HONG KONG | Convention and Exhibition Centre Extension | App

[hkskyline]

Extension for shows center
10 September 2007
Hong Kong Standard

Source : http://www.hkcecema.com/
http://www.hkcecema.com/HKCEC_photo.jpg

The Hong Kong government has given the green light to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Phase III extension, a move analysts said would help the city better compete with the emerging threat from Macau.

Members of the inner circle of the administration, including Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, are supporting the development, a senior government source told The Standard.

They believe additional capacity from Phase III will help Hong Kong stay competitive as a leading convention city in Asia, the source said. "There is an urgency to speed up the expansion of the HKCEC," Jeffrey Lam, chairman of the Trade Development Council's Toys Industry Advisory Committee, told The Standard.

Lam said there is often a long waiting list of exhibitors who were unable to book space at HKCEC trade fairs. "Obviously, Macau would like to take away business from us," Lam said. "Nevertheless, we still have our competitive edge in terms of software.

"What we lack is hardware - the exhibition space." The Phase III Benjamin Scent and Bonnie Chenextension will expand the floor space to beyond 100,000 square feet, a member of the 19-person governing body of the TDC said.

The newly-enlarged HKCEC facilities have an exhibition area comparable to the Venetian Macao, which has about 111,500 square meters of meeting, convention and exhibition space. "The Venetian attracts, first of all, because of the huge space that is available, and the other [reason is] entertainment," said Credit Suisse analyst Gabriel Chan. "In Hong Kong, the space is almost always full."

Phase III will be developed on land now occupied by the bus terminus and sports grounds near Great Eagle Centre, the government source said.

Although the existing sports facilities will be demolished, the TDC plans to build new sports facilities on top of the HKCEC Phase III structure to serve the public interest.

In tandem with the expansion, the government will rebrand HKCEC as an all-around complex offering exhibition, performance, and sports facilities, the source said.

"The Venetian attracts, first of all, because of the huge space that is available, and the other [reason is] entertainment," said Credit Suisse analyst Gabriel Chan. "In Hong Kong, the space is almost always full."

Phase III will be developed on land now occupied by the bus terminus and sports grounds near Great Eagle Centre, according to the government source. Although the existing sports facilities will be demolished, the TDC plans to build new sports facilities on top of the HKCEC Phase III structure.

In tandem with the expansion, the government will rebrand HKCEC as an all-around complex offering exhibition, performance, and sports facilities, the source said.

"There's not that much convention business in Hong Kong right now," said Morgan Stanley analyst Rob Hart. "Macau is better situated to focus on the convention business, and there's plenty of other convention business around in the Pearl River Delta region."

The Phase III extension follows the Atrium Link extension, now under way and expected to be completed in 2009.

The Atrium Link extension, which links the Phase I and Phase II wings of the convention center, will add 19,400 sq m of exhibition space, an increase of 42 percent, for a total exhibition area of 66,000 sq m.

At the moment, the HKCEC offers 49,000 sq m of exhibition space spread between the Phase I and Phase II wings. Plans call for construction to begin on the Phase III project in 2009. Work is expected to be completed by 2015.

[EricIsHim]

http://starphotohk.com/hk-place/2008/20080303-WanChaiHKCECExpansion01-960.jpg

by 久地遊覽 @ hkplace.com

[Phobos]

It would be nice to see a rendering of how it will look.I hope they don't ruin this buildings,wich IMO is one of the best ever designed by SOM.

[skyperu34]

Design is great and location is excellent !

[EricIsHim]

please delete.

[skyboi]

This is already U/C why the thread is still approved ?

[hkskyline]

7/6

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0706/IMG_1497.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0706/IMG_1501.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/0706/IMG_1499.jpg

[infratot]

nice project

HK has neglected its seaside too much, I think

[hkskyline]

Hotel and convention facilities spruce up to fend off competition
1 October 2007
South China Morning Post

Intensifying competition from hospitality and convention service providers in Macau and Singapore has triggered a wave of renovations across Hong Kong's hotel and exhibition facilities.

Some hotels, especially those in the neighbourhood of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and those lining Nathan Road, are masking their properties with scaffolding or suspending services to make way for thorough facelifts.

The need for a rejuvenated image and enhanced services is pressing after the opening last month of the US$2.4 billion Venetian Macao casino resort, which has a one million square foot retail mecca, 1.2 million sq ft in convention space and 3,000 hotel rooms. The resort is the first of 13 casino hotels Les Vegas Sands is developing on Macau's Cotai Strip.

Adding fuel to the cut-throat competition is a US$3.6 billion gaming, conference-cum residential project in Singapore, another Sands project, due for completion in 2009. "The real threat should come from Singapore," said Hong Kong Hotels Association executive director James Lu. "Macau will create some competition in leisure tourism in the short-term but don't underestimate Singapore."

He pointed out that Singapore and Hong Kong, which are more comparable in terms of tourism, financial development, infrastructure and logistics, will enter a fresh round of competition for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) in two years when Sands finishes a 100,000 sq ft facility for this purpose and a 1.2 million sq ft space accommodating 52,000 visitors.

Sarah Benecke, executive director of Global Sources, a business-to-business media firm organising trade shows, said Hong Kong had a niche in sourcing and trade fairs due to its proximity to the mainland, and that buyers and sellers were so busy attending trade fairs in Guangzhou and Hong Kong during the April and October sourcing seasons that she doubted they had time to attend any in Macau.

Nevertheless, to fend off competition, Hong Kong's government is forking out HK$1.4 billion to add 194,000 sq ft at the convention and exhibition centre in Wan Chai for a total of 900,000 sq ft, an increase of 28 per cent, according to the centre's marketing and sales manager Monica Lee Muller. The expansion, scheduled for completion in early 2009, was focused on enlarging the three existing halls to attract more trade mega-exhibitions, she said.

The four-star Novotel Century Hotel on Jaffe Road, near the convention and exhibition centre, was close to wrapping up its US$10 million refurbishment programme, said Maarten Boers, general manager delegate for Hong Kong at French hotelier Accor Group, which manges the hotel.

"Everybody is doing the same and wants a refreshed look," he said. "The major aim [of our renovation] is to maintain market share." Mr Boers added that 70 per cent of the hotel's guests were corporate travellers.

The four-star Renaissance Harbour View Hotel attached to the convention centre was also touching up its public areas to stay competitive, its spokeswoman said.

Across Victoria Harbour on Nathan Road, Mr Boers said the 380-room Majestic Hotel, which hospitality investor LaSalle Investment Management purchased in June for HK$1.6 billion, would be revamped and converted into a Novotel hotel at a cost of HK$188 million.

The Majestic will temporarily close its doors in mid-November for the revamp before its re-launch in April, he said.

About 500 metres away, the four-star Miramar hotel will soon embark on a HK$300 million overhaul, including its façade, about 500 guest rooms, restaurants and ballrooms, over the next 12 months.

[simontse1992]

even though it is expending in size, but it is still not big enough compared to the convention centers in surrounding area, like Shenzhen and Macau

[hkskyline]

even though it is expending in size, but it is still not big enough compared to the convention centers in surrounding area, like Shenzhen and Macau

The key is to attract the top conventions and exhibitions, and leave the rest for the secondary centres such as Macau and Shenzhen. But then, international delegates are likely flying into Hong Kong first, since the air network is far more extensive, so the spinoff effect on the local economy can still be felt even though the event is happening outside our borders.

[pimpag]

That's gonna be great, well worth the time and energy of those involved, i'd really like to go over and visit hong kong, seems like an amazing place, and looks stunning in the photo here.

[hkskyline]

Events organisers crying out for venues
8 September 2008
South China Morning Post

The renovations of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and Hong Kong Coliseum might give events organisers more flexibility but, with an extremely high occupancy rate, they do not help ease the city's shortage of venues.

Concert organiser Florence Chan Suk-fun said the renovations would not solve the core problem. "Now we can only hope that the West Kowloon [Cultural District] has more venues of higher capacity so that more different kinds of shows can be staged here in Hong Kong," she said. "This is an international city and we need that."

