Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
LCQ21: West Kowloon Cultural District
*************************************

     Following is a question by the Hon Christopher Chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (July 3):

Question:

     Regarding the works progress and expenditure of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) project, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) given that some recent press reports have quoted information sources and pointed out that the completion date of the works of the West Kowloon Terminus of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link needs to be deferred for 500-odd days due to some geological, design and technical issues, of the works under the WKCD project that are related to the Terminus; whether it has assessed if the completion dates of such related works will be affected in the event that the Terminus project experiences any delay; if it has assessed, of a breakdown of the impacts by the works item;

(b) of the details of all the consultancy services commissioned by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority since it was given a funding allocation of $21.6 billion in July 2008, the reasons for commissioning such consultancy services, names of the consultants, background and qualifications of the consultants, as well as the consultancy fees (set out in Annex I); and
         
(c) of the respective persons/institutions/organisations responsible for drafting the guidelines for the architectural design competitions held under the WKCD project in the past and those to be held in the near future?

Reply:

President,

     Our reply is as follows:

(a) The Government has entrusted the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to construct the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). Since commencement of works in January 2010, the XRL project has been implemented in an orderly manner. According to the MTRCL's latest assessment, it remains the target to complete the construction of the XRL project in 2015.

     Under the West Kowloon Cultural District project, the Centre for Contemporary Performance sits on top of the West Kowloon Terminus of the XRL. Its development timetable is more closely related to that of the XRL.  Currently, we do not expect any delay to this project due to the construction works of the XRL. The Home Affairs Bureau together with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) will continue to conduct regular reviews with the Highways Department and MTRCL on the progress of these two projects.

(b) Since its establishment in July 2008, the WKCDA has engaged consultants to produce study reports on 47 items. Details of the items are set out in Annex II.

(c) The WKCDA has undertaken two design competitions, namely the Xiqu Centre Design Competition and M+ Design Competition.  

     The WKCDA engaged an Independent Professional Advisor (IPA), who has extensive experience in conducting international design competitions, to assist in the administrative and procedural work relating to the two competitions. The relevant rules and guidelines were prepared by the IPA with reference to the best practices adopted in local and international design competitions. They were endorsed by the relevant Design Competition Steering Committees as well as the Development Committee, and approved by the Board of the WKCDA. The WKCDA is expected to engage an IPA to assist in the administrative and procedural work relating to the design competition for the Arts Pavilion to be held in the near future as well.

Ends/Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:54

NNNN

Print this page