 400-metre wide channel.

One way to slim down the design would be to build it solely for pedestrians, said structural engineer Dr Greg Wong Chak-yan. Another option was to have a bridge that could be raised up for specified times for barges, which would allow facilities such as a hospital or waste treatment works, to use the channel, Wong said.

Residents from Kwun Tong have strongly demanded a bridge so they can easily get to the future centre of Kowloon. The district would also be linked to Kai Tak by monorail, although the journey would take a few minutes longer than by using the bridge.

Kwun Tong District Council chairman Bunny Chan Chung-bun said the council was open to discussions if the bridge had drawbacks. A footbridge would be acceptable as long as it had an iconic design, he said.

Commission members, however, are split about the location of a helipad, also planned at the tip of the runway. Ng said the site should be accessible to the public and not fenced off for the cross-border facility. Government planners are studying the possibility of relocating the helipad to the rooftop of a 100-metre observation tower nearby, but this would confine the use of the helipad to the more costly double-engine helicopters.

Runway tip :

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Kai Tak rail line may link to other districts
31 July 2010
South China Morning Post

The Kai Tak development will be served by an elevated rail line that will offer an internal transport system as well as connect to future MTR stations and possibly to nearby neighbourhoods.

The government is assessing several routes for the rail system to be built on the 320-hectare site, which will contain a cruise terminal, residential, commercial and community facilities.

John Chai Sung-veng, director of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, said yesterday it would connect to the Kai Tak and To Kwa Wan stations of the MTR's Sha Tin-Central link. "We are also studying whether it is possible to extend it to the surrounding old districts, including San Po Kong, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong," he said.

Patrick Kwong Hing-ip, project manager of the department's Kowloon development office, said it would be a challenge, because the areas were packed with buildings and streets were narrow.

The government has studied projects in Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo, Vancouver and Miami.

It found that while such systems cost billions to build, they also stimulate redevelopment and increase tourist appeal. Private vehicles will be discouraged in the Kai Tak development, which will be completed in three phases in 2013, 2016 and 2021.

Meanwhile, Chai said the department would complete landslide prevention works at some 4,600 high-risk man-made slopes by the end of this year.

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__________________
Buildings that don't get posted often (HK) Part I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=211362) or here ( http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=209576) | Part II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212436) or here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212435) | Part III (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=316338) | Part IV (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=366314) | Part V (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=13282175)
Artistic decorations inside and outside of the buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=319077)

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A fading reminder of the Kai Tak landing
The Standard
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

As chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, I receive suggestions from people who think particular places should be graded and possibly preserved as historic monuments.

Usually, they want to conserve old buildings, but I recently received a proposal to protect something different. It is a large sloped concrete slab on a hillside in Kowloon. Wild plants are growing over it, and the weather has taken its toll on the old paintwork it used to display. But you can still clearly see the large panel of faded and peeling red and white squares set out in a checked pattern.

Unless you are too young to remember the aircraft making a sharp right turn over Kowloon City when you flew into Hong Kong, you will know what I am talking about.

It is the famous Kai Tak checkerboard, which warned pilots that a mountain was straight ahead. (In fact, there are two: another faced the runway to warn pilots taking off.)

Hong Kong learned a new phrase in recent years: collective memory. It is about past shared experiences that made the community what it is; our memories of them bind us together.

For many of us, coming home to that turning at Kai Tak was a part of our growing up. And for many residents of the area, the checkerboard - like Lion Rock above it - must remind them of good and bad times, not to mention aircraft noise.

Maybe the checkerboard will join Hong Kong's growing list of protected monuments.

Bernard Charnwut Chan, chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, sees culture from all perspectives.

Disney cruises remain over the horizon
25 August 2010
The Standard

Despite the planned opening of the Kai Tak cruise terminal in 2013, US-based Disney Cruise Line has yet to set any timetable to make Hong Kong calls.

The disclosure came from the line's senior vice president and chief financial officer, James Heaney, appointed to the Hong Kong Advisory Committee on Cruise Industry from August 1. His term runs to January 27, 2012.

``Hong Kong is an area of interest to our company,'' said Heaney, although a timetable for calls here is not a priority.

The company plans itineraries about three years in advance, and Hong Kong is not yet in sight, but the line is learning more about the territory and mainland markets.

``The cruise market hangs on having the right infrastructure,'' Heaney said. That includes port terminals being close enough to airports and the potential for attracting passengers on to ships.

``I think Hong Kong is progressing down that path,'' he said. ``It has a world-class airport. It has a world-class port terminal, and now it has to grow the market. When the market is there, cruises will come.''

Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui is the only terminal in Hong Kong but, with funding of HK$8.156 billion cleared by the Legislative Council's finance panel, construction of the Kai Tak cruise terminal has started.

The first berth is expected to be ready in mid-2013 with the capacity to take the world's largest liners. A second berth should be ready a year later.

Top officials have said the administration is committed to making Hong Kong a cruise hub.

Disney, with the cruise liners Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, mainly sails the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, northern Europe and Alaska.

``Some cruise lines have 20 ships,'' Heaney said. ``Most have at least 10. We're still very small in this business, although we're growing very quickly.''

Disney Cruise Line, set up in 1998, will have two more ships by 2012.

It currently carries about 500,000 passengers a year.

On the potential in Asia, Heaney said China has the most in terms of numbers _ ``southern China in particular. Hong Kong is an interesting market. Maybe it can become a gateway for cruising out of China.''

Kai Tak urged for affordable housing
18 August 2010
China Daily - Hong Kong Edition

DAB also seeks to raise stakes in mainland capital investors scheme

The issue of affordable housing confronted Chief Executive Donald Tsang again Tuesday, as the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) urged that lands on the old Kai Tak Airport site, as well as other sites, be reserved for construction of small and medium sized flats.

During the meeting with the DAB, Tsang heard another call for resumption of the Home Ownership scheme, as the DAB lawmaker Chan Kam-lam hammered home the message that escalating housing prices make life very difficult for prospective home buyers. He noted housing prices have escalated by over 50 percent and have created bubbles over the past two years.

At the same time, Chan said, the DAB supports the government's measures to tackle speculative property transactions.

The party also suggested reviewing the Cpital Investor Scheme under which a mainlander can obtain permanent residency here by investing HK$6.5 million in Hong Kong.

The DAB held that the Capital Investor Scheme has contributed to the property market bubbles, given that the property and stock markets are the usual investment channels for people from the mainland. The government should raise the entry amount, said Chan, or devise measures to facilitate capital intake into Hong Kong's six new premier industries other than real estate and finance.

The DAB proposed a total of 145 suggestions under 10 broad policy categories to improve livelihood and tackle the wealth gap.

Among the other proposals: an Elderly Living Allowance, alongside the existing Old Age Allowance for those who wish to take their retirement on the mainland. The proposal reflects an innovative mindset and a more targeted measure to help the elderly, said party chairman Tam Yiu-chung. The new allowance should be higher than the Old Age Allowance. It should be means-tested, Tam said, adding the party will follow up with a detailed proposal to the government.

Regarding "nasty facilities" such as columbaria and incinerators, the party reckoned such facilities should not be built in every district because they are very costly. For districts that are selected, the government should provide additional recreation amenities or power tariff allowance as compensation.

The chief executive is consulting a broad spectrum of society in preparation for his Policy Address to be delivered in October.

