Hong Kong Park wins US architectural award

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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Urban Council:

Another jewel has been added to the crown of the popular Hong Kong Park. The design of the park recently won the American Institute of Architects Hong Kong Chapter's Honour Award for Urban Design 1998.

"It is a great honour for Hong Kong Park to receive the honour award in recognition of its design which is compatible with the urban environment," said a spokesman for the Urban Services Department (USD) today (Tuesday).

Built on a former army barracks site in Central District, the Hong Kong Park, which is a Provisional Urban Council leisure facility managed by the USD, has become a landmark in Hong Kong and attracted over one million visitors each year since its opening in May 1991.

The park covers an area of about 10 hectares and has a wide range of active and passive facilities as well as innovative features to cater for the needs of people of all ages.

Major facilities of the park include the Forsgate Conservatory; the Edward Youde Aviary; the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre; a garden plaza; a terraced garden with water features; children's playgrounds; the Clock Tower; the Vantage Point; a restaurant; the Hong Kong Park Indoor Games Hall and the Hong Kong Squash Centre.

The Hong Kong Park was a joint development project between the Council and the Hong Kong Jockey Club with a total construction cost of $390 million. The Jockey Club contributed a generous donation of $170 million towards this project and managed the development project on behalf of the Council. Wong Tung & Partners Limited was the project architect for Hong Kong Park.

The Department worked closely with the Jockey Club and the project architect during the design, planning and the construction stages to ensure that the project was completed up to the Council's standards and within the approved budget.

End/Tuesday, January 5, 1999

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