Kai Tak Sports Park
Kai Tak Sports Park is a multi-purpose sports venue to be built at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The location is on the north western part of the property, where some of the parking stands used to be.[1]
American engineering firm AECOM was engaged by the Civil Engineering and Development Department of HKSAR to undertake the Kai Tak Development project in early 2007.[2] In the 2011-12 policy address delivered by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, he stated that the government is studying financing options and mode of operation of the proposed multi-purpose stadium complex at Kai Tak and will start the preliminary work as soon as possible.[3]
South China Morning Post reported that the Sports Park would be completed by 2023,[1] costing HK$32 billion[4] and would have a 50,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof, a 4,000-seat indoor sports centre and a 5,000-seat public sports ground.[5]
Development
On 5 November 2012, the Home Affairs Bureau completed an initial technical feasibility study of the Kai Tak multi-purpose complex and submitted it to the Legislative Council. In the study, the bureau proposed a "design-build-operate" approach - design, construction, operations and maintenance under a single entity - to ensure effective delivery from designing the complex to its long-term operation. The study also recommended that the project be financially supported by a combination of government and private financing in order to maximize efficiency and innovation. The stadium will have a retractable roof and a capacity of 50,000 for international sports and entertainment events. The facilities are expected to be completed by 2020.[6]
HK$62.7 million in pre-construction funds for the Kai Tak Multi-purpose Sports Complex was approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee members on 3 July 2015.[7]
On 23 June 2017, the Hong Kong legislators in the finance committee granted the cash for the HK$31.9 billion sports complex in Kai Tak after a six-hour debate. 36 lawmakers green-lit the sports park, with 21 voting against it.[8]
On December 28, 2018, the government announced a contract for the design, construction and operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park was awarded to Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd, a subsidiary of New World Development and NWS Holdings established specifically for the project.[9] Hip Hing Engineering is the main contractor of the project supported by Populous, SKA and Arup as design team.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the Kai Tak Sports Park was held on 23 April 2019.[10]
Schedule and Penalties
The government has imposed strict performance indicators for the Kai Tak Sports Park with a penalty of HK$500,000 for every day if the operator fails to meet usage requirements in the main stadium, HK$100,000 for the indoor centre and HK$50,000 for the public ground accordingly.[11] The time for operational acceptance is 1,640 days (54 months) from the commencement of the contract (February 1, 2019). This means that the park should be finished by June, 2023.[9]
Transportation
Facilities nearby
- Metro Park
- Kai Tak Grid Neighbourhood
- To Kwa Wan Recreation Ground
- EMSD Headquarter
- Zero Carbon Building
See also
References
- ^ a b "Kai Tak sports complex cost put at HK$23 billion by government". South China Morning Post. 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
- ^ Kai Tak Development, Hong Kong AECOM. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ 2011-12 Policy Address - From Strength to strength. Sports Development. 144. 2011-12 Policy Address. Hong