The employees' component of the Labor Advisory Board, at a separate meeting, urged Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang to help solve the city's housing problem. The group suggested the government set up a work site for assembly of pre-fabricated materials for infrastructure projects to ease unemployment of construction workers.

Though the minimum wage law is passed, board representatives proposed a Low Income Allowance activated when workers' wages fall below what a four-member social security family receives. The submission argued that the allowance would encourage people to find work. Board representatives also called for a new act to regulate working hours.

By Star Alliance from HKADB :

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By ming10120 from a Hong Kong photography forum :

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New proposal for residents displaced by urban renewal
15 October 2010
China Daily - Hong Kong Edition

The Development Bureau released additional information Thursday about the new urban redevelopment strategy that would give residents displaced by urban renewal the choice to purchase new flats of comparable value, rather than taking a cash payout.

Under the new strategy announced by the Chief Executive during Wednesday's Policy Address, residents displaced by urban renewal will have a choice of a flat in the immediate vicinity of their previous homes, or in land set aside for residential development on 1.1 hectares in the Kai Tak Development Area, according to the Development Bureau. The Kai Tak Development would comprise a thousand flats of 400 to 600 square feet, said Carrie Lam, secretary for Development.

"The new 'flat to flat' scheme offers an alternative choice for owner-occupiers of domestic units," Lam said. She stressed that cash value under the "flat to flat" option will be equivalent to the amount otherwise payable in cash compensation. The amount of cash compensation is based on the market value of a seven-year-old replacement flat in the same locality.

Asked why Kai Tak was chosen for development of the alternative flats, Lam explained that Kai Tak was very close to Kowloon City, which holds the largest number of old buildings (over 1,000) and the largest number of dilapidated ones (320).

Another consideration is that people in Kowloon City can continue to live in familiar environments and keep their old social networks if they choose to move into the proposed Kai Tak buildings, Lam added.

Director of Society for Community Organization Ho Hei-wah believes most Kowloon City residents will welcome the new strategy as long as the new residences were of a decent size and affordable. Most of the owner occupiers affected are working poor and elderly.

"The key point of the renewal work is meeting the demands of the original residents rather than making profits by selling them new flats," said Lim Wan-fung, president of the Hong Kong Institution of Urban Design. Lim said that the outcry had already been heard about sky-high prices of previous properties built by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA).

Lim, also a professor at the School of Architecture of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, stressed that renewing a district means more than "demolishing old buildings and building new ones". The most important thing is to preserve the "local characters and cultures".

Chairman of the Kowloon City District Council Wong Kwok-keung welcomed the Kai Tak initiative. He thinks the old district would benefit from the new development that promises facilities like open space office buildings and so on.

The proposal went into public consultation Wednesday. The first pilot District Urban Renewal Forums will be set up in Kowloon City. The URA will earmark HK$500 million to set up an Urban Renewal Trust Fund to support studies and activities at the forums.

The new urban renewal strategy will remain under public until December 13.

By kingkong_hk from a Hong Kong discussion forum :

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Legislators want greens on body to vet transport trials
21 December 2010
SCMP

Green activists should have seats on a committee to be created to screen applications to a proposed HK$300 million fund to encourage the use of low-carbon transport technology, lawmakers say.

The call was made at a meeting of the Legislative Council's environmental affairs panel yesterday when members met to discuss the establishment of a pilot green transport fund foreshadowed by Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah in his budget earlier this year.

Some members questioned whether the proposed steering committee, to which the government only wants to appoint academics and members of the transport trade, would be representative enough.

The undersecretary for the environment, Dr Kitty Poon Kit, said the administration wanted technocrats and experts in related fields to consider the applications.

However, Civic Party legislator Tanya Chan said: "There are also different kinds of experts in green groups. Their views should also be considered."

The HK$300 million fund, open to transport sector operators, will subsidise the capital cost of innovative green products proposed for trial.

For trials of vehicles running on alternative fuels, each vehicle can be subsidised up to HK$3 million, with an upper limit of HK$9 million for each application.

The subsidy for emission-reduction devices will be set at 75 per cent of their cost, with caps of HK$1.5 million per device and HK$9 million per application.

In the case of ferries, the maximum subsidy is HK$3 million for each device, with a limit of HK$12 million for each applicant.

The steering committee will be set up to screen applications and determine the level of subsidy.

Poon said the government aimed to launch the fund in March.

Legislator Chan Kin-por said the subsidy caps were too low, and panel chairman Gary Chan Hak-kan called for the application criteria to be eased to allow people outside the transport trade to apply, such as educational research institutes.

Legislators were told that because of rising prices, the cost of a cooling system planned for shopping malls and estates at the future Kai Tak redevelopment had more than doubled to HK$3.65 billion, from the original estimate of HK$1.67 million in June last year.

They called on the government to control costs better.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection held its 11th annual meeting in Hong Kong yesterday.

Environment Secretary Edward Yau Tang-wah said both sides were pleased to see emissions in the region were down, saying that during 2006-09 levels of the key pollutants - sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and respirable suspended particles - fell an average of 38 per cent, 9 per cent, and 7 per cent respectively.

Yau said next year the two sides would work out another set of emission targets for the next 10 years.

River recycled
Christopher Dewolf
14 January 2011
China Daily - Hong Kong Edition

Wallace Chang still remembers how disgusting the Kai Tak River was when he was a child living near its banks in the 1970s. "The water was in between grey and black and it flowed very slowly, almost stagnant," he recalls.

That didn't stop him and his friends from going near. "We didn't have a playground nearby so we played on the pipes that ran across the river and tried not to fall in. It was a challenge."

It wasn't always that way. Originally, the Kai Tak River, which runs from the Kowloon Hills to Victoria Harbour, by way of the old Kai Tak Airport, was a country stream known as the Long Jin River. During World War II, however, the Japanese Army converted it into a 2.4-kilometer drainage canal. As fields gave way to factories and squatter villages in the 1960s and 70s, the river became an open-air sewer as waste was illegally dumped into its water.

By the 1980s, the river was so polluted that passengers arriving at the airport often remarked on the foul smell. According to an old story, comedian Bob Hope once arrived, stepped off the plane and asked what the horrible stench was. A friend informed him it was sewage. "Yes I know, but what have they done to it?" Hope replied.

Chang never did fall in the river's foul water. He grew up to become an associate professor of architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The river changed, too. After the factories along its banks closed in the 1990s and the government cracked down on illegal dumping, the water became significantly cleaner. Fish returned and so did the birds that eat them.

But complaints about the river's smell in the 1980s had already kick-started the machinery of Hong Kong's government bureaucracy. In the late 1990s, plans were made to cover the river. Conservationists lobbied the government to save the river, drawing support from neighborhood residents. They eventually convinced the government to keep most of it uncovered.

Now the question is: what next?

"The Kai Tak River is a rare heritage," says Peter Li, policy director of the Conservancy Association, which fought to keep the river uncovered. Not only is it one of the few pieces of Japanese-built infrastructure in Hong Kong, it links the old airport - now the site of a vast redevelopment project - with historic villages, temples, parks and neighborhoods further inland.

Using the river to knit them together is key to successfully restoring the river, says Chang. "People still think of it as the backside of the neighborhood. We need to get them to face the river."

The government seems to be on the same page. "Our vision is to build the Kai Tak River as an attractive green river corridor through urban areas, which will provide space for leisure and public activities serving the community while meeting the need for flood protection," says a spokesman for the Civil Engineering and Drainage Department, which manages the river.

