HONG KONG | Kai Tak Airport Development News

[racso380]

pictures??

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by racso380

pictures??

Most of the old site is still empty but prior pages have updates on the cruise terminal U/C and some housing going up on the former apron.

[hkskyline]

Stadium hopefuls in for sweeteners
The Standard
Friday, November 09, 2012

A larger part of the HK$20 billion construction cost of the planned Kai Tak multipurpose sports complex will be shouldered by the government.

Therefore those who make the winning bid will not have to worry about recovering costs in the first few years, a source told Sing Tao Daily, sister newspaper of The Standard.

The source said a developer would need to earn HK$100 million to HK$200 million a year to recoup their investment.

"If the government helps with the cost, developers won't have to face such a burden," he said.

The complex will include a 50,000-seat stadium with retractable roof, five sports centers, a sports ground and a redeveloped tennis center that are set to be completed by 2023.

Developers will also be shareholders in the project, having a 10-15 percent stake, so there will still be the incentive to run the stadium efficiently.

Furthermore they will be motivated to push for international sports events to be held there, the source said.

They will be encouraged to come up with a better design, finish the project earlier and operate the complex more effectively.

The bidding contract will make it compulsory for the developer to commit 90percent of the time.

The stadium will be used for public purposes and admission fees should be similar to those charged by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

The source said the administration will not exclude the possibility of building the stadium on its own using taxpayers' money if developers find the criteria too harsh or if it is unable to find suitable partners.

The stadium will then be given to a private company to operate.

But the source is confident a design- build-operate scheme is attractive to developers.

The approach would ensure the most effective delivery of the project from the design stage throughout its long-term operation.

Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing told legislators last week that the Kai Tak sports complex will have a mix of high-quality public sports facilities, open space, park features and retail and dining outlets.

[hkskyline]

image hosted on flickr

DSC_063400000 by wanso119, on Flickr

[PKPHUKET]

nice pic.

[hkskyline]

Note the runway on the right :

[Anjouri Desouza]

What a fabulous building. And a great photo. Taken by a professional?

Modern. Art Deco. Extremely successful both inside and out.

Really i am impressed from this post, ........

Thanks for sharing.

[hkskyline]

Kai Tak for people sought by alliance
The Standard
Monday, November 19, 2012

A professional alliance has proposed replacing a low-density residential section of the Kai Tak development with public and Home Ownership Scheme flats to accommodate 32,000 more people.

Local Research Community, Harmonic HK and The Professional Commons said their proposed plan, "Kai Tak for the People," will allow urban land to be utilized to meet housing demand.

On Saturday, Development Bureau chief Paul Chan Mo-po said the bureau is considering increasing the housing density of the Kai Tak project.

Under the current plan, 6.56 hectares will be set aside to provide 1,312 units of low-density luxury flats that will accommodate about 3,360 residents.

To meet the great demand for housing, the alliance proposes instead that the area, plus an additional 1.5 hectares, be used for about 11,000 public units in the northwestern corner of the current Sports City site to accommodate an additional 32,000 people. The ratio of the public- to-private housing mix would increase from 38:62 to 56:44.

Albert Lai Kwong-tak, convener of the research committee of The Professional Commons, said by providing more public housing the government may help increase supply and meet the need for decanting flats during the redevelopment phase of old areas in Ma Tau Wai and Kowloon City.

Lai said the provisions for Sports City and Metro Park remain intact under the new proposal.

"To scrap the luxury flat plan is a minimal change while the functions of Sports City and Metro Park remain unchanged," he said.

The alliance plans to shift the Secondary Stadium to the south, to build the public flats in the north.

The views near the middle of the runway area, on which the government plans to build the low-density residential area, would then not be affected.

The alliance also suggests extending the Metro Park further to the south in order to free around 150,000 square feet for retail commercial activities and art performances.

Stanley Ng Wing-fai, strategic committee member for The Professional Commons, described the alliance amendments as "moderate."

The alliance may also apply to the Town Planning Board to amend the proposed project.

[Yako1]

Good to see all this discussion... but can we have more details please? like more site photos? for example, photos of those new residential buildings coming up on the north eastern side of the old apron.. where HAECO used to be located? And maybe a list of developments/contractors?

Greatly appreciated

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Yako1

Good to see all this discussion... but can we have more details please? like more site photos? for example, photos of those new residential buildings coming up on the north eastern side of the old apron.. where HAECO used to be located? And maybe a list of developments/contractors?

