West Kowloon arts and cultural facilities a step nearer

The work of the Steering Committee for the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District project, under the direction of the Chief Secretary for Administration, has taken another step towards the stage of inviting development proposals from the private sector.

The Chief Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, announced today (March 20) that the Steering Committee has accepted recommendations by the Home Affairs Bureau on the core arts and cultural facilities to be stipulated as requirements in the development brief for the project.

"While we expect the project to be run by the private sector on a self-financing basis, we are still working on our approach to packaging it and on defining the role that the Government might play in ensuring that it is carried out successfully, in preparation for inviting development proposals from the private sector around the middle of the year," Mr Tsang said.

Elaborating on the Steering Committee's decision, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said that reaching a view on these major facilities is an important step in the evolution of the project from a conceptual plan to a well defined project.

"The Steering Committee has accepted that the proposed major arts and cultural facilities should be of world class standard, should complement existing and future cultural facilities in Hong Kong and should be based broadly on the conceptual plan submitted by the team led by Foster and Partners," he said.

The Steering Committee has endorsed proposals that the core arts and cultural facilities should comprise a theatre complex, a cluster of museums, a major venue for indoor performances and a number of diverse venues for open-air cultural and artistic entertainment events.

"These proposals were drawn up after consulting widely within the arts and cultural community, as well as the business sector, and considering views expressed by other interested parties, on the need for different types of facilities and the types of events that should be catered for," Dr Ho said.

"To enhance the pluralistic development of our cultural scene, it is considered that the private sector should be encouraged to participate in the provision of these cultural and leisure services and to bring more international and local expertise into the management of these facilities. It is also considered best for the proponents to come up with their own creative ideas and strategic plans as to how these facilities should be managed, to encourage flexibility and innovative ideas," he added.

As regards other aspects of the committee's work, the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, explained that much work is being done on the development parameters for the site and examining the potential financial implications of different planning options with the help of financial consultants. He noted that the project will include significant commercial, retail and entertainment components, in addition to the core arts and cultural facilities.

Mr Suen said that the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau will launch a website for the project by the end of April 2003.

"We hope that today's announcement on the arts and cultural facilities and the forthcoming website will encourage developers, architectural firms, planning consultants and other interested parties to begin thinking about forming consortia to submit proposals," he said.

Mr Suen said that, despite the current economic difficulties, the Government is taking a long term view of the project and its enthusiasm for it is undiminished.

The Steering Committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Members include the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma and the Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands), Mr John C Tsang. The relevant Departments are also represented.

The Steering Committee's role is to co-ordinate the Government's contribution to the successful development of this complex project.

The Government announced on 2 October 2002 that the Steering Committee had decided to adopt the concept plan submitted by a team led by Foster and Partners to the West Kowloon Reclamation Concept Plan Competition as the basis for the project masterplan and that its key components, including the distinctive canopy, will be featured.

End/Thursday, March 20, 2003

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