The two venues have been popular choices for entertainment and cultural events, as well as sports events.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said that as of last month, Queen Elizabeth Stadium was 75 per cent booked to July next year. Sixteen per cent of bookings were sports events, ranging from ball games to boxing; 18 per cent were entertainment events such as pop concerts and talk shows; and 12 per cent were cultural events including classical and jazz concerts and ballroom dancing. The remaining 29 per cent were events such as school functions and seminars.

The Coliseum has been close to 100 per cent booked in recent years.

Ms Chan said that there has been a serious lack of performance venues in Hong Kong and, with the Coliseum closed for renovation, fewer shows have been staged.

"Hirers have already begun fighting over the schedule for next year. But it is time for the venues to be renovated," she said. "The Coliseum is ageing and there are a lot of mosquitoes."

Michael Roche, director of Lushington Entertainments, said these government-run venues had been in desperate need of upgrading, "particularly bearing in mind age, wear and tear over the years and the lack of reinvestment despite the extremely high rentals, posted by 20 per cent of the gross takings per show".

In the meantime, before the completion of any new venues, other privately owned indoor venues such as the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai, AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport, and Star Hall at the Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay, remain in demand.

AsiaWorld-Expo's head of business development, Monique Yeung Wai-chung, said bookings had been strong for the past 2 1/2 years and the future was promising.

However, at the HKCEC - which will have its atrium expansion completed next spring - trade exhibitions were the priority. The HKCEC said the atrium expansion would increase the exhibition space but not concert seating.

[hkskyline]

HK venues expand to keep up with demand
19 September 2008
South China Morning Post

There were more than 230 conventions and 108 trade and public exhibitions held in Hong Kong last year, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association said the total number of visitors to exhibitions continued to rise, topping 5.7 million last year, an 18 per cent increase over 2006.

The overall number of visitors from outside Hong Kong rose to more than 700,000 last year. Nearly 220,000 came from Asia-Pacific, which is a more than 4 per cent increase from the previous year. Also, more than 240,000 came from the mainland, about a 47 per cent increase, and more than 250,000 from the rest of the world, representing an increase of about 9 per cent.

Hong Kong is a trade-fair hub and premier meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions destination and so the shortage of space is an issue. It is particularly serious during autumn's peak fair-season.

Corporate meetings and incentives escalate demand for meeting space, leaving organisers queueing to book space for trade fairs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The centre and AsiaWorld-Expo are the main venues for exhibitions.

The centre celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It was expanded in June 1997 but this expansion has not kept up with the rapid growth.

A centre spokesman said: "We realised by 2005 that for fairs to be successful {hellip} we needed more space. Demand for space for exhibitions surged. At least two shows annually were using every square metre of available space in the building.

"A waiting list of exhibitors for various shows increased each year. Even after the present expansion [which will be completed next spring], our management is projecting a need for additional space as early as the next decade."

The expansion at Atrium Link began in May of 2006. An extra 19,400 square metres of exhibition space will create a total of 83,045 square metres of exhibition space and 92,061 square metres of total rentable space.

Two new restaurants, an expanded Harbour Road Café and an executive meeting room of almost 900 square metres would improve the availability of food services and banqueting at the centre, the spokesman said.

This year is a good one for the venue as it hosted the World Ophthalmology Congress 2008 (from June 28 to July 2) and Evolution: Asia Yoga Conference (from July 3 to 6). The congress was the biggest of its kind in Asia. More than 1,000 faculty members and 10,000 delegates from more than 110 countries participated in the congress. The event used almost all meeting space at the centre and featured 1,140 prominent international speakers in 314 scientific sessions covering 28 sub-speciality areas in ophthalmology.

The congress welcomed more than 3,000 participants from the mainland, a record figure for the event.

The 700,000-square-metre AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) opened in 2006 and has played host to a range of international exhibitions. China Sourcing Fairs are held every April and October. Other fairs include ITU Telecom World, Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress and Asia's Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Fair, which is held every March, June and September.

To cope with future development, the venue is gearing up to expand. A source said the AWE planned to add six halls to add about 100,000 squaremetres to the venue.

The calendar of events at AWE for the rest of this year and next reflects a good mix of recurring and new events.

Among the new events is Courier and Parcel Logistics Expo 2009 to be held next May. This will be a premier international trade show and conference dedicated to the fast-growing global express and parcel delivery services sector.

Another new development around the AWE site is the opening of the five-star 658-room SkyCity Marriott Hotel which will be in December.

The Regal Airport Hotel, with 1,171 rooms and suites, 31 function rooms and six restaurants, also benefits from fairs and conventions held at the AWE.

Guests can enjoy a full range of facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools and spa centre. The hotel is also close to SkyPlaza, an integrated shopping and entertainment centre.

A spokeswoman at Regal Hotels International said: "There is keen competition from nearby cities Bangkok, Jakarta, Shanghai and Beijing. The exhibition and meeting space in Macau, Guangzhou and elsewhere in the Pearl River Delta are comparatively large in size and scale. Hong Kong needs to further upgrade meeting, conference and exhibition facilities and the government should take the lead [in driving this expansion].

"When AWE's Phase2 expansion and HKCEC Phase3 expansion are completed the total exhibition space in Hong Kong will be able to cope with future market growth."

[hkskyline]

施政報告:會展中心進行第三期擴建
(星島)10月15日 星期三 11:54

行政長官曾蔭權今早在立法會發表新一份的《施政報告》。曾蔭權表示，香港要維持國際會展中心地位，需要增加香港會議展覽中心的展覽面積。會展中心的中庭通道擴建工程將於明年完成。政府及貿易發展局現正積極考慮在會展中心的現址附近進行第三期擴建，詳細研究及公眾諮詢工作會盡快展開。此外，政府會加強負責海外推廣香港的機構之間相互協作，包括香港經濟貿易辦事處、貿易發展局、投資推廣署及香港旅遊發展局，制訂城市品牌及宣傳策略。


會展會增加展覽面積
(明報)10月15日 星期三 11:50

行政長官曾蔭權認為，香港要維持國際會展中心地位，需要增加香港會議展覽中心的展覽面積。

他說，會展中心的中庭通道擴建工程將於明年完成。政府及貿易發展局現正積極考慮在會展中心的現址附近進行第三期擴建，詳細研究及公眾諮詢工作會盡快展開。

此外，政府會加強負責海外推廣香港的機構之間相互協作，包括香港經濟貿易辦事處、貿易發展局、投資推廣署及香港旅遊發展局，制訂城市品牌及宣傳策略。

[hkskyline]

缺會展場地 研第三期擴建
16 October 2008
香港經濟日報

面對周邊地區積極發展會展業，施政報告中重提，盡快就灣仔會展第三期擴建，重新展開研究及公眾諮詢。政府消息透露，貿易發展局仍然屬意在灣仔碼頭巴士站一帶，進行擴建。

施政報告又總結，去年提出的10大基建，其中6項已經有動工時間表，包括廣深港高速鐵路香港段和港珠澳大橋，均可於2年之內率先施工。政府估計，當10大基建完成、投入運作到成熟階段，每年可為本港經濟創造逾千億元的增加值，並創造額外約25萬個職位，相等於2007年勞動人口的7%。

10大基建 創25萬職位

貿易發展局目前正在灣仔會展舊翼和新翼之間的中庭，開展擴建工程，預計明年完成。但政府消息強調，就算有關工程完成，本地亦缺乏會展場地，特別是在每年3、4月，以及10、11月的旺季，因此有必要研究第三期擴建，期望在2015至16年落成及投入服務。

消息人士解釋，若果第三期擴建的選址最終也在灣仔，日後便可舉行較大型的展覽活動。但他強調，貿易發展局仍須就此進行顧問研究，政府會視乎研究報告，再作考慮，包括評估對附近交通的影響，如何搬遷現有設施等，並會就此開展公眾諮詢。

除了10大基建之外，政府在2010年前亦有多項基建項目施工，包括屯門公路重建及改善工程、吐露港公路/粉嶺公路擴闊工程、港鐵西港島線和觀塘延線等。

立法會財務委員會在過去2年，批出的工程項目多達179項，聯同西九龍文娛藝術區的216億元的一次性注資，撥款多達820億元，總數和總金額均超越前年的104項及224億元。

[hkskyline]

〔港報社評〕穩中求勝務須把握時機,積極推動會展三期擴建
20 October 2008
路透社

歐美直接入股,國有化一些主要銀行,使這些銀行不致倒閉之後,除了信貸市場稍見和緩,整體情況未見顯著好轉.就香港而言,多個亞洲國家被列入"高危"名單,中國經濟增長顯著放緩,藍籌大公司中信泰富也在外匯投資虧損巨大.連串事態,說明金融海嘯的具體影響呈日漸逼近之勢,香港政府除了謀定而動,也要利用時勢,把握時機,積極推動解決會展中心第三期擴建的問題,增加香港會展業的競爭力,為香港經濟創造較好的發展條件.