Greatly appreciated

There are a number of renderings and site plans on the first few pages of this thread.

Most of the developments on the site are not yet planned to the stage where renderings are available. The cruise terminal and some public housing blocks on the apron are the only visible structure-building right now.

[Yako1]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

There are a number of renderings and site plans on the first few pages of this thread.

Most of the developments on the site are not yet planned to the stage where renderings are available. The cruise terminal and some public housing blocks on the apron are the only visible structure-building right now.

Not a problem... are there any people working on the site who can take pictures with their phones or cameras? And also, have they demolished the firestation?

And what is remaining of the archaeological site, which was found, after the terminal demolition? Thanks again for everything..

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Yako1

Not a problem... are there any people working on the site who can take pictures with their phones or cameras? And also, have they demolished the firestation?

And what is remaining of the archaeological site, which was found, after the terminal demolition? Thanks again for everything..

I do post photos of the site every now and then. Will keep an eye to see what's new but there isn't much going on except the cruise terminal at the end of the runway and the few public housing blocks on the apron.

There isn't anything archaeologically-interesting at all, since much of that airport was reclaimed from the sea in the past 100 years anyway. They have to spend a lot of time decontaminating the soil though.

Where's the fire station? Do you have a photo of it?

[Yako1]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

I do post photos of the site every now and then. Will keep an eye to see what's new but there isn't much going on except the cruise terminal at the end of the runway and the few public housing blocks on the apron.

There isn't anything archaeologically-interesting at all, since much of that airport was reclaimed from the sea in the past 100 years anyway. They have to spend a lot of time decontaminating the soil though.

Where's the fire station? Do you have a photo of it?

Thanks.. The arhaeological site I was talking about is the lung tsun stone bridge : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_Tsun_Stone_Bridge They discovered this while they were digging up the terminal for, the decontaminating process

This is the fire station which i was talking about... i found an old picture of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photope...57623800970788

Hmmm, i've got another question, why didn't they keep running kai tak as a cargo airport, or military airport... or even as an airport for private avaition?

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Yako1

Thanks.. The arhaeological site I was talking about is the lung tsun stone bridge : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_Tsun_Stone_Bridge They discovered this while they were digging up the terminal for, the decontaminating process

Hmmm, i've got another question, why didn't they keep running kai tak as a cargo airport, or military airport... or even as an airport for private avaition?

Here's an article in Chinese from 2011 about the bridge and what's going to happen to it : http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/...00176_059.html

- the bridge will be preserved
- a 30m wide, 200m long preservation corridor will be built
- the historic site will not be blocked off by glass or railings
- construction of this corridor and re-opening of the historic site can only be done after the Shatin-Central railway line is complete in 2020

There actually is a military airport in Shek Kong in the New Territories with a single runway. I have seen civilian aircraft use it, but they also use the current facility in Chek Lap Kok. There was no plan to run 2 international airports in the city. CLK was supposed to be big enough to handle it all, and there is still plenty of space on the airport island to grow (except the 3rd runway).

[hkskyline]

Kai Tak in marine mud first
The Standard
Thursday, December 27, 2012

The first public housing flats on Kai Tak will be built with marine mud excavated from the site of the former airport.

In a landmark green effort, the Housing Department has treated a massive amount of marine mud from the site to allow it to be transformed into construction material.

The department said the green treatment means the mud will not be disposed of as waste in landfills and marine dumping sites, and also avoids the likely dispersion of large amounts of pollutants if trucks had carried the mud to landfills.

Deputy director Lam Sze-chuen said the Kai Tak public housing project involves the removal of 15,400 cubic meters of marine mud from the site's seabed - enough to fill up six Olympic-sized swimming pools.

"Marine mud is soft and we can't proceed with piling work on it," Lam said. "Therefore, we need to remove the marine mud for the construction process to start. But if we dump it all in landfills as waste, it will sharply increase burden on the the landfill sites."

Lam said that after several tests with construction experts at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the department found a way to mix the mud with cement and recycled rock debris and turn it into bricks for use in the Kai Tak housing project.

Lam said about 300 cubic meters of the mud has been used to make bricks that will be used as paving blocks, planter kerbs and walls for carparks at the project.

Instead of usual earth-fillers such as sand and cement, the green-treated mud was also backfilled and compacted around the foundation of pile caps underground.

A giant mixer has been set up at Kai Tak for workers to mix the mud with cement and other recycled aggregates.

"The designed mixture balances maximum use of marine mud with minimum use of cement and meets technical requirements for various uses of pavers and blocks," Lam said.