But how exactly that will be done has yet to be determined. In the meantime, artists, architects and neighborhood groups are using the river as a conduit for new ideas on urban heritage, community and redevelopment.

"The river was nothing for the community, just a muddy sewer that was very polluted," says Alessandro Carboni, an Italian artist who came to Hong Kong to study the river. "Now it has started this whole process of change, a change in mentality in this area of Kowloon. You change something and people react to it. People have started to fish again."

With that in mind, Carboni staged a performance last year, in collaboration with the arts group 1a space, in which he spread sea salt from Nga Tsin Wai, an 800-year-old walled village on the banks of the river, to various spots around the river. For centuries, salt panning was the main industry in Nga Tsin Wai, which is now slated for redevelopment.

"What's very important is to keep things visible, to keep things alive," he says. "The city is a place where we can rebuild and discuss how our actions can change the quality of a space. Changing the space means improving quality of life and the possibility to interact."

Carboni's performance was just one of a series of artistic interventions that have taken place over the past few years. For another project, people living near the river were invited to create windmills made with recycled material, which were then strung between the river's concrete banks. Secondary school students also participated in Chinese painting workshops along the river, creating gritty, urban images using a medium normally dedicated to bucolic natural scenes.

"When we threw this idea of green arts to the public, the reaction was surprisingly positive," says Chang. "It stimulated a lot of imagination. Contemporary art is so abstract, so elitist, but this opened another door for people to participate in the future of the river."

Chang sees the river as a way to blend nature with the human landscape of Hong Kong's streets, seamlessly. Last year, he published a book with one of his master's students, Marta Bohlmark, that called for the river's banks to be transformed into a boardwalk-cum-marketplace, where the surrounding area's many hawkers, including street barbers, calligraphers and cobblers, could be given a unique space in which to work.

Their plan also envisions a seamless green link between a Qing Dynasty pier discovered at the site of the old Kai Tak Airport, Nga Tsin Wai Village, the Wong Tai Sin Temple, the Chu Lin Nunnery and the site of a large squatters' village, Tai Hom, that was cleared in 2001 but still contains several historic buildings. Public amphitheatres and art spaces would dot the green space, taking advantage of the growing community of performing artists, visual artists and musicians that have opened studios in San Po Kong, an industrial area next to the river.

For the time being, though, the plan is just a dream. Even the green spaces that already exist next to the river, like Morse Park, are separated from it by fences. And though the river has done a remarkable job of cleaning itself - E. coli levels have declined by 80 percent since the 1980s - its water is still highly polluted.

In the long term, says Chang, the river's success will hinge on how it is treated by the government. He says he is optimistic. "The government always says no in the beginning, but you can convince them with good examples. It's a long process, but now they're less stubborn."

While the government initially resisted any change in its plan to cover the river, it began to soften its stance around 2007, which is also around the time it stopped referring to the waterway as a nullah - a word commonly used to describe drainage canals - and started calling it a river.

It can also be seen in the plans for redeveloping the old Kai Tak Airport, through which the river runs. Whereas it once was excluded from the plans entirely, the river is now the focal point of the future development's town center - "a unique urban and landscape axis linking and integrating the old urban districts with the new development areas," in the words of a Development Bureau spokesman.

Eventually, Chang hopes the river will serve as a lesson: "You can abandon nature, but it will always come back to us."

Kai Tak cruises into tender mode
18 January 2011
The Standard

Tendering for the new Kai Tak cruise terminal will begin in the next few months, with the winning bid to be announced by the end of the year, Commerce and Economic Development chief Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said.

The terminal, with its first berth due to start operation in 2013, will be run by the winning bidder for 10 years.

Under the leasing terms to be proposed to the Legislative Council's economic development panel next week, the operator will not be required to ensure a minimum patronage to keep the contract valid.

The operator will pay both a fixed rent as well as a variable one, based on profits, but will be free to determine berthing fees.

A mid-term review will be conducted five years after the terminal opens to ensure quality of service.

Commissioner for Tourism Philip Yung Wai-hung said a committee of government and industry officials will be set up to supervise the operation.

The government can terminate the rights of the winning operator if it performs badly, Yung said.

But the authorities can also extend the operator's 10-year rights by five years, according to the leasing terms.

Mechanisms are in place to ensure that the operator will have the experience and the ability to operate the terminal, he added.

The 10-year lease is expected to provide a reasonable degree of certainty for the operator to work out a longer-term business strategy and secure bookings from cruise lines.

Legislator Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, who chairs the Legco economic development panel, said the leasing arrangement is reasonable.

He said the clause establishing the authorities' power to revoke operating rights will ensure quality of service.

Yung is confident the tender will attract bids from internationally renowned cruise terminal operators.

Cruise terminal operator to face sinking profit
25 January 2011
The Standard

The operator of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal will have to share its gross income with the government each year.

With construction costs for the terminal at HK$8.2 billion, ``taxpayers expect to get the biggest return,'' said Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai- lan.

``Such a mechanism will allow the authorities to capture the upside of the business and avoid unreasonable business risks to the operator,'' Lau told the Legislative Council's economic development panel.

Sharing the gross receipt, instead of net revenue, also has the advantage of encouraging the successful tenderer to control operating costs in a prudent manner, Lau said.

But wholesale and retail sector lawmaker Vincent Fang Kang thinks the terms are too harsh.

``The lease terms should allow the operator to generate a handsome profit as the Kai Tak terminal is being positioned as a world-class cruise terminal. Otherwise, it may not attract bidders from around the world,'' he said.

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Cruise terminal may lack luxury outlook
The Standard
Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The yet-to-be-built Kai Tak cruise terminal looks to be too far from classy downtown areas, an operator believes.

Convenience and luxury are essential for those on cruises, says Silversea's Asia regional director, Melvyn Yap. "When well-heeled passengers come to Hong Kong on a cruise they want to stay at the Peninsula Hotel or at least have a view of the city skyline."

He was speaking on the 36,000-tonne Silver Spirit after it tied up at the no-frills China Merchant's Wharf in Kennedy Town yesterday.

The liner had to use a commercial wharf away from the central harbor because Ocean Terminal cannot accommodate it. It has a length of 198.5 meters and a beam of 26.2m.

It arrived in Hong Kong on a maiden 119-day world cruise after leaving Los Angeles two months ago. It is due in the British port of Southampton in May.

In a welcome ceremony, Hong Kong Tourism Board executive director Daisy Lam Lui Wing-han said the Kai Tak terminal will be ready for many such liners by 2013.

But that is after several delays due to red-tape issues. Completion is a year behind the original target date.

Talking of a liking for a central berth, Yap said: "The average age of our passengers is 55, so mobility is a big issue." But Ocean Terminal "simply did not have space for us," he added. "It would have been perfect because of the convenient locale and shopping."

The Silver Spirit certainly carries big spenders. Those on the cruise each pay from US$500 (HK$3,900) to US$1,500 a night. Top accommodation is the Owner's Suite, and top dollar for it did not deter a Hong Kong businessman.

He paid US$225,000 to sail from Auckland to Hong Kong with his family of three. Silversea would not identity him, saying only that the family had the Owner's Suite for a 50-day trip.

Despite the region's increasing affluence, Silversea notes that Asians make up only 5 percent of guests as long trips have yet to catch on. Most prefer short trips, such as a 10-day Antarctic cruise.