由於金融海嘯對香港構成多大破壞,哪些環節需要即時救助,目前仍難知曉,曾蔭權在香港施政報告中以"穩中求勝"方針,未見大動作,在此背景下可以理解.但是希望他所領導的經濟機遇委員會,日後並非僅只放眼外地,也要因應香港實際情況,掌握機遇,加強香港一些產業的競爭力.

例如,香港要維持國際會展中心地位,就要改善自己的條件,其中一項就是要增加會展的展覽面積,曾蔭權在施政報告中,就此只有寥寥數語,說香港政府及貿發局正積極考慮在會展中心現址附近進行第三期擴建.關於會展擴建,延宕日久,再拖下去,肯定會削弱香港會展業的競爭力,政府宜趁此經濟低迷之際,盡早提出方案諮詢,在社會主流要救經濟的大前提下,過去幾年一些阻力(例如抗拒徵用灣仔運動場)可能不會再那麼強大,問題是:港府有沒有決心推動?社會有沒有共識去加強香港經濟的競爭力?(A03)

註:以上的評論僅為摘要,並且不代表路透立場.

[hkskyline]

11/2

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1102/IMG_3562.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1102/IMG_3563.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1102/IMG_3565.jpg

[hkskyline]

11/13

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2008/1113/IMG_3753.jpg

[pookgai]

The first post states that the extension is to be completed by 2015. It looks like the structure is complete and cladding/fitout remains. Not sure if that will take 6 years though!

[hkskyline]

I've seen a couple of proposals floating around, and the expansion plans were supposed to be more than the present construction. More additions were supposed to be reclaimed just off the present Wan Chai Ferry. That piece has been tied up due to environmentalists.

[hkskyline]

重達240公斤 飛墮會展擴建地盤
工字鐵砸頭安全帽保命
21/11/2008
http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/img/endmarker.gif

http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/news/20081121/img/sn13112130_big.jpg

安全帽救番條命！在灣仔會展擴建地盤，昨晨一名男工人埋首工作時，未察覺頭頂半空剛吊運的一條二百四十公斤重工字鐵疑因鋼纜甩脫跌下，工人被砸中頭部倒地，幸獲安全帽保命，不致被壓爆頭，但頭及腳受傷送院，勞工處正調查意外原因。

未確定是否涉程序出錯
姓施（三十六歲）工人，在會展新翼三號展館擴建地盤工作。昨晨十一時許，施在地面開工時，有工人以吊臂車吊運工字鐵，期間一支吊運中的五點六米長工字鐵，在其頭頂兩米半空掠過，但鋼纜突然甩脫，工字鐵直墮而下，施因未有察覺，故沒有閃避，當場被砸中頭頂，工字鐵隨即將他推跌。

工友見狀大驚，連忙上前查看，為施解下安全帽，發現其頭部受傷，但因有安全帽保護，得以減輕傷勢，其左腳亦撞傷，立即為他急救，同時報警求助，由救護員將他送院救治，警方通知勞工處人員到場調查，暫未確定是否涉吊運程序出錯。

理工大學機械工程學系工程師盧覺強表示，假設工人身高一點六米，若工字鐵從兩米高墮下，撞及工人頭頂的距離約零點四米，時速雖然僅十公里，但產生的撞擊力可達二百八十六公斤，而工字鐵撞及頭頂反彈落地，產生的撞擊力高達六百五十公斤，若被壓尠腳部，可能造成碎骨。

盧續稱，今次工人大難不死，安全帽起了重要作用，因可以卸去九十一公斤下墜力，同時整個人被推開，始避過頭骨碎裂。現時工業安全帽是以碳纖維製造，有足夠的硬度保護工人。他指事故因工人缺乏安全意識引致，只要吊運工人確保吊運物「穩陣」，工人謹記不可在吊運中的重物底下工作，相信意外必可大減。

[vincent]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azXXkoyHqq0

i happened to notice this video on youtube. I think it is featuring an old design, but the construction method is the same.

[hkskyline]

會展地盤棚架起火
(星島)11月26日 星期三 20:15

灣仔會展新翼地盤內發生小火，晚上六時許，工人發現棚架安全網及雜物起火，懷疑燒焊時火花掉到棚內有關。消防員接報到場瞬將火救熄，事件中無人受傷，亦無可疑之處。

[hkskyline]

11/30

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/IMG_5302.jpg

[deej]

The first post states that the extension is to be completed by 2015. It looks like the structure is complete and cladding/fitout remains. Not sure if that will take 6 years though!

The pictures refer to the so-called Atrium Link expansion. I believe the Phase III expansion referenced in the article will cover the open area left of the Star Ferry pier where the red covered walkways are in front of the Siemens sign.

Has anyone actually seen renderings of what Phase III will look like? With the slowdown, I'm assuming that this would be one of the projects to keep the construction economy ticking along, but it seems to be very quiet on this front.

[hkskyline]

12/26

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/IMG_5984.jpg

[f.e.s.b.r.]

amazing design

[M.Schwerdtner]

picture from 27. december ... hkskyline, maybe we had meet up anywhere in hkg :D and just passed by.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/3148746152_531ef27f0f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3148689738_4af8fa641b_b.jpg

[HSBC]

Thanks for the update guys!

I personally don't really like the outlook of the extension part, just based on these pictures. I prefer the previous linkage part, which looked much more futuristic.:)

[hkskyline]

picture from 27. december ... hkskyline, maybe we had meet up anywhere in hkg :D and just passed by.


Gosh, just 1 day apart! :)

[vincent]

recent press release:
http://info.hktdc.com/tdcnews/0904/09040201.htm#

and lots of photos and diagram from this pdf:
http://info.hktdc.com/tdcnews/0904/BOOKLET_ENG.pdf

[EricIsHim]

It's finally done. Good.

No wonder all structures look unusually huge, everything is the "largest" of its kind.

[hkskyline]

'Bridge' structure used for centre's expansion
7 April 2009
South China Morning Post

The architect behind the expansion of the Convention and Exhibition Centre has revealed how a bridge-construction method was adopted to avoid reclamation.

The HK$1.4 billion project, which has expanded the atrium between phase one and phase two of the centre, has just been completed and will be used for an electronics fair next week. Architect Lam Wo-hei said the bridge method was adopted because the atrium spanned a 90-metre-wide water channel.

"We could not insert piles into the seabed as it would clash with a planned road, P2, and the Sha Tin-Central rail link, which will run through the channel bed," Mr Lam said, adding that harbour reclamation was strictly restricted since a court ruling in 2004.

He said supporting pillars could only be used on the channel banks but not the seabed. So instead of building the structure from bottom to top, an unconventional "top-down" approach was used.

This involved using five huge steel trusses - each weighing between 1,700 and 2,100 tonnes - that spanned the channel and which were strong enough to support pillars and other structures from the roof. The bridge approach raised the construction cost by about 10 per cent, he said.

A total of 28,000 tonnes of steel was used in the project, almost equivalent to that used in the commercial tower Two IFC.

Mr Lam said this method was seldom used in ordinary construction. A few exceptions included Charing Cross railway station in London and the AsiaWorld-Expo on Lantau, but they were of a smaller scale.

