XN000022-1978-02-10 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1978

TENDERS FOR DEMOLITION OF OLD KCR BUILDING

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED FOR TENDERS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY BUILDING AT TS IM SHA TSUI TO ENABLE WORK TO BEGIN ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF HONG KONG'S FIRST CULTURAL COMPLEX.

THE CLOCK TOWER WHICH LIES ON THE BOUNDARY OF THE CULTURAL COMPLEX WILL BE LEFT STANDING AND RENOVATED AT GOVERNMENT'S EXPENSE.

THE CONTRACT IS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING WHICH COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 3,450 SC. METRES AND FOR THE RENOVATION CF THE CLOCK TOWER. WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN EARLY APRIL AND TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CULTURAL COMPLEX WILL MEET AN URGENT DEMONSTRABLE PUBLIC NEED FOR ADDITIONAL AND BETTER CIVIC CULTURAL FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN KOWLOON.

IT WILL ALSO HAVE THE ADDED EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING THE FACILITIES AT THE CITY HALL WHICH ARE ALREADY UNDER VERY HEAVY PRESSURE.

THE CULTURAL COMPLEX WILL INCLUDE A MUSEUM, AN ART GALLERY, TWO AUDITORIA, LECTURE ROOMS, REHEARSAL ROOMS, AND A SPACE MUSEUM WHICH IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, A LARGE FOUNTAIN WILL FORM PART OF THE DESIGN.

THE MUSEUM AND THE ART GALLERY WILL BE HOUSED IN SEPARATE BUILDINGS AS WILL BE THE TWO AUDITORIA ONE OF WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE 2,500 PEOPLE AND THE OTHER 1,500. THE SPACE MUSEUM WILL ALLOW 350 PEOPLE AT A TIME TO ENJOY THE SHOWS THERE.

IN TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE CULTURAL COMPLEX WILL OF ITSELF BECOME A FAMILIAR LANDMARK TO WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN POINT WITH PRIDE.

IF THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD RAILWAY STATION BUILDING HAD BEEN DELAYED ANY LONGER, IT WOULD HAVE HAD THE UNACCEPTABLE RESULT OF HOLDING UP FURTHER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS MUCH NEEDED FACILITY, HE SAID.

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