"Last year we had a group book the whole of the Prince Albert II for an expedition," Yap said. "One passenger was Jack Ma Yun from Alibaba.com."

New flats for old
22 March 2011
The Standard

Flat owners affected by redevelopment will be able to swap to a new flat instead of getting compensation under an Urban Renewal Authority pilot scheme.

They can go for the "flat for flat" option, under which they may buy a home on the same site after it is redeveloped - but with certain size and floor-level limits - or move to a residential area in Kai Tak slated for the scheme.

The 1.1 hectares of land on the north apron area of the former Kai Tak airport will provide 1,000 flats of 400 to 600 square feet, according to the authority. The first batch of about 500 will be completed in 2016.

However, owners will still have to pay the difference between the values of the new and old flats. "The flat-for-flat option will provide an alternative choice for owner-occupiers affected by the URA's redevelopment projects,'' authority chairman Barry Cheung Chun- yuen said.

A key feature of the scheme is that once an owner agrees to swap their flat, the price they pay will be fixed, even if the market goes up or down, Cheung said. This can prevent the impact of market fluctuations, he added.

"The fixed price can let owners know how much they need to pay for a new flat of their preferred size in the new development and enable them to reckon their financial commitment,'' he said.

For example, the owner of a 500 sq ft flat in a 50-year-old building may pay HK$600,000 for a new flat. This is based on an evaluation that the old flat is worth HK$3 million and a new one of the same size HK$3.6 million, or HK$7,200 per square foot.

If the owner opts for a smaller flat - say 400 sq ft - he can get back HK$120,000 as it will be worth HK$2.88 million. However, Centaline Surveyors director James Cheung King-tat said new projects in the Kai Tak area are worth at least HK$8,000 psf.

Residents affected by redevelopment projects starting after February 24 will be eligible for the scheme, the authority said.

If they choose to join the scheme, 30 percent of the price of the new flat will come from the compensation.

If not, they can still opt for compensation equivalent to the value of a seven- year-old flat in the same district.

The authority said after signing an undertaking, home owners cannot withdraw from the scheme and take back the downpayment unless the new flat available is much bigger or smaller than the one asked for when the agreement was signed.

Critics said it may take years for the Kai Tak project to be ready, meaning affected residents may have to rent another place for some time.

"Where can these residents move to before the new place is ready?'' legislator Fred Li Wah-ming asked.

Kowloon City district councillor Pius Yum Kwok-tung said it is not a real "flat swap'' scheme as residents have to buy the new property at market price. "What if the market plunges?'' he asked.

A Mr Fung, who lives in a 200 sq ft home in To Kwa Wan with three family members, said he would like to buy a new flat in the same district but is worried that he will not have the means.

"This area is going to be very expensive. I don't know if I can afford it,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the authority said owners can ask it to redevelop their property.

So, is it that people who are affected by some redevelopment in nearby districts (e.g. To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City, etc...) can opt to get a new flat within Kai Tak by paying the difference in property price?

So, is it that people who are affected by some redevelopment in nearby districts (e.g. To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City, etc...) can opt to get a new flat within Kai Tak by paying the difference in property price?

Well, many of the existing residents are old and have paid off their properties already. Hence, the more feasible option is to accept a newer, but smaller unit.

Well, many of the existing residents are old and have paid off their properties already. Hence, the more feasible option is to accept a newer, but smaller unit.

That's probably a better option if they no longer live with the their children, which means they don't need the extra space and then they have some spare cash to spend too.

So the answer is "yes" ;)
If the children, being unable to afford another flat, have to live with the parents, then they might be able to pay the difference. A friend of mine just did the same in the Serenade where this idea started off.

I quite liked how Swire allowed the flat-for-flat exchange for the Serenade project. But then, are developers willing to voluntarily do this rather than pay off the residents at a lower price on expropriation?

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Cruise ship terminal aims for the big league
9 April 2011
SCMP

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20110409/photo/0409-00176-019b1.jpg

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20110409/photo/0409-00407-044b1.jpg

After years of discussion, Hong Kong's bid to enter the big league of global cruise line destinations has finally got off the drawing board.

The project signals a new seafaring life for the old Kai Tak airport site and Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leung were there for yesterday's ceremony to mark the start of work on the terminal building.

The terminal and the first berth, which can handle the world's biggest ocean liners, will come into operation in the middle of 2013.

A second berth with similar capacity will start operation two years later.

The government will pay the building costs while operators are being invited to submit tenders for running the finished facility. The deadline for applications is June this year.

Tourism Commissioner Philip Yung Wai-hung said interested parties had already been in touch about the tender. However, he refused to reveal the number of applications the government had received.

The latest tender invitation comes after two failed rounds in 2008, when plans by two investors failed to meet government requirements.

Following this, the government decided to fund the design and construction of a terminal and lease it to an operator for a 10-year term, reduced from 50 years.

"We will ask cruise companies to send more ocean liners to Hong Kong in 2013," Yung said.

The three-storey terminal is at the southern tip of the former Kai Tak runway and will provide a commercial area of about 60,000 sq ft and there will be a landscape deck on its roof. The customs hall will be able to clear 3,000 passengers in an hour.

Tourism sector lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun looked forward to the start of operations at the terminal which he hopes will put an end to big ships berthing in inaccessible places. "Several cruise vessels have had to berth in Kwai Chung" because of their size, he said.

The world's largest transatlantic ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, which was too big for Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, docked at Junk Bay in Sai Kung last month.

Tse was optimistic operators would be interested in submitting a tender, saying running a terminal cost much less than building one.

Local companies specialising in the cruise business have started training personnel, he said. They have also promoted the terminal at international conferences.

A total of 660,000 travellers arrived on cruises last year, 9 per cent more than in 2009, according to the Tourism Board.

Air pollution in Hong Kong is considered a serious problem. Visibility is currently less than eight kilometres for 30% of the year. Cases of asthma and bronchial infections have soared in recent years due to reduced air quality.

Hammocks (http://www.simplyhammocks.co.uk/)

http://plusmood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Kai-Tak-Cruise-Terminal_Foster_pM-3.jpg

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http://plusmood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Kai-Tak-Cruise-Terminal_Foster_pM-1.jpg

I am quite disappointed that they don't build another iconic skyscraper in kaitak. and they should build a museum about aviation. Kaitak was the first international airport in the Greater China area, the first airport all built on reclaimed land, the last international airport operating in the city centre and the most exciting & dangerous landing in the world.

Foundation stone laid for New Cruise Terminal Building at Kai Tak
Friday, April 8, 2011
Government Press Release

http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201104/08/P201104080151_photo_1025861.jpg

The foundation stone laying ceremony for the Cruise Terminal Building at Kai Tak was held today (April 8).

The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, officiated at the ceremony to mark this important milestone of the cruise terminal project.

Other officiating guests were the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So; the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Mr Andrew Wong; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Wai Chi-sing; the Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Philip Yung; the Director of Architectural Services, Mrs Marigold Lau; the Managing Director of Dragages Hong Kong, Mr Nicolas Borit; and the Group Chairman of Wong Tung & Partners Limited, Mr Edward Ho.

The new cruise terminal will be an iconic building at the centre of Victoria Harbour. It will be able to berth the largest cruise vessels in the world. It is highly functional and efficient, and will bring together environmental friendly facilities to provide world class services to cruise passengers. The terminal building also provides an ancillary commercial area of about 5 600 square metres, and a landscaped deck with open space and greeneries on its roof for public enjoyment.