The project, funded by the Trade Development Council, adds 19,400 square metres of space to the atrium to house about 1,000 booths.

RTHK will launch a two-episode documentary series on the construction process and the conference industry on Thursday.

[vincent]

wow, there will be a RTHK documentary for that? cool

the only other "bridge" construction i can think of is at the IFC shopping malls, the two spanning "bridge" that connect the HK station and the shopping mall at the east/west side.

[hkskyline]

New center is a real showstopper
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, April 03, 2009

The much-awaited opening of the HK$1.4 billion extension to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre extension will take place on April 13, showcasing the Hong Kong Electronics Fair.

The 19,400-square-meter addition means 42 percent more space for exhibitors and 3,600 new jobs, said Hong Kong Trade Development Council executive director Fred Lam Tin-fuk. And economic payoffs of the extension from now until 2025 are estimated at HK$40 billion and 92,000 jobs.

An electronics fair held in 2007 had to turn away 2,000 merchants due to lack of space.

"I have confidence many exhibits in the future will be able to use all of our space," Lam said as he acted as guide for the media at the extension, where workers were busy yesterday with final touches on the Wan Chai project.

Lam estimated that about 30 established fairs will be using the new facilities.

"Even with the financial tsunami affecting the percentage of buyers showing up at fairs globally, the decrease in Hong Kong has only been single digit," he said. "We have even been seeing an increase in Asian and mainland buyers."

The regular cancellation rate of exhibitors is 20 to 30 percent, he said, and the onset of the financial crisis had not seen a significant change in the pattern.

About 20 new fairs are also on the way, comprising such industries as baby products, funeral services and medical equipment.

Started in May 2006, the extension takes the total area of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 46,608 square meters to 66,608. Trucks will also be able to reach directly to exhibition area on upper levels.

A further extension is on the drawing board to takethe venue to more than 100,000 square meters, though that has still be be cleared by the government.

[EricIsHim]

wow, there will be a RTHK documentary for that? cool

the only other "bridge" construction i can think of is at the IFC shopping malls, the two spanning "bridge" that connect the HK station and the shopping mall at the east/west side.

The first episode was launched a few days ago. It is available at RTHK website: http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/newcecspecial/20090409.html

But it's Chinese only, sorry for the non-Chinese folks.

The episode doesn't cover anything about the physical expansion nor the structures. It focuses in the history and growth HK E&C industry, and its leading role in Asia and the world stage. It also brings up the problem HKCEC is running out of spaces for any large scale exhibition. Teaming up with AsiaExpo doesn't work well either because they are two locations.

I suspected the next episode will cover more on the expansion, construction, and future.

Buildings span over roadways are pretty common, it is not at the IFC mall or HKCEC scale; but they are out their, e.g. City Plaza, Konhill Mall/Jusco

[vincent]

yup, i watched the first episode. I recommend you guys watch it with real player, much smoother.

the program mention the next episode (next Thurs hk time) will be about the construction of the expansion.

[vincent]

http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/newcecspecial/20090416.html

The one about the construction itself was released today. For those that doesn't understand chinese, there are a lot of animation and video that you can simply watch and understand. Two clips in total, the second clip load up automatically after the first one ends. Use real player for smoother video.

[Fei Jie]

shocking architecture...but...it iS Hong Kong!

AIYAH!

[EricIsHim]

Engineering marvel. A 15-minute documentary is really not long enough from engineering perspective.

It may not looks anything special, but it is indeed a very special building in terms of engineering and architecture.

[hkskyline]

會展擴建礙利益 財團角力
29 May 2009
香港經濟日報

灣仔會議展覽中心（下稱會展）三期擴建計劃除了可能演變成兩大展館的衝突外，背後也涉及財團的利益，負責營運會展的是新世界發展（00017）旗下的新創建（00659）；而持有亞洲國際博覽館（下稱亞博）13.5%權益的投資者，則是工銀亞洲（00349）及法國的寶嘉集團。

亞博當年由政府、禹銘投資（00666）、寶嘉集團投資23.5億元興建，再由機場管理局出地，首期總面積7萬平方米。項目自2006年開業以來，曾經因位置問題而租用不理想，寶嘉後來收購禹銘權益。後寶嘉引入工銀亞洲，入股價為1.38億元，後者攤佔亞博權益約5.4%。亞博未有透露盈利，早前亞博向政府提出興建第二期，即增加3萬平方米面積，但至今仍未有結果。亞博能要求擴建，相信開始有盈利收益，但若會展三期擴建，相信會對亞博構成頗大競爭。

至於會展則由新創建負責營運，去年度帶來經營溢利達4.529億元，增長12%，佔集團經營溢利34%，盈利十分可觀。可以想像，若能拓展第三期，自然對新創建的盈利有相當裨益。

[hkskyline]

By fatshe from skyscrapers.cn :

http://api.photoshop.com/home_11e5fbb8309740b9aa8ad5872ce63dff/adobe-px-assets/626aeaeb31db44a0a90d155f71187603

[hkskyline]

22 Jun 2009
Press Release
HKCEC expansion offers concert venue enhancements

(22 June 2009) The second expansion to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) opened in April has added several enhancements to the venue's Hall 5BC which is regularly used in an arena configuration for music concerts.

Capacity audiences for Eason Chan and Air Supply concerts on 11 June and 12 June respectively have proved the benefits of the enhancements through heightened efficiency and reduced time for ingress and egress to the Centre's concert hall.

The enhancement work includes additional concourse space and added escalators adjacent to Hall 5BC, which greatly improves crowd management, especially for patrons¡¦ egress following concerts. Also new are a green room and dressing room facilities along with additional back stage space for VIP receptions and media gatherings.

Roks Lam, President of Wolfman Jack Entertainment, the HKCEC's most active international organiser for music events said, "The enhancements to the HKCEC's arena configuration show HKCEC management's commitment to luring more quality artists to Hong Kong and the HKCEC. The improvements will assure the artists an even better experience and the word of these improvements will travel quickly through the industry. It is also wonderful that we have such a venue in the heart of Hong Kong and professional management to ensure a proper venue operation and dedicated customer services for the patrons."

The column-free Hall 5BC, with seating up to 8,000 and 3,200 seats on a retractable telescopic seating system, is fully-equipped with extra acoustical material for highest sound quality and multi-media communications links.

The HKCEC is managed and operated by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML), a private professional management company. The HML is a member of NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited, the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited, embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports projects. Its Service & Rental division comprises Facilities Rental (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and ATL Logistics Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction and NWS Engineering), Financial Services (Taifook Securities and New World Insurance) and Other Services (New World First Bus, Citybus and New World First Ferry).

[hkskyline]

Chief thinks big on HKCEC expansion
The Standard
Thursday, July 23, 2009

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has given the thumbs-up to a further expansion of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with a public consultation expected this year.

"We now organize two of the world's biggest trade shows, and eight of Asia's biggest trade shows," Tsang said. "But there is even greater potential for further expansion."

Tsang was speaking at the joint opening of the HKCEC's HK$1.4 billion Atrium Expansion and the 20th Hong Kong Book Fair.

Even with the Atrium Expansion which will add 19,000 square meters of exhibition space, the new- look HKCEC "pales into insignificance compared to what even one casino is able to offer in our neighbor [Macau]," Tsang said.

The Trade Development Council, which owns the HKCEC together with the government, has said that a venue with a combined exhibition area of no less than 100,000 square meters is needed to satisfy demand and stay competitive.

Originally built at a cost of HK$1.6 billion, the HKCEC opened in November 1988 in Wan Chai.

It was expanded in June 1997 at a cost of HK$4.8 billion, more than doubling its prime function space.

The Atrium Expansion project, which began in 2005, increased the center's total exhibition space by 42 percent - equivalent to an extra 1,000 exhibition booths - to 66,000 square meters.

The public consultation on Phase 3 of the convention center will be launched this quarter.

Existing government buildings and public facilities will need to be moved to make room for the expansion, Tsang said.

