FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1984
FERRY TERMINAL FACILITY SOUGHT BY TENDER
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO PUT OUT FOR PUBLIC TENDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHINA PASSENGER FERRY TERMINAL TO ENSURE THE EARLY PROVISION OF THIS FACILITY.
A SITE OF ABOUT 1.5 HECTARES IN CANTON ROAD TOGETHER WITH AN AREA OF 8-800 SQUARE METRES OF SEABED, INCLUDING KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER NO 54, WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE, MOST LIKELY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER FOR THIS SOUTH CAMBER+ SITE, WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT AND HAND OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT A THREE-STOREY CONCOURSE STRUCTURE OVER THE PIER, AND RELATED TERMINAL FACILITIES.
+THESE FACILITIES WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A FOUR-LEVEL PODIUM WITHIN THE SOUTH CAMBER SITE ON WHICH A MULTI-STOREY COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL TOWER BLOCK WILL BE CONSTRUCTED.
+AFTER HAVING PROVIDED THESE DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE HANDED TO THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN 36 MONTHS OF THE COMPLETION OF THE CONDITIONS OF SALE, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THE COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THE PODIUM LEVELS AND THE COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL TOWER BLOCK ABOVE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT, IN THE ABSENCE OF PROPER TERMINAL FACILITIES, PART OF THE TAI KOK TSUI PIER IS USED AS A TEMPORARY TERMINAL FOR FERRY AND HOVERFERRY SERVICES TO AND FROM CHINA.
BUILT FOR INTERNAL HARBOUR SERVICES, THE PIER HAS LIMITED BERTHING SPACE AND HAS NO PROPER IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS OR BAGGAGE HANDLING FACILITIES.
THE PURPOSE-BUILT TERMINAL NOW ENVISAGED WILL REMEDY THIS UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION AND WILL COPE WITH INCREASING FERRY AND HOVERCRAFT SERVICES TO AND FROM CHINA, HE SAID.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST BETWEEN THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON WHARF AND GODOWN COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF GRANTING THE SOUTH CAMBER SITE TO THE COMPANY, INCLUDING THE FERRY TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT, IN EXCHANGE FOR ITS SHARP STREET TRAM DEPOT SITE. HOWEVER, IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE THE SHARP STREET DEPOT SITE.
+ IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED THAT A PUBLIC TENDER ON A JOINT VENTURE BASIS WOULD ENSURE THE COMPLETION OF THE MUCH REQUIRED TERMINAL FACILITIES WITHIN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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