The Government has funded the design and construction of the cruise terminal and will lease it to an operator for management and operation. The terminal building and the first berth, which is able to accommodate the largest cruise vessels in the world, are expected to come into operation in mid-2013. The second berth will be commissioned in 2014 and will also be able to accommodate the largest cruise vessels in 2015 after dredging works on the seabed are completed.

Construction works of the cruise terminal are moving ahead as planned. The Government is inviting tenders for the tenancy of operating and managing the terminal, with a view to appointing the operator by the end of this year.

By meiem from a Hong Kong photography forum :

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o83/meiem/pano1.jpg

Urban design enhancements proposed for Kai Tak Development
Friday, May 13, 2011
Government Press Release

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20110514/photo/0514-00176-059b1.jpg

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20110514/photo/0514-00410-022b2.jpg

The Government has proposed to further enhance the urban design of the Kai Tak Development to reflect the community's views on the preservation of the Lung Tsun stone bridge remnants and public aspirations for a more accessible waterfront.

"These further initiatives are in line with the Government's policy emphasis on heritage conservation and harbourfront enhancement in recent years," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said today (May 13).

"Since these latest improvements are the outcome of an extensive public consultation undertaken by the Kai Tak Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), we will proceed with the necessary planning application in order to sustain the development momentum of this important area," the spokesman added.

Implementation of the Kai Tak Development has been proceeding at full steam since the approval of the statutory Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) in 2007.

The first batch of projects is under construction with target completion in 2013. They include the cruise terminal building and its first berth, the public housing development and supporting infrastructure. Other building projects like the Kai Tak Government Offices will commence next year while two school projects are planned to commence shortly.

In terms of housing land supply, the site earmarked for the Urban Renewal Authority's (URA) "flat for flat" initiative will be handed over to the URA in 2012 while the first batch of private housing sites should be ready for disposal in 2013.

At a press conference today, the Head of the Kai Tak Office, Mr Stephen Tang, said that following the approval of the Kai Tak OZP in November 2007, CEDD conducted two stages of public engagement from May 2010 to April 2011 to collect views on the preservation of remnants of the Lung Tsun stone bridge.

After a series of public workshops and consultations with District Councils and statutory bodies, there was general support for designating a corridor to preserve the remnants in situ.

"Based on these public views, we propose to incorporate a 30-metre-wide corridor zoned as Open Space to accommodate the remnants and ancillary facilities," Mr Tang said.

"We also propose to provide a dedicated subway under Prince Edward Road East, with a heritage theme to form a linkage between the corridor and other areas in Kowloon City," he added.

In response to public aspirations for a more accessible waterfront in the Kai Tak Development, the Government has proposed to relocate two roads and the associated landscaped deck away from the waterfront to the centre of the former runway to enhance public accessibility and enjoyment.

Mr Tang said the opportunity had also been taken to relocate another road from the waterfront at the South Apron for better accessibility. The road and pedestrian linkage layout of the South Apron was also optimised to group several split-amenity areas into a usable Government, Institution or Community site, he added.

The Government will consult the District Councils and the Town Planning Board on the proposed enhancement measures in the coming few months, and will initiate amendments to the approved OZP afterwards.

It's unfortunate Hong Kong's authorities have no sporting ambitions, the Kai Tak runway would've been a perfect location for a GP circuit. While the implications, logistics, etc etc would've no doubt been complicated, it also would've been a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Are there going to be any highrises in this development?

^ Yes, there will be a lot of residential highrises.

Stunning absolutely to die for cruise terminal. Nice roof mimicking a cruiseship's topdeck. Any idea about this building's square footage?

Thanks HKskyline!!!

Monorail would revitalise Kwun Tong, residents say
30 May 2011
SCMP

Kwun Tong residents and a lawmaker have rejected a government engineering recommendation and want a bridge - and monorail - to be built to connect their district to the future Kai Tak redevelopment.

The proposed 8-kilometre rail link would cost less than HK$5 billion to build in three years, according to lawmaker Chan Kam-lam, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.

He said he would meet representatives from the Development Bureau to talk about the redevelopment plan, which a bureau spokesman said would be completed soon.

Residents said their district had been left economically stagnant. A link to the Kai Tak redevelopment would bring new life to it.

"The [cruise] terminal will bring in as many as 9,000 tourists a day to Kai Tak. It will benefit everybody to let them travel easily to lesser-travelled towns like Kwun Tong and To Kwa Wan," Chan said.

The old town in east Kowloon needs new economic vitality, and linking it to the cruise terminal - construction of which will end in 2013 - was the best solution, he said.

The government included the bridge in the old airport development's master plan in 2006, but has not made any further progress since then, Chan said.

Residents have pushed for the bridge and monorail, so they can easily get to the future centre of Kowloon. But a study by the Civil Engineering and development Department has said the bridge might not be feasible in the short term because the construction could infringe the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.

A Harbourfront Commission member also warned a bridge could become an eyesore, taking space from a future park on the runway.

The three-stage Kai Tak development will be completed by 2021.

Source : http://www.fotop.net/brian008

http://images5.fotop.net/albums7/brian008/brian00810/6249_G.jpg

Source : http://www.fotop.net/brian008

http://images5.fotop.net/albums7/brian008/brian00810/6249_G.jpg

I haven't seen many HK photos with ICC lit up. Is ICC being left dark like the rest of West Kowloon? I never understood why. Have residents been complaining?

The lit up ICC in the above photo looks photoshopped but I guess the lighting might just make it appear that way.

I haven't seen many HK photos with ICC lit up. Is ICC being left dark like the rest of West Kowloon? I never understood why. Have residents been complaining?

The lit up ICC in the above photo looks photoshopped but I guess the lighting might just make it appear that way.

There is lighting but I don't see it turned on that often, and the scheme is indeed what the photo shows.

Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/windmanx100/5908066013/

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5231/5908066013_9bd5bb51d7_z.jpg

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With all the tower cranes up, is the construction underway?

With all the tower cranes up, is the construction underway?

I presume not yet, since I haven't come across an approved master plan yet.

I presume not yet, since I haven't come across an approved master plan yet.

Aren't those cranes for the cruise terminal at the end of the old runway?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/110724_080s_w900s.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/110724_199ps_w900s.jpg
__________________
Buildings that don't get posted often (HK) Part I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=211362) or here ( http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=209576) | Part II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212436) or here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212435) | Part III (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=316338) | Part IV (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=366314) | Part V (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=13282175)
Artistic decorations inside and outside of the buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=319077)

it's promising.
I can't wait .

Source : http://www.fotop.net/moodforlove

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/moodforlove/20110803/007_G.jpg

http://images4.fotop.net/albums4/moodforlove/20110803/006_G.jpg

Approved Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan amended
Friday, August 26, 2011
Government Press Release

The Town Planning Board today (August 26) announced amendments to the approved Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The amendments are mainly covered in the Kai Tak City Centre, the South Apron area and the Runway area. Proposed amendments in the Kai Tak City Centre arise from the in-situ preservation of the Lung Tsun Stone Bridge remnants, while those in the South Apron and Runway areas are for relocation of roads to enhance public accessibility to the waterfront.

The draft Kai Tak OZP No. S/K22/3, incorporating the amendments, is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in North Point and Sha Tin, the Kowloon District Planning Office, and the Kowloon City, Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin District Offices.