Officials have said they are looking at building a new structure on the site of a swimming pool near the Wan Chai waterfront.

The public will be consulted and the government will balance the interests involved.

The government and the TDC are "extensively examining" the case for a Phase 3 expansion.

"I think so far the Trade Development Council has made a very strong case and we have to consider [it] very carefully," Tsang said. "The option remains open and Phase 3 remains my dream."

TDC chairman Jack So Chak-kwong said yesterday that an expansion is needed to consolidate Hong Kong's status as Asia's top convention destination.

[caelus]

i dont like the look of the expanded part of the HKCEC, its ugly & uninspiring, a huge contrast to the stingray shaped, curving rooftop main building, just awkward...... further expansion? yuke

[hkskyline]

Helicopter deal makes travel easier for rich
28 July 2009
SCMP

Commercial and leisure helicopter travel from downtown has become a lot easier with the government's agreement to allow Heliservices to ferry passengers from the temporary Government Flying Service facility in Causeway Bay.

Yesterday's launch of the helicopter service was almost six years in the making following the closure of a heliport near Fenwick Pier at the end of 2003 to make way for the Central-Wan Chai harbour reclamation.

Heliservices, part of the Hong Kong Aviation Group owned by the Kadoorie Group, has a twin-engine Eurocopter AS355N Squirrel available for hire at HK$20,000 an hour. It seats up to five passengers with light luggage. A special promotion with The Peninsula hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has rooftop helicopter facilities, offers a cross-harbour flight and high tea at HK$1,080 per head.

Heliservices flies within Hong Kong but is keen to operate non-scheduled cross-border flights to the Pearl River Delta pending Beijing's approval, Hong Kong Aviation chief executive Chris Buchholz said.

"Although we can't fly cross-border flights now, we are trying to get the infrastructure ready so that when Beijing approves it, we can take advantage of it," he said. "I believe there will be a lot of demand for such services, especially from people wanting to fly direct to factories in the Pearl River Delta."

Heliservices pays the government a fixed monthly rent and a fee every time its helicopter lands at the temporary facility, although the Government Flying Service always has landing priority. Mr Buchholz declined to disclose the fees but said the agreement was valid until permanent heliport facilities were built at the northeastern corner of the Convention and Exhibition Centre site in Wan Chai, hopefully by 2011.

Meanwhile, the number of visitors to Hong Kong dropped 14 per cent in the first three weeks of this month compared with the same period last year, the chairman of the Tourism Board, James Tien Pei-chun, said yesterday.

The decrease was similar to that recorded in the past two months, when total arrivals dropped about 15 per cent year on year. Mainland visitor and short-haul tourist numbers each declined 16 per cent this month, Mr Tien said. Long-haul travellers decreased slightly by 2 per cent. That was because baseline figures were smaller, as long-haul visitor numbers had begun declining mid-last year.

[hkskyline]

會展倘擴建 新世界不獲「優先」
31 July 2009
香港經濟日報

灣仔會議展覽中心第三期擴建計劃雖尚未正式拍板，但背後已牽引一場財團爭奪戰；港府昨回應查詢時強調，如第三期擴建計劃落實，負責營運會展逾廿年的新世界發展（00017）旗下的新創建（00659），「不會優先取得管理權」，即會展第三期的管理及營運權將會招標。

計劃未拍板 已牽財團爭奪戰

新創建發言人昨回應，會展第三期擴建即將展開諮詢，屆時再作回應。

貿發局發言人則回應指，暫未有有關第三期的營運細節或財務安排等資料，將來還要與港府磋商。將來第三期的管理及營運權將會招標。

第三期管理及營運權 將招標

有熟悉展覽業運作人士透露，招標未必等同公開招標，不排除當局在招標時定下附加條件，包括邀請具財政實力或相關經驗的財團參與。

新創建的會展管理公司，早於80年代中期，與港府就會展舊翼簽訂40年合約，回歸前再就會展新翼簽訂20年合約。

特首曾蔭權早前表示，貿發局就發展會展三期有好強理據（a very strong case），並指第三期「仍是我的夢」；觸發財團感到政府有強烈意向在灣仔發展第三期。

但業界與政界一直質疑新創建與貿發局攤分的會展業利潤，令新創建取得較優厚利潤；廠商會立法會議員林大輝早前在立法會提出2點質詢，包括香港參展費在經濟嚴峻下，不減反加；其次，會展管理公司每年只須向貿發局繳付8.63%的收入。

以07/08年度，貿發局收取的經營權費用，只是7,720萬元；但新創建因經營會展業務，去年經營溢利達4.529億元；意即負責營運的新創建賺取利潤是貿發局的6倍！令致有商界人士質疑，若擴建會展第三期，涉嫌令新創建最受惠。

有業界人士則反駁，80年代簽約時，正值香港前途未明，管理公司需冒較大風險；現時展覽業務盈利可觀，外界卻眼紅。

商務及經濟發展局發言人昨回應查詢指，貿發局正與政府考慮第三期計劃，現尚未有定案，如計劃落實，會展管理公司不會優先取得管理權。

民建聯議員黃定光預計，會展第三期擴建，較理想方案，還是在現時的灣仔運動場地皮作發展地點。

但公民黨議員陳淑莊認為，會展擴建涉及包括會展業發展及灣仔居民利益，當局需要小心處理，她亦補充，灣仔區內人士的康樂運動需求非常殷切，一旦當局決定於灣仔運動場進行擴建，則必須妥善處理運動場重置問題。

[hkskyline]

Region is already spoiled for choice of convention facilities
17 August 2009
SCMP

Once the Convention and Exhibition Centre extension in Wan Chai was completed, the government reaffirmed its plan to have a third phase of expansion. This proposal must be closely studied, otherwise what is built could become another white elephant.

Hong Kong already has two major conference and exhibition centres - the one at Wan Chai and AsiaWorld-Expo at the airport, totalling more than 160,000 square metres. The region is spoiled for choice when it comes to exhibition, conference and event facilities, with Taipa in Macau and Guangzhou's Pazhou complex.

Continual expansion of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) facilities does not guarantee top spot in the regional trade exhibition league.

Even if demand for additional trade exhibition spaces is growing rapidly in the middle of a global recession that has yet to bottom out, should we be single-mindedly putting all our eggs in one basket - that is, allocating all additional space under one roof in Wan Chai? We have to assess the adverse impact of this expansion on nearby residents and consider the additional problems it could bring in terms of security and congestion.

AsiaWorld-Expo has often been used as an entertainment venue hosting internationally famous rock bands. Instead of loading the Convention and Exhibition Centre with more exhibitions and events, we have to close the huge gap between the two existing sites with regard to utilising capacity. We cannot afford the luxury of jamming exhibitions into one site while turning the other site into a venue for rock superstars.

Looking further ahead, we should look into the possibility of diverting some conference business to West Kowloon Cultural District. Bear in mind that the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed train is scheduled to be in operation by 2013.

With a new facility, business travellers from the mainland would constitute visitor traffic in the cultural district while a conference was taking place and Mice facilities would be strategically dispersed.

Edward Chan, tutor, Lee Shau Kee school of business and administration, Open University of Hong Kong

[hkskyline]

Hong Kong's exhibition industry fares well despite global slump: survey

HONG KONG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite the challenging global economic climate in the latter half of last year, Hong Kong's exhibition industry fared better than expected, with a relatively mild decrease in trade visitors during the year, according to an annual market survey released by the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) on Monday.

As shown in the survey, the number of trade visitors in 2008 totaled over 551,000, falling by 9.4 percent, compared to 2007.

"Given the extreme economic circumstances facing most world economies in the second half of the year, the statistic is an encouraging proof that Hong Kong remains a sourcing hub of global importance as compared to a drop of some over 10 to 25 percent in other parts of the world," said HKECIA in the report.

What's more, the number of trade visitors from the Chinese mainland declined by only 3 percent with over 170,000 recorded in 2008, while the numbers of visitors from companies based in Australia, New Zealand recorded over 174,000, decreasing by 13 percent compared to 2007.

