In-situ land exchange for redevelopment of Mariners' Club
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     The Government announced today (June 15) an in-situ land exchange with the Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers (the Mission) for the redevelopment of the Mariners' Club at Tsim Sha Tsui to enable the continued provision of welfare services to seafarers.
 
     The current site of the Mariners' Club at 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, was acquired by the Mission through land exchange on full market value in 1965. Over the years, the Mariners' Club has been providing, at its own cost, affordable accommodation and a range of other welfare services to transiting seafarers and their family members. With time, the facilities at the Mariners' Club have deteriorated and become outdated, making it difficult for the Mission to sustain its services to seafarers. 
 
     With the approved in-situ land exchange, the Mission, upon settlement of the premium, can identify a development partner to redevelop the site into a composite building with a new Mariners' Club on the lower levels and a commercial hotel on the upper levels. The redevelopment will allow the Mission to modernise the facilities of the Mariners' Club for the continued provision of affordable welfare services to seafarers.
 
     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "The redevelopment will support Hong Kong's maritime industry and tourism development by providing the much needed welfare facilities for seafarers as well as bolstering the supply of hotel rooms in a key tourism district. The redevelopment can maximise the potential of the site and uphold Hong Kong's status as a major international port and tourist destination."
 
     It is an international common practice for major ports to provide seafarers, who are away from home for prolonged periods at sea, with social and welfare services and onshore facilities that typically include affordable accommodation of reasonable standard and other leisure facilities. In Hong Kong, such support services are provided by the Mission, which is a non-profit organisation incorporated in 1930 under the Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers Incorporation Ordinance (Cap. 1042).

Ends/Friday, June 15, 2018
Issued at HKT 11:00

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