Any person may make written representation in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Board on or before October 26, 2011. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

Copies of the draft OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

By hfpong from dchome (http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=1060844&extra=page%3D1) :

http://i.imgur.com/FzEWUl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/PeJfNl.jpg

By tkosohei from dchome (http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=1058702&extra=page%3D1) :

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/tkosohei/HEI_6726.jpg

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Marine mud turns green for use in flats projects
The Standard
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

In a first for the SAR, 100,000 cubic meters of marine mud at the former Kai Tak airport is being used to build houses, thanks to the work of an enterprising government engineer.

Some 16 percent of the mud has been used as part of the foundations of the 3.47-hectare, six- block Kai Tak Site 1A and 5.7-hectare, nine-block Site 1B public rental housing development of the Housing Authority.

Some 3.3 million people will live in 13,300 units when they are completed in January 2013.

If it were not for the breakthrough, the mud would have been dredged and dumped into the already bursting landfills.

But the "unsuitable filling material" - the volume of which equals five Olympic-size swimming pools - was transformed into "green-treated marine mud," said Patrick Leung Pak-wai, a Housing Department structural engineer who pioneered the method.

Through trial and error, Leung's team finalized the correct mix of marine mud, sand and cement three years ago, saving some HK$8.16 million in disposal costs to landfills and marine dumping sites.

Instead of using normal earth- filling materials, such as sand and cement, the green-treated marine mud was backfilled and compacted in layers of about 300 millimeters thick around the core foundation of pile caps underground.

Leung said the "green" mud would also be used for new public rental housing projects in Tseung Kwan O Area 65B and Tung Chung Area 56.

The department said the material passed through at least 10 tests.

"It has proved to be practical, inexpensive and environmentally friendly," Leung added.

"This public housing rental project, hopefully, will be a role model for Henderson, Cheung Kong, New World and Sun Hung Kai," said Michelle Au Wing-tsz, senior environmental affairs officer of Friends of the Earth.

She said the mud solution could drastically reduce the amount of construction waste, as 4,000 tonnes are currently dumped each day.

Business mecca for Kowloon
The Standard
Friday, October 14, 2011

A multibillion dollar project is being planned to turn Kai Tak, Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong into a second central business district with an elevated monorail linking the three areas.

Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor yesterday said the district will provide an area of 540,000 square meters for domestic and nondomestic use.

She said the government realizes the Central business district is reaching capacity and a second one is needed.

The three-phase project, which will be twice the size of Central, is expected to be completed in 2021. Other features will include an 11-kilometer promenade, entertainment facilities, outdoor performance areas and water sports activities.

The HK$12 billion monorail project will be nine kilometers long with 12 stations. It will be connected to the existing Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay MTR stations, passing through the waterfront, cruise terminal, Metro Park, Station Square and sports hub. There will also be elevated walkways along some routes.

Lam said construction of the monorail will be completed in 2023, but the government will first conduct a public consultation to determine if the public prefers other modes of transportation to link the three areas.

"The fact that it is zero-emission is another characteristic of the whole Kowloon East redevelopment project," Lam said.

Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Wai Chi-sing said the monorail will bring tremendous economic benefits to Hong Kong, although the cost
of construction will be high.

The first phase of the redevelopment, which will be completed in 2013, will include a cruise terminal building, berth and some public housing. The first batch of offices to move into the site in 2014 will be 11 government departments.

In the Hoi Bun Road redevelopment section, the government will relocate the existing waste recycling center and vehicle examination centers to release about 6.4 hectares of government land for development.

In the Kwun Tong Ferry Pier waterfront redevelopment, nine sections of underdeveloped government land totaling about five hectares will be used for redevelopment.

The government will also establish a zero- carbon emission building, and upgrade existing open space.

Meanwhile, Lam said the government will speed up the application process for redevelopment or the wholesale conversion of industrial buildings.

A multi-disciplinary Kowloon East Development Office in the Development Bureau will be set up to steer and monitor the project.

Lam admitted that there are challenges facing this project, such as the fragmented ownership in many industrial buildings in the area.

I hope to see a supertall in this development. Or is that wishful thinking?

LCQ19: New cruise terminal at Kai Tak
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Government Press Release

Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to a question by the Hon Paul Tse in the Legislative Council today (October 26):

Question:

Regarding the Kai Tak cruise terminal project, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) from the perspective of tourism development, what transport networks and infrastructures will be provided by the SAR Government to connect the Kai Tak cruise terminal with its neighbouring areas (e.g. the Wong Tai Sin Temple, the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill, the harbourfront promenade in Kwun Tong, as well as restaurants in Lei Yue Mun and Kowloon City, etc.), so as to maximise the economic benefits brought to the neighbouring areas by the development of the cruise terminal;

(b) whether it will draw reference from the history of development of Tsim Sha Tsui with the Ocean Terminal complementing various transport networks and tourist attractions such as the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus, the Star Ferry, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Peninsula Hotel and the harbourfront promenade, etc. so as to make use of the cruise terminal project to develop East Kowloon into a new major tourism area and a transit point for tourists; if it will, of the details of the plans; if not, the reasons for that; and

(c) what policies and measures are in place to make use of the cruise terminal project to tie in with the proposal in the 2011-2012 Policy Address to enhancing connectivity within East Kowloon by an elevated rail-based link and "kick-starting the development of East Kowloon", so as to foster the renewal and development of the entire East Kowloon on the one hand to greatly improve the district's economic conditions and employment situation, and strengthen the tourism industry of Hong Kong on the other hand?

Reply:

President,

My reply to the three-part question is set out below.

(a) Kai Tak Development (KTD) is a mega-scale development project spanning a total planning area of over 320 hectares, covering the ex-airport site and the adjoining hinterland districts. The new cruise terminal is part of the KTD project. To tie in with the commissioning of the first berth of the new cruise terminal, the Government will provide in mid-2013 a two-lane single carriageway to connect the cruise terminal with Cheung Yip Street at Kowloon Bay. In addition to the existing major trunk roads (including Kai Tak Tunnel and Kwun Tong Bypass), the planned Route 6 (including the Central Kowloon Route with direct road connections at the KTD area) will provide a route linking West Kowloon with East Kowloon. The proposed Shatin-to-Central Link (SCL) will also provide fast and reliable railway service for the KTD area.

Moreover, the Government has commissioned a consultancy study on the feasibility of an environmentally friendly linkage system (EFLS) for Kai Tak. Initial findings recommended that the EFLS should cover the KTD area with connections to Kowloon Bay Station and Kwun Tong Station of the Mass Transit Railway as well as Kai Tak Station of the future SCL. Given its high construction cost and wide-ranging implications, the Government plans to consult the public on the EFLS in early 2012.

Upon the phased completion of the planned transport network and infrastructure, the new cruise terminal and the neighbouring districts will be more closely connected, and the economic benefits will be enhanced.

(b) Today's Tsim Sha Tsui was developed in the course of history and upon the needs of Hong Kong's development at different times. The development of Kai Tak takes a different approach. The KTD area is an integrated development with a mix of community, housing, business, tourism and infrastructural uses. The phased completion of the various projects in the KTD will complement the facilities of the new cruise terminal and foster tourism development in the neighbouring districts and Hong Kong as a whole.

(c) The transport network and infrastructure (including the EFLS which will shortly be put to the public for consultation) as mentioned in part (a) can enhance the connectivity of the new cruise terminal with the neighbouring districts, and coupled with the phased completion of various projects in the KTD area, the tourism and economic benefits for the cruise terminal as well as the neighbouring districts will be boosted.