"These strong visitor numbers from the Chinese mainland are a powerful reminder that Hong Kong plays a pivotal role in connecting China to the rest of the world," the report said.

The report also mentioned that the net square meterage occupied by exhibitors in 2008 declined by just 2.44 percent compared to 2007. And the number of exhibitions occupying a gross area of more than 1,819 square meters actually increased 1.05 percent to 96 in 2008.

"These survey findings are an encouraging reminder that Hong Kong remains Asia's premier sourcing hub and a truly global marketplace," remarked Stanley Chu, HKECIA Chairman, adding that with government and industry support, he was confident that the industry will quickly come out of the current recession and once again take the lead as a major engine of economic growth.

The HKECIA survey rated number of exhibiting companies and visits, space occupied and stand revenues at major exhibitions held in Hong Kong from January to December 2008. The HKECIA distributed the questionnaire to 55 organizing companies which ran 110 exhibitions in Hong Kong across the calendar year. A total of 96 questionnaires were completed.

[vvill]

12/26

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/IMG_5984.jpg

this is awful and incredibly dull - looks like it's the facade for a carpark.

[deej]

this is awful and incredibly dull - looks like it's the facade for a carpark.

Yes, it doesn't blend in at all with the rest of the facade. In fact it doesn't look at all like the renderings they had on-site. Does it possibly have to do with the Phase 3 expansion and the fact that more construction on that side is likely?

The west side of the connector looks far better.

[hkskyline]

I thought phase 3 will be separated out and sit on the current bus terminus?

[EricIsHim]

I thought phase 3 will be separated out and sit on the current bus terminus?

Could be located at the bus terminus and taking over the Wan Chai Sports Ground, but it hasn't been decided. It's still going around.

[_00_deathscar]

Dear God, what the hell have they done to this place? As someone pointed out, the West side looks good, but...Jesus, what the hell is that?

[vincent]

i believe the green stuff is just protection tape during the construction phase. If i remember correctly, i have seen pic of this side recently showing the color is just white.

[vvill]

i believe the green stuff is just protection tape during the construction phase. If i remember correctly, i have seen pic of this side recently showing the color is just white.

if the green stuff is protection tape, then it's gonna be worse! imagine the whole wall being monotonous and simply aluminium-cladded!

anyway, i doubt that's the case - the green bit's just opaque glass.

[EricIsHim]

if the green stuff is protection tape, then it's gonna be worse! imagine the whole wall being monotonous and simply aluminium-cladded!

anyway, i doubt that's the case - the green bit's just opaque glass.

i think he means the dark green wrapping outside the scaffolding, preventing the fall objects fly outside the construction area.

[hkskyline]

New group defends HKCEC expansion
11 September 2009
The Standard

New political group Economic Synergy yesterday leaped to the defense of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion.

The group _ comprising legislators Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung and Sophie Leung Lau Yau- fun _ ran counter to both Civic Party and Democratic Party lawmakers who queried the need for the expansion and whether it should be carried out by New World Development.

Leung and Lam, who are Trade Development Council members, said the global average usage of exhibition centers is 50 percent compared to HKCEC's 58 percent.

``They [the pan-democrats] said the utility rate is only 40 percent, which is untrue. The current 10 major trade shows have nearly fully utilized the HKCEC,'' Lam said.

Occupying 66,000 square meters, the HKCEC is smaller than others in the region. Lam warned the city would lose out without the expansion.

The group said the TDC has decided on open tender for the expansion instead of exclusively giving it to New World.

[hkskyline]

Convention centre chief seeks big expansion
27 October 2009
SCMP

Any plans to increase the size of the Convention and Exhibition Centre should ideally add between 20,000 and 30,000 square metres because it will probably be the last chance to expand the venue, according to managing director Cliff Wallace.

"We truly have nowhere else to go. We're getting landlocked," he said.

The 21-year-old Wan Chai venue more than doubled its exhibition space to 64,000 square metres when an extension was built over the water in 1997. Work on a further 20,000 square metres was completed about six months ago. But unlike the first two extensions, a third expansion is more tricky. The need to build in town and possibly affect the location and views of a number of buildings in the area is politically sensitive because different interests are involved.

The venue's owners, the government and the Trade Development Council, which is keen to add more space, are exploring the need for another expansion. The council is responsible for developing, designing and running the venue.

Wallace said it would be important that any expansion be operated by the same manager, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management), a wholly owned subsidiary of NWS Holdings.

He said show organisers were averse to dealing with different managers for the same venue. Also, separately managed facilities could end up hosting rival shows that cannibalised each other's business.

A management agreement signed between NWS and the council in 1985 prevents the council from hiring other management companies. It also stops NWS from managing other exhibition centres in the city for 40 years, while managing the centre.

Some legislators have opposed this deal, arguing that the right to manage the venue should be awarded in an open tender.

Based on projected demand for exhibition space, Wallace said a third expansion was justifiable. But given the downtown location, there were limited options. Ideas for a third expansion had been floated over the years, he said, including building in front of the Great Eagle Centre, on top of the adjacent bus terminus.

Another plan involved taking over the Revenue Tower site and other government buildings across Harbour Road. Digging underground was also considered. The latest idea is to build on the site of the Wan Chai Sports Ground.

In 1985, Wallace, hired as a consultant on the design, planned for future expansion. Expecting the venue to grow, he had dismissed an idea to erect a marine offloading facility at the waterfront because further expansion over the water would have then been impossible. The idea for the facility was to allow barges to ferry containers of exhibition equipment to and from the venue by sea.

He said now was the time to start thinking about expanding to prepare for when the venue's occupancy hit 70 per cent. A venue's "practical maximum occupancy" is considered 70 per cent, since the halls cannot be booked every day because of maintenance and the time needed to set up and dismantle booths.

Occupancy levels at a venue usually fall when more exhibition area is added. When 19,400 square metres of space became available in April, the venue's overall occupancy rate dropped to an average of about 50 per cent, compared with "the low 60s" before.

Wallace said he expected occupancy levels to rise to "well into the 60s" and approach 70 per cent in the coming four to five years.

But even with the backing of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, little progress on a third expansion has been made.

"It's probably stuck because it's simply not been thought out in a strategic fashion based upon the fundamentals of why one would expand a major international convention and exhibition centre," Wallace said.

"This third expansion will be equally justifiable in terms of future demand for business in Hong Kong, which to us is the only reason to expand a building."

[hkskyline]

LCQ2: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Phase 3 development
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Government Press Release

Following is a question by the Hon Tanya Chan and an oral reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):

Question:

Regarding the Phase 3 development plan (the development plan) of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), will the Government inform this Council:

(a) given that the former Secretary for Trade and Industry had indicated at the Council meeting on January 5, 2000 that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) had sought legal advice on the management contract signed with Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited, and the advice was that if TDC granted the management right of any extension of HKCEC to another company while the contract was in force, it might face legal challenge, whether the relevant provision of the contract is applicable to the proposed Phase 3 extension, and whether the Government cannot award the management contract for that part through open tender because of that provision; if it is not applicable, of the reasons for that;

(b) whether the Government has made an undertaking to a private exhibition organiser and a convention and exhibition facility operator respectively that before the completion of AsiaWorld-Expo's Phase 2 project, it will not implement other plans to expand convention and exhibition facilities; if it has made such an undertaking, of the details, the legal risks or other impact of the undertaking on the development plan and the follow-up actions to be taken by the Government, as well as whether it will defer or shelve public consultation on the development plan; if it will not, of the reasons for that; if such an undertaking does not have any impact on the development plan, the reasons for that; and

(c) given that TDC, being the principal body to promote the development of the convention and exhibition industry in Hong Kong, is also the largest market participant in the industry, and that it not only enjoys a substantially higher market share than others in the industry, but also owns HKCEC, whether the Government will still proceed to entrust TDC with the development plan; if it will, of the details; if not, how it will implement the plan; as well as whether it will conduct a review on the functions and roles of TDC in the convention and exhibition industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

(a) The provision in the operation agreement between the Trade Development Council (TDC) and the operator of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), the Polytown Company Limited, mentioned by the Hon Tanya Chan in her question should be the "non-competition" clause of the operation agreement. The clause is not binding on the Government since it is a commercial arrangement between TDC and Polytown. I wish to stress that the Government has not yet decided on the development of the HKCEC Phase 3. We will look into the issue of operation rights when considering whether the Phase 3 expansion should proceed. In principle, the Government plan to grant the operation rights through public tender and the current operator of the HKCEC would not be accorded any priority.