"The blocks made of marine mud are like conventional blocks in terms of compressive strength, skid resistance and water absorption.

"They have also proved to be practical and environmentally friendly."

On whether total construction cost of the public housing project will balloon, Lam said the department spent only HK$2 million on the consultancy study for transforming the mud into building materials.

He also pointed out the huge savings on transport costs as the mud did not have to be taken to landfill sites.

The Kai Tak public housing site currently occupies 9.2 hectares and will provide more than 13,300 flats for about 33,000 residents.

[hkskyline]

12/26

image hosted on flickr

Kowloon and Kai Tak Airport by fto179, on Flickr

[hkskyline]

Kai Tak Fantasy will become reality
The Standard
Thursday, January 17, 2013

A place of fantasy will be created near what was the end of the Kai Tak airport runway jutting into the harbor.

"The former runway tip in the Kai Tak development area has excellent potential to be developed into a tourism and entertainment hub," CY Leung said. "We propose setting up on this site a recreational landmark - Kai Tak Fantasy.

"On top of recreation facilities, it can be turned into an `edutainment' destination, which will reflect Kai Tak's unique aviation, maritime and transportation history."

Leung also said he has high hopes of the Kai Tak area offering a good example of "where we can enhance the quality of living."

Asked what will make fantasy a reality, Leung said the secretary for development is to provide details.

In fact, Secretary for Development Paul Chan Mo-po holds a post-policy briefing on his portfolio this morning.

But adding to the Kai Tak Fantasy picture in a paper posted yesterday, the Development Bureau said the feature will "serve as a tourism and entertainment hub, with global significance for both local people and tourists."

New People's Party legislator Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said Hong Kong needs to increase its investment in tourism.

"The cruise terminal will be located at Kai Tak," she noted, "so it makes sense to have a theme park and other entertainment facilities to keep up with the competition."

Ng Kam-mee, a professor in the Chinese University of Hong Kong's geography and resource management department, also looked at the Kai Tak Fantasy as complementary to the terminal.

"I believe overseas tourists will be lured to visit the recreation hub to learn the history of Kai Tak," he said.

But he added: "We don't want that the site will be developed into another theme park like Ocean Park."

Also at the site, the multi-purpose, 50,000-seat Kai Tak Sports Complex should be ready in 2019 after a projected outlay of about HK$19 billion.

Hong Kong Stadium will be adapted as a district-based facility with 10,000 seats once the Kai Tak complex is ready.

[hkskyline]

Cruise berths to ride on mainland wave
The Standard
Thursday, January 24, 2013

The number of mainland tourists will increase by 10 percent when the Kai Tak cruise terminal opens in June, industry experts believe.

The terminal in East Kowloon is designed by one of the world's most famous architects, Norman Foster, and is three times the size of Ocean Cruise Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The terminal is part of a larger development that may see 17 hotels built on the old airport site.

Yuen Lai-fung, a member of Advisory Committee on Cruise Industry, said yesterday more ocean liners are likely to stop over for one or two nights when the terminal comes into operation.

"When cruise companies plan the routes of their fleets, they generally include more destinations," Yuen said.

He expects the number of mainland arrivals to surge by 10percent in the next few years.

From January to November last year, more than 40 million tourists arrived in the city, 70percent of them from the mainland.

Meanwhile, international cruise companies said they are eyeing new business opportunities given the boom in mainland tourists.

Kelvin Tan, regional director for Asia Pacific at Royal Caribbean Cruises, said he believes the city will become a popular port of call when the new state-of-the-art cruise terminal opens.

Tan said the city has shopping and cultural attractions popular with tourists.

The terminal will open for bookings in a few months time when the first berth will be in operation. The second berth should be ready by the middle of next year.

Once completed, the terminal will have the capacity to disembark a total of 8,400 passengers and 1,200 crew.

It will accommodate the latest generation of large cruise vessels.

The spacious interior, which spans 70 meters, may be converted into a venue for special events and exhibitions.

According to the Tourism Commission, more than 700,000 cruise-ship passengers came through Hong Kong last year.

Worldwide cruise passenger numbers are forecast to top 30 million by 2020.

[emyrr3096]

When the construction begin?? And is that's any newer render??

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by emyrr3096

When the construction begin?? And is that's any newer render??

Construction has been piecemeal. A few public housing blocks at the old apron are almost done, while the cruise terminal at the end of the runway will open this year. Other than that, the rest of the site is still bare. Following calls to increase housing stock, expect development plans to change.