Vice-Premier Mr Li Keqiang announced during his visit to Hong Kong that escalated efforts would be put in to support the development of Hong Kong as a homeport for cruise tourism. This ties in with the commissioning of the new cruise terminal in mid-2013 in further enhancing the development of our cruise tourism. Leveraging on the completion of the new cruise terminal, we will continue to co-operate closely with the major cruise companies and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to attract the deployment of more cruise vessels to Hong Kong. We will allocate more resources to the HKTB to strengthen its co-operation with cruise lines in promoting the cruise market in Hong Kong, and to lengthen the stay of cruise liners and tourists in Hong Kong through collaborative efforts with the travel trade in developing more diversified shore excursion programmes. We will also continue to strengthen the co-operation with nearby ports to enhance the potential of the regional cruise market.

^^

LDAC supports "Energizing Kowloon East" initiative
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Government Press Release

At the meeting today (October 27), the Land and Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) was briefed on the 2011-12 Policy Address and Policy Agenda initiatives concerning the Development Bureau.

The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, and Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Mr Thomas Chow, briefed members on three major policy initiatives, including "Energizing Kowloon East", increasing land supply and the mid-term review on measures to facilitate revitalisation of industrial buildings. Members noted and appreciated that the land development related initiatives in the Policy Address were responding to Hong Kong's long-term development needs and community concern.

At the meeting, members were briefed on the "Energizing Kowloon East" initiative to develop the area into a new central business district. It covers enhancing the intra-district and external connectivity of the district, e.g. improving pedestrian linkage network and considering the construction of the proposed Environmentally Friendly Linkage System; adopting attractive streetscape, green urban design and continuous promenade; and promoting diversity so as to inject vibrancy into the business district.

Members appreciated the Government's long-term strategic development plan. Members agreed that a suitable branding for Kowloon East would contribute to effective transformation of the area. Regarding the proposed Environmentally Friendly Linkage System, some members pointed out that the success of the "Energizing Kowloon East" initiative would depend on the intra-district and external connectivity of the area and expressed support to the proposed system.

Members generally agreed that the cruise terminal in Kai Tak and planned relocation of government offices to the area would bring catalytic effects and stimulate further development of the area. They also supported the establishment of a Kowloon East Development Office because it would facilitate and strengthen co-ordination of the development in Kowloon East.

In addition, members noted that the Government would adopt innovative measures to expand land resources, including releasing about 60 hectares of industrial land for non-industrial uses; exploring the option of reclamation on an appropriate scale outside Victoria Harbour; actively exploring the use of rock caverns to reprovision existing public facilities and releasing such sites for housing and other uses; looking into the use of green belt areas in the New Territories that are devegetated, deserted or formed to convert them into housing sites; examining "Government, Institution or Community" sites and exploring the possibility of converting into housing land some 150 hectares of agricultural land in North District and Yuen Long currently used mainly for industrial purpose or temporary storage.

Members generally supported the Government's effort to expand land resources. Some members pointed out that the review of "Government, Institution or Community" sites would improve the utilisation of sites without specific development plans, increase housing land supply and respond to community needs.

http://images5.fotop.net/albums7/poon_jeffrey/Jardinmountain/DSC_7201.jpg

Kowloon East's star is rising
The Standard
Thursday, December 08, 2011

It has been more than 18 months since the government introduced the industrial buildings revitalization scheme.

But statistics show only seven wholesale conversions have been undertaken.

As there are more than 1,000 eligible industrial buildings under the scheme, the overall pace of wholesale conversions for aged industrial premises is expected to pick up.

More applications are anticipated from a much wider group of small to medium-sized vendors, who usually have relatively limited access to financial resources.

This projection assumes the government will provide more concrete incentives - including financial subsidies - after feedback from the private sector.

In terms of geographical preference, Kowloon East will continue to be the market focus, given a series of infrastructure developments.

A proposed Environmentally Friendly Linkage System, featuring a nine-kilometer elevated monorail system connecting Kai Tak commercial projects and Kowloon East, is scheduled for operation by 2023.

In addition, the overall size of the office cluster in Kowloon East will continue to expand by virtue of the government's town planning initiatives.

The first block of the Kai Tak government offices, including 11 government departments comprising a floor area of 540,000 square feet, is expected to be completed in 2014.

The other two plots of land, with developable floor area of 1.07 million square feet, will be reserved to accommodate other government offices that are currently located in Wan Chai.

These are seen as some key drivers, initiated by the government, to make Kowloon East an enlarged office hub for both the public and private sectors.

According to Colliers' research surveys last month, office rents in Kowloon East have climbed at the fastest rate among all office locations in Hong Kong.

The office rental difference between Kowloon East and Tsim Sha Tsui is expected to narrow from the current level of 30 percent to less than 10 percent over the next decade.

Joanne Lee is an assistant manager of research and advisory at Colliers International. The real estate consultancy has integrated teams of specialists to speed up success for institutional and private clients by developing solutions to give their properties a competitive business advantage.

Too Cool

11/27

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By 卍卍明仔卍卍 from a Hong Kong photography forum :

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By yuk_h_y from a Hong Kong photography forum (http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=1095214&extra=page%3D2) :

http://img.hkisee.com/di-2MYS.jpg

Source : http://www.fotop.net/dreamer/

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2/19

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1/1/2008

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nice picture thanks.

Biletbayisi ucuz ucak bileti yurtdışı ekonomik (http://www.vayoog.com/biletbayisi-ucuz-ucak-bileti-yurtdisi-ekonomik.html)

啟德建兒科中心最快2017落成
2012年03月07日(三)
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Brief synopsis : A HKD 9.7 billion children's health care centre is planned in the Kai Tak redevelopment. Tendering will start in April and the centre is expected t o be completed by 2017.

http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20120307/photo/0307-00407-079b1.jpg

【本報訊】本港醫療服務需求甚殷，多間公院擴建計劃陸續上馬。其中位於啟德新發展區用地、造價九十七億的兒童專科卓越醫療中心，四月會進行招標，最快二○一七年落成，較原定遲一年，並預期要在落成翌年年中起才可分階段投入服務。有公立醫院兒科部門主管憂慮人手未追上服務需求。

聯合醫院兒童及青少年科部門主管陳衍標憂慮，專科醫生培訓需時六年，換言之，今年起需要培訓專科醫生銜接新服務，「兒科目前有四十個空缺，即使今年七月有醫科學生填補，預計只能填補五至六成」。當局未來要做好人口及醫護人手規劃，避免出現大量「雙非港童」充斥醫療中心。

至於聯合醫院重建，興建兩幢新大樓，主要用作癌症中心、擴展專科門診、日間及復康服務，及增強急症服務，預期擴展後病床數目將增加三百張。食衞局本月為首階段準備工作的顧問服務進行招標，預期下半年向立法會財委會申請撥款。

New grouping wins rights to Kai Tak cruise terminal
The Standard
Friday, March 09, 2012

Worldwide Cruise Terminals Consortium has been awarded the right to operate and manage the long-awaited cruise terminal at Kai Tak.

The consortium is required to pay the government a fixed rent as well as a variable rent. The fixed rent for the 10-year operation is around HK$13 million. In addition, the government will receive a percentage of the operator's gross receipts as variable rent, with the percentage increasing from 7.3percent to 34percent as gross receipts rise.