(b) The Government has not made the undertaking mentioned in the question to any individual or organisation. In 2003, upon the request of the bidders for the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) project, the Government set out in a document its policy on the HKCEC Development 3 being considered at that time, stating clearly that the Government would take into consideration all relevant factors in making a decision. The Government would consider the question of support for the proposed expansion only if it was satisfied that there would actually be unmet demand taking into account, inter alia, the additional 100,000 square metres exhibition space to be provided by AWE Phase 1 and Phase 2 and the timing of their availability, and that government support was fully justified for the good of the economy. We would also give due regard to the interests of the Government as a shareholder of AWE as well as the private sector's investment. I wish to reiterate that the Government has not yet decided on the development of the HKCEC Phase 3. We are still examining the feasibility of the project and will conduct a public consultation at an appropriate time when there is a concrete proposal.

(c) The statutory function of TDC is to promote Hong Kong's external trade and exports. Organisation of trade fairs is just one of the effective ways for TDC to carry out this function. The TDC has commercially arranged for a professional management company to operate the HKCEC. The management company has absolute discretion over the renting out of HKCEC venues for exhibition or other purposes, and TDC is not involved. Thus, the two parties have roles which are distinct from each other.

On market share, the number of trade fairs solely organised by TDC in 2008 and 2009 are 22 and 26 respectively, accounting for 25% and 29% of the total numbers of trade fairs held in Hong Kong in these two years.

The TDC will continue to provide exhibition service in a professional manner and on the basis of fair competition. We are discussing with TDC on how to enhance co-operation between the HKCEC and AWE so that the convention and exhibition facilities and resources in Hong Kong can be utilised more effectively.

[hkskyline]

Half of space at exhibition venues used, study finds
3 November 2009
SCMP

The need to press ahead with building the third phase of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre has been questioned by a study, which found the city's present exhibition space was less than half used.

The study, by Chinese University's business administration faculty and consultancy firm BMT Asia-Pacific, compared the amount of space rented out with the total saleable exhibition space offered by the two major venues, the exhibition centre in Wan Chai and AsiaWorld-Expo at Chek Lap Kok airport.

AsiaWorld-Expo offers 70,000 square metres of exhibition space, and the Wan Chai centre last year had about 86,463 square metres of exhibition space and conference facilities - increased by 2,100 square metres when an atrium was converted.

The study found that the overall rate of use of the two centres last year was less than 50 per cent.

Professor Cheung Wai-man, who was in charge of the study, said this was still very low and there was no urgency to push for the third phase.

"I'm not against any expansion," Cheung said. "But industry players, including companies which manage exhibition venues, think we should start thinking about an expansion when the usage of the space hits 70 per cent."

He said the government should look at different ways to develop the industry instead of debating expansion of the Wan Chai centre.

Cheung also urged the government to study the social costs of expansion, such as the impact on air, traffic and noise pollution.

He said Hong Kong's facilities had a lower rate of use than those in Japan and Australia.

But the exhibition centre's owners, the government and the Trade Development Council, are keen to add more space. The council has already submitted a proposal for the third phase.

"The current situation is that there is not enough room to accommodate large trade fairs during peak seasons each year," council spokesman William Cheung Chee-fai said.

Saying that there were usually more trade shows in spring and autumn, Cheung said one could not just look at the overall rate of use for the whole year.

He said there were at least 10 mega trade fairs in 2009-10 for which the demand for space exceeded the 66,000 square metres of designated exhibition area at the centre. The council had to use convention and meeting rooms, and even car park spaces for exhibitions, which could affect its convention business.

"It is important for Hong Kong to provide enough room for future growth of these trade fairs or we may lose some of them," Cheung said.

A spokeswoman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said the government was still studying the report.

Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management), a wholly owned subsidiary of NWS Holdings, said it supported an expansion.

[hkskyline]

Wan Chai can't cope with future convention centre expansion
19 November 2009
SCMP

The chief executive supports the expansion of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Speaking in July, at the opening of the phase two expansion, he said the government was actively examining a third phase. He said government and public facilities would be moved to make room for this project and that the Trade Development Council had made a very strong case for phase three.

Last month, trucks unloading goods at the exhibition centre caused traffic gridlock stretching back to the Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan ("Exhibition deliveries cause traffic gridlock", October 25). And yet three days later the managing director of the exhibition centre talked of the need for further expansion.

In 2004, Designing Hong Kong objected to further expansion on the basis that traffic problems in the area can never be resolved. The Transport Department's submission to the expert panel of the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee confirmed that after completion of the Central-Wan Chai bypass the critical junctions in Wan Chai North will be near capacity and unable to absorb more traffic. Its figures do not count on a third-phase expansion.

It is unsustainable to add ever more activities along Hong Kong Island's northern shore. Hong Kong needs additional convention and exhibition facilities but not in Wan Chai. Last month we convinced the Town Planning Board to amend a zoning in West Kowloon to allow for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) facilities. There is room to expand AsiaWorld-Expo at the airport, or add new facilities in Kai Tak.

Why these are not pursued by the Trade Development Council is revealed in Legislative Council documents. New World Service Holdings has a management contract with the council for the convention centre. A clause states neither the council nor New World shall develop any exhibition facility other than the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

It was signed in 1988 for 40 years and is extended automatically every 10 years thereafter. In 1988, New World got 370,000 square metres of development rights (including the Grand Hyatt and the Renaissance hotels, an office block, apartments and a car park) for free under a 75-year lease in return for building the original 30,000 square metres of the convention centre.

Taxpayers paid for the two expansions - with land and HK$4.8 billion for 40,000 square metres in 1997 and with HK$1.4 billion from the Trade Development Council reserves for another 20,000 square metres in 2009. This tripled the rentable area to now more than 90,000 square metres. New World pays the council a fee of around 8 per cent of sales.

The expansions have guaranteed the council a monopoly in organising trade shows. Imagine what a further expansion of the convention centre will do for the profits of New World and the council. In the meantime, the taxpayers earn themselves a permanent traffic jam.

Paul Zimmerman, founding member, Designing Hong Kong Limited

[hkskyline]

Convention centre expansion backed
16 November 2009
South China Morning Post

One of the city's four biggest business groups, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, yesterday said it supported the expansion of the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The comment came amid debate over the need to build a third phase of the Wan Chai exhibition centre.

Federation deputy chairman Stanley Lau Chin-ho said Hong Kong lacked venues for trade fairs and the centre was too small.

"Our members sometimes have difficulty booking the venue," he said. "If the government doesn't do anything now, trade fairs will move to the Pearl River Delta or Macau. Hong Kong will lose business to places nearby. We need a bigger venue in order to survive in the exhibition business."

He said buyers around the world preferred the Wan Chai centre to AsiaWorld-Expo at Chek Lap Kok because it was closer to the local companies they needed to visit.

He said exhibitions at centres in Kowloon Bay and Tung Chung had not been popular with buyers.

Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association vice-chairman Johnny Yeung Chi-hung agreed.

"We do not care about whether it is the HKCEC or AsiaWorld-Expo, as long as the exhibition can help boost our business," he said. "All I know is exhibition events hosted at the HKCEC in Wan Chai really help us find many top-quality buyers."

But Professor Cheung Wai-man, from Chinese University's decision science and managerial economics department, expressed reservations about the expansion plan.

"There is a need to develop more venues, but should we only focus on the HKCEC in Wan Chai and is that the only option? I have reservations about this," Cheung said.

He urged the government to plan for the long term and look at more alternatives to boost the exhibition trade, rather than just pushing ahead with expansion of the Wan Chai centre.

