Press Release – Friday, 26 th May 2006
Tamar Development – Municipal Centre
The Tamar Site is unique. It was reclaimed from the harbour ten years ago and is the only large piece of land in the Central District of Hong Kong that will ever be available.
The Government has announced a policy of making Hong Kong a world-class city similar to New York and London. All world-class cities in the world have a municipal center to give the city its own character. At this time in Hong Kong's history, it is essential for Hong Kong to have its own Municipal Centre which should represent the spirit of Hong Kong and highlight Hong Kong's international image as the gateway to China.
Design of Municipal Centre
The Municipal Centre can be no more than 15-storey high to accommodate:-
• The Chief Executive's Office;
• The Legislative Council;
• The Executive Council including the Principal Policy Secretaries and their immediate supporting staff;
• A large multi-purpose congress hall for 2,000 people as well as meetings rooms and other public facilities for the enjoyment of the public;
• The basement of the Municipal Centre can be on three underground levels:- with the lowest level for a transport interchange for the MTR and KCRC, the second level for parking and the first level for a pedestrian interchange so that the Tamar Site will form the focal point between Wanchai, Admiralty and Central; and
• The ground level should offer unrestricted access to a green harbourfront which should be people-friendly.
A Building to be Proud Of
While there is insufficient justification for removal of the Central Government Offices (“CGO”) to the Tamar Site to house over 3,000 civil servants, there is ample justification to build a Municipal Centre as our “parliament building”.
The building erected thereon should be imaginative, visionary and of outstanding architectural merit like the modern and outstanding new buildings in Beijing and Shanghai. It should be a building that both Beijing and Hong Kong can be proud of.
The advantage of the Municipal Centre is that:-
• It will minimize the adverse traffic and environmental impact by reducing the scale of the development; and
• The existing CGO needs no change.
A New Harbour-front
The Municipal Centre should form the center of Hong Kong's Central Harbourfront as an outstanding feature of the Hong Kong skyline for the next century. It should be attractive both to local people and visitors from abroad and should bring life to the new Central Harbour-front. It should become a tourist attraction.
No Urgency – Undue Haste
Responsible officials should not rush into a decision as this is the only chance to give Hong Kong a world-class harbourfront. Three essential issues must first be resolved:-
• Adverse traffic and environmental impact of the Government's proposal;
• What is to happen to the site of the existing CGO? and
• The overall planning for the entire Central Harbourfront.