The grouping is made up of Worldwide Flight Services, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Neo Crown.

The government said Neo Crown is owned by Shun Tak Holdings, which has core businesses in property development, leasing and management, and transportation.

A spokeswoman for the Tourism Commission said it is necessary to charge a variable rent as this will guarantee the government a higher rental income if usage and operation of the cruise terminal is satisfactory.

The consortium will pay the government 7.3 percent of revenue if it is less than HK$30 million a year. Between HK$30 million and HK$60 million, the percentage will be 18 percent. The figure will rise to 23 percent of revenue between HK$60 million and HK$90 million, and then to 34 percent for sums higher than that.

Worldwide Flight Services has a 60 percent interest in the consortium, while Royal Caribbean Cruises and Neo Crown each have a 20 percent stake.

The consortium will be responsible for the berthing of vessels and managing traffic, transport, security and shops.

The government said the terminal building and first berth are likely to begin operations in the middle of next year.

Barry Nassberg, chief operating officer of Worldwide Flight Services, said yesterday the company will co-operate with the Tourism Board to encourage more cruise liners to berth in Hong Kong. It will also develop new shore excursion programs to lure overseas visitors.

Li Kui-wai, associate professor of economics and finance at City University, said the terms set by the government are quite attractive and likely to encourage the consortium to invest more in promoting Hong Kong as a cruise hub.

The Kai Tak cruise terminal, which will cost about HK$8.15 billion, is expected to bring in between HK$1.5 billion and HK$2.6 billion a year by 2023 and create 5,300 to 8,900 jobs.

New grouping wins rights to Kai Tak cruise terminal
The Standard
Friday, March 09, 2012

Worldwide Cruise Terminals Consortium has been awarded the right to operate and manage the long-awaited cruise terminal at Kai Tak.

The consortium is required to pay the government a fixed rent as well as a variable rent. The fixed rent for the 10-year operation is around HK$13 million. In addition, the government will receive a percentage of the operator's gross receipts as variable rent, with the percentage increasing from 7.3percent to 34percent as gross receipts rise.

The grouping is made up of Worldwide Flight Services, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Neo Crown.

The government said Neo Crown is owned by Shun Tak Holdings, which has core businesses in property development, leasing and management, and transportation.

A spokeswoman for the Tourism Commission said it is necessary to charge a variable rent as this will guarantee the government a higher rental income if usage and operation of the cruise terminal is satisfactory.

The consortium will pay the government 7.3 percent of revenue if it is less than HK$30 million a year. Between HK$30 million and HK$60 million, the percentage will be 18 percent. The figure will rise to 23 percent of revenue between HK$60 million and HK$90 million, and then to 34 percent for sums higher than that.

Worldwide Flight Services has a 60 percent interest in the consortium, while Royal Caribbean Cruises and Neo Crown each have a 20 percent stake.

The consortium will be responsible for the berthing of vessels and managing traffic, transport, security and shops.

The government said the terminal building and first berth are likely to begin operations in the middle of next year.

Barry Nassberg, chief operating officer of Worldwide Flight Services, said yesterday the company will co-operate with the Tourism Board to encourage more cruise liners to berth in Hong Kong. It will also develop new shore excursion programs to lure overseas visitors.

Li Kui-wai, associate professor of economics and finance at City University, said the terms set by the government are quite attractive and likely to encourage the consortium to invest more in promoting Hong Kong as a cruise hub.

The Kai Tak cruise terminal, which will cost about HK$8.15 billion, is expected to bring in between HK$1.5 billion and HK$2.6 billion a year by 2023 and create 5,300 to 8,900 jobs.

Author : http://johnblog.phychembio.com/

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Source : http://www.fotop.net/poon_jeffrey/tai_lo_shan

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Anchors aweigh on cash tide
The Standard
Thursday, April 05, 2012

Lotus Tours has established a new cruise holiday brand ahead of the opening of the Kai Tak cruise terminal.

One of Hong Kong's oldest travel agencies, the company is particularly renowned for its airline ticket booking services.

Last year, founding chairman Kong Ho- pak invited publications veteran Lee Cho-jat to join the firm as vice chairman.

I bumped into Lee earlier, and he told me Lotus is also strong in organizing special tours catering to the niche interests of customers. These include MICE - meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions - tours, as well as art appreciation, pilgrimages and photographic holidays.

Lotus Tours has also been voted "best travel agency of the year" by its peers in the Asia Pacific region.

Lee told me the company earlier organized a HK$1 million customized luxury tour for a mainland couple.

The cost may seem huge, but if you fly first class, stay at five-star hotels and visit various destinations in comfort, the expenses can easily add up, he said.

One fast-growing business of Lotus Tours is private jet holidays, which are common in the West and starting to gain popularity in Asia. The travel agency will book the private jet and arrange to pick up the customers at various locations.

The cost of such a tour is a few hundred thousand dollars, which - if shared among a few people - is only a little higher than flying first class with a commercial airline.

But this mode of traveling is convenient and comfortable, hence
it is gaining favor with the well-heeled, Lee said.

Asia's burgeoning economy is creating a new affluent class and the government expects the Kai Tak cruise terminal to generate annual economic benefits of HK$2 billion.

It is small wonder that leading members of the travel industry are all gearing up to be among the early birds to capitalize on the imminent arrival of new opportunities.

Siu Sai-wo is chief editor of Sing Tao Daily

Extension out for monorail
The Standard
Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The proposed HK$12 billion monorail system that will link Kowloon East to the future Kai Tak development area won't be extended to To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City and San Po Kong.

This emerged from a study commissioned by the Civil Engineering and Development Department to investigate the feasibility of the system and its possible extension to the three old districts.

A paper to be discussed at the Legislative Council development panel next Tuesday said the study rejected an extension because of "noise and visual implications on the residential areas, concerns about intrusion of privacy of the premises, financial burden and technical difficulties."

The extensions would incur an additional HK$4.2 billion in costs but only a 10 percent increase in ridership.

The government is seeking views from lawmakers on the monorail for the first time amid a two-stage public consultation that began in February.

The elevated monorail system will be a nine-kilometer, 12-station line linking the MTR Kowloon Bay station to the Kai Tak Development Station Square, terminating at Kwun Tong MTR station.

A two-car system was chosen as it is "aesthetically more appealing, and has comparatively slimmer viaducts/supporting structures than other rail systems." It is touted as "a unique landmark" that will enhance Hong Kong's tourism appeal. Services could operate at two-minute intervals during peak hours, with daily patronage in 2031 forecast at about 200,000 riders.

The monorail "will incur substantial costs and the financial and economic returns are not satisfactory if treated as an infrastructure," the Development Bureau said. But it will play a strategic role in developing Kowloon East as a core business district, bringing about "much non-quantifiable economic benefits."

These include facilitating inter- district activities, and generating "synergy for adjacent developments, and should have a catalytic effect on the successful transformation of Kowloon East into another attractive" business area.

If there is a public consensus, the monorail can be commissioned by 2023.

A bureau spokesman said an extension to old districts in the future, if there is commercial development potential.

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__________________
Buildings that don't get posted often (HK) Part I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=211362) or here ( http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=209576) | Part II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212436) or here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212435) | Part III (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=316338) | Part IV (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=366314) | Part V (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=13282175)
Artistic decorations inside and outside of the buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=319077)

very cool. very nice! Thank You Very Very Much