Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has plans for developing new cruise terminal facilities at Kai Tak (the former site of the Hong Kong International Airport).
According to the Hong Kong Secretary for Economic Development and Labor, Mr. Stephen Ip, the development of new cruise terminal facilities is important for Hong Kong to capture the growth of the cruise industry in the Asia Pacific Region, and sustain its development as a regional cruise hub.
“It has always been the Government’s intention to develop new cruise terminal facilities at Kai Tak, as it is the only site within Victoria Harbour with the capability to provide two or more alongside berths without reclamation,” added Mr. Ip. “The outcome of the recently completed Stage 3 Public Participation of the Kai Tak Planning Review indicated general public support for the development of cruise terminal facilities at Kai Tak,” said Mr. Ip
An incremental approach would be adopted in developing the new cruise terminal and tourism-related facilities at the southern end of the former runway. First, a new cruise terminal would be developed on a 7.6 hectares site earmarked at the southern end of the runway. Thereafter, the Government will offer land adjacent to the cruise terminal to the market for development of tourism-related facilities, such as hotels, shopping malls and conference facilities. Priority will be given to the new cruise terminal facilities to allow for their early completion. Other tourism-related facilities will proceed as the Kai Tak Development evolves.
The Government will develop the new cruise terminal through an open tender. The successful bidder will, at his own cost, form the site as well as design, build, and operate the berthing and supporting facilities. These will include reconstruction of the existing seawall, and development of two alongside berths which can meet the need of mega cruise vessels up to a displacement of 100,000 tonnes. Together, they aim at capitalizing on the cruise industry trend of building larger cruise vessels.
“Depending on the implementation program of the successful bidder, the first berth at Kai Tak is expected to be completed in 2012,” added Mr. Ip.
The successful bidder will also be required to build and operate the second berth. The revised Preliminary Outline Zoning Plan for Kai Tak has built-in flexibility for a third alongside berth to be developed next to the second berth in future.
The development cost for the berthing and supporting facilities essential for the operation of a cruise terminal at Kai Tak is estimated to be US$307.69 million (HK$2.4 billion).
The successful bidder will have the right to develop commercial, office and retail facilities up to a total Gross Floor Area of 50,000 square meters in the cruise terminal building. It will have the flexibility to develop these facilities in phases but within a fixed period. “This will allow the bidder to develop the commercial facilities to tie in with other developments in the neighborhood,” said Mr. Ip.
“The Government intends to invite tender after the approval of the Outline Zoning Plan for Kai Tak in the second half of 2007, and close the tender upon completion of the statutory procedures under relevant Ordinances, including the Foreshore and Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance and the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, for the cruise terminal development. We look forward to awarding the tender in the second quarter of 2008,” said Mr. Ip.
“The new terminal facilities will become an important tourism infrastructure for Hong Kong,” said Mr. Ip. “It would help diversify our tourism products, enhancing our attractiveness to tourists from different market segments, including the high-end market.”
A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in 2004 indicated that more than 50% of Mainland Chinese visitors expressed interest in joining a cruise vacation in future. Of these, more than 80% would join conventional cruises from Hong Kong.
According to consultancy studies, with the availability of new cruise terminal facilities and appropriate marketing strategies, the economic benefits are estimated to be between US$179.49 million (HK$1.4 billion) and US$282.05 million (HK$2.2 billion) per annum by 2020. It may also support some 6,900 to 10,900 employment opportunities by 2020.
