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The Government will invite tenders for operating and managing the new cruise terminal at Kai Tak tomorrow (March 25).
The new cruise terminal, situated at the southern end of the former Kai Tak airport runway, will be an iconic building in the heart of Victoria Harbour. The Government has funded the design and construction of the new terminal, and will lease it to an operator for management and operation.
"The Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a leading cruise hub in the region, and the cruise terminal project is the key to the further growth of cruise tourism in Hong Kong," a spokesman for Tourism Commission said.
"We welcome interested parties with relevant experience and expertise to submit tenders. The selected operator will be expected to operate and manage the new terminal for a term of 10 years. The Government may consider extending the term for a further five years, subject to the operator's satisfactory performance."
The invitation to tender will be gazetted and advertised in the local and international press tomorrow. Tender documents and further information will be available on the Tourism Commission's website: www.tourism.gov.hk/english/ctkt/tender.html tomorrow or, during office hours, from the Tourism Commission located at 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong. Enquiries should be directed to the Tourism Commission by fax at (852) 2801 4458 or via email to cruise_terminal_enquiry@cedb.gov.hk. The deadline for submission of tenders is noon, June 24, 2011 (Hong Kong time).
The spokesman said the cruise terminal project is moving ahead as planned. Site formation works and the terminal building works commenced in November 2009 and May 2010 respectively. All construction works are on schedule.
The terminal building and the first berth, which is able to accommodate the largest cruise vessels in the world, are expected to come into operation in mid-2013. The second berth will be commissioned in 2014 and will also be able to accommodate the largest cruise vessels in 2015 once dredging works on the seabed are completed.
Ends/Thursday, March 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:00
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