[hkskyline]

Third expansion of convention centre in doubt
Court challenge could scupper plan
4 November 2009
South China Morning Post

Further expansion of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre may involve a breach of contract, as the government stated in a legally binding agreement in 2003 that it would not take such action unless there was a need for more space after AsiaWorld-Expo reached 100,000 square metres, according to industry insiders.

This raises the possibility that a third expansion of the Wan Chai venue will be challenged in court.

"We are not in a position to comment on the particulars of the agreement. We trust and expect that the terms of the agreement will be honoured," a spokesman for IEC Investments, the private-sector consortium behind AsiaWorld-Expo, said.

In both a January 30, 2003 letter from the then Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau to shortlisted bidders for the AsiaWorld-Expo project by the airport and to the winning consortium of the final contract seven months later, the government stated three conditions for backing creation of additional space in Wan Chai.

There needed to be evidence of demand for more exhibition space which had not been met after AsiaWorld-Expo grew to 100,000 square metres. The airport venue currently offers more than 70,000 square metres of space. The government also needed to consider when the AsiaWorld-Expo space became available and whether its support for more space in Wan Chai benefited the economy.

A government spokesman said the policy statement was demanded by bidders for the AsiaWorld-Expo project.

Expanding the Wan Chai venue again would not be the first time the government would have been seen to be breaching its contract. AsiaWorld-Expo had voiced its strong opposition to plans to expand the atrium at the Wan Chai venue but apparently settled after the Trade Development Council said that it would reopen talks on staging some of its shows at the airport venue. The council runs the Convention and Exhibition Centre for the government.

A council spokesman said it was an undisputed fact that there was great demand for downtown exhibition space, which was not met, and that it could take at least a decade to realise plans for future expansion. The overall space utilisation rate at the Wan Chai venue was more than 90 per cent in October, the spokesman said.

The convention and exhibition industry is lucrative because of the spending by event organisers and exhibitors but is a seasonal business that usually peaks during the months of April and October. The 21-year-old Wan Chai venue more than doubled its exhibition space to 64,000 square metres when an extension was built over the water in 1997. Work on a further 20,000 square metres was completed about six months ago. But unlike the first two extensions, a third expansion is more tricky. The need to build in town and possibly affect the location and views of a number of buildings is politically sensitive because different interests are involved.

An AsiaWorld-Expo Management spokesman declined to comment.

[hkskyline]

11/29

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2009/1129/IMG_3595.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/2009/1129/IMG_3596.jpg

[Scion]

^^ Very nice to see they removed those ugly green panels. It looks really good now :applause:

[hkskyline]

The green panels? You mean the scaffolding?

[Scion]

is this whole wall the scaffolding?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/IMG_5984.jpg

The colours of the facade on your 11/29 photos look substantially different to that wall

[hkskyline]

LCQ7: Utilisation of exhibition facilities
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Government Press Release

Following is a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him at the Legislative Council meeting today (December 2):

Question:

It has been reported that there is a significant difference in the occupancy rates between the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) and at the meeting of this Council on November 4 this year, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development indicated that the Government had always encouraged and facilitated AWE and HKCEC to adopt the "one show, two locations" approach, i.e., staging an exhibition at the two venues at the same time. Yet, the mega jewellery fair held in September this year, which adopted the "one show, two locations" approach for the first time, was promoted by the trades themselves. Moreover, the trades have also proposed that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) collaborates with them in jointly promoting the "one show, two locations" approach. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the actual work progress made in encouraging and facilitating AWE and HKCEC to stage major exhibitions using the "one show, two locations" approach, and whether it has drawn up a work schedule;

(b) what specific measures the authorities have put in place to support the proposed collaboration between the trades and TDC in jointly promoting the "one show, two locations" approach and facilitate the collaboration between the trades and TDC; if they have no specific measures, of the reasons for that; and

(c) whether it has assessed if the Phase 3 development plan of HKCEC will aggravate the vacancy problem of AWE, resulting in more public funds being wasted?

Reply:

President,

(a) and (b) To enhance utilisation of the exhibition facilities in Hong Kong, the Government has been encouraging Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) to collaborate on exhibition projects. Nevertheless, successful implementation of the "one show, two locations" approach requires close co-ordination between exhibition venues and organisers. Hence, an exhibition using this approach will stand a better chance of success if only one organiser is involved. The Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair 2009 held concurrently at HKCEC and AWE last September was a good example.

The staging of an exhibition by an organiser and the approach to be adopted is a commercial decision made on the basis of market needs and it would be inappropriate for the Government to interfere with these decisions. However, we could provide assistance, for example, we could provide support as far as possible in traffic and transportation arrangements to facilitate and encourage exhibition organisers to adopt the "one show, two locations" approach. We have conveyed our views to TDC and have requested it to assist in promoting the organisation of exhibitions using the "one show, two locations" approach. In addition, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will also strengthen publicity for these exhibitions.

(c) The Government has not made any decision on whether the proposed HKCEC Phase 3 expansion project should proceed. The preparatory work is still under way. We will conduct a public consultation at an appropriate time when there is a concrete proposal. When deciding on the matter, we will consider various factors, including public opinions, the overall development of the convention and exhibition industry, market demand (taking into account the additional 100,000 square metres of exhibition space to be provided by AWE Phase 1 and Phase 2 and the timing of their availability) and whether the expansion project will benefit Hong Kong's economy, etc.

As the HKCEC Phase 3 development involves complicated issues which will take time to address, there will be no immediate impacts on AWE. AWE has been in operation for four years only; it has good prospects and possesses plenty of room for further development. The Government, as a shareholder of AWE, will actively encourage and facilitate its utilisation through, for example, exploring how to leverage on its advantages of proximity to the airport and the Mainland market. We will also advise AWE to co-operate with exhibition organisers and TDC to organise exhibitions using the "one show, two locations" approach.

[hkskyline]

Opinion : Expansion plan is necessary
12 December 2009
SCMP

There has been a heated debate over the possible third-phase expansion of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

Many cities in Asia have undergone rapid development. There has been a growth of exhibition and convention facilities in Macau and Guangzhou. In Macau, high-class casinos have been built to include hotels and conference halls.

Therefore, Hong Kong is facing stiff competition and it should face up to this challenge.

If the convention centre expansion project goes ahead, it will attract more business worldwide and make us more competitive. This will have a knock-on effect with other businesses in Hong Kong benefiting. Such a strategy is in line with the policy of sustainable development adopted by the government, a policy which can provide a better living environment for present and future generations.

Another point to be made is that Hong Kong has insufficient conference and exhibition venues. The convention centre and AsiaWorld-Expo cannot satisfy the increasing demand for conference space. Because of this, businessmen may switch to cities such as Macau and Guangzhou.

If more exhibition organisers do this, it could become a trend and Hong Kong could be left out in the cold.

Eunice Cheung, Lam Tin

[hkskyline]

Monopoly row hits exhibition business
The Standard
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council has been accused of monopolizing the city's exhibition market and failing to do its job.

The Concern Group for a Competitive Exhibition Industry in Hong Kong claims the council has a conflict of interest because it organized 45 percent of exhibition space last year.

Three major private companies accounted for 11 to 18 percent, with 21 other firms accounting for less than 10 percent, or one exhibition a year per firm.

A TDC spokesman denied the accusation. "If our market share is 45 percent for the exhibition space, it only proves that there is a demand for TDC exhibitions and that the TDC is welcomed by the industry," he said. "It shouldn't be regarded as a monopoly."

Group spokesman Michael Kwok Wing-chun said the group does not want to affect Hong Kong's competitiveness.

But it believes the private sector should be allowed to take the lead in organizing exhibitions.

"The government should review its policy towards exhibitions. Otherwise, private companies will not choose to develop exhibition business in the city as it's difficult to set up their own business because of the [TDC] monopoly," Kwok said.

The group met 10 legislators yesterday, a week after meeting with Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan to express their concerns.

They say that, in 2000, then-TDC chief executive Michael Sze Cho-cheung said the council would not organize exhibitions in certain industries where exhibitors have made inroads.

But the council failed to keep that promise, the group said.