To enhance Hong Kong's stature as a tourism hub, the SAR government has
decided to set up a mega cruise terminal that can handle vessels up to a
displacement tonnage of 100,000 by 2012.
The spectacular terminal will be built in South East Kowloon. With a capacity
of three berths, the new cruise terminal will attract more visitors to Hong
Kong.
The Executive Council yesterday approved construction of a cruise terminal on
the 7.6 hectare site on the southern tip of the runway of the former Kai Tak
Airport.
Travel-related facilities such as hotels, shopping centres and convention
centres will also be built on the lands adjacent to the cruise terminal.
"The selected site is the only place within the Victoria Harbour capable of
providing two or more alongside berths without reclamation," Secretary for
Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip said later yesterday.
The government will invite and open tender to develop the cruise terminal
project, he added.
Apart from bearing the cost for site formation, reconstruction of the
seawall, construction of the berths, the successful bidder will be required to
design, build and operate the related facilities for a period of 50 years, Ip
said. The successful bidder will also be granted the right to develop the
commercial, office and retail facilities up to a gross floor area of 50,000
square metres in the terminal building.
It is estimated that the development cost for the berthing and supporting
facilities will be around HK$2.4 billion.
"We aim at mega cruise vessels up to a displacement tonnage of 100,000 to
meet the growing cruise industry trend of building larger cruise vessels," he
told a press conference.
"Depending on the implementation programme of the successful bidder, the
first berth is expected to be completed in 2012.
"He will also be required to build and operate the second berth, while space
has been set aside in the revised outline zoning plan for a third berth," he
said. Since it is the wish of the public to build the cruise terminal as soon as
possible, the project is expected to go on ahead of the entire South East
Kowloon Development project.
Tourism Commissioner Au King-chi added that as the global cruise industry is
growing fast, the Asia-Pacific market will benefit from the growth of worldwide
industry and increase in mainland markets.
Hong Kong is well-placed to become a regional cruise hub and a new cruise
terminal is therefore necessary, he said.
Quoting a 2004 survey by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, she said 52 per cent
mainland visitors expressed interest in joining cruise vacations, of whom more
than 80 per cent would like to join conventional cruises from Hong Kong.
Although the government is not seeking any profit sharing from the cruise
terminal operator, it is estimated that economic benefits will top HK$1.4-HK$2.2
billion by 2020 together with 6,900-10,900 job opportunities per annum.
The government's plan received warm welcome from across the board.
Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman Selina Chow said the cruise terminal would
benefit tourism development in Hong Kong.
As to the operational pattern, she felt the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
model was the best option, because the private sector is more efficient to
operate the cruise terminal than the government.
Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat also supported construction of the
cruise terminal at the Kai Tak site and said BOT would be the best business
model, he said.
This will eliminate the building and investment risks on the part of the
government and transfer the risks to the operator.
He, however, added there should be adequate transport facilities for the
tourists to shop and dine in the city centre.
Michael Li, executive director of The Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners,
welcomed the plan, saying it would enhance Hong Kong's position as a cruise hub
and attract more visitors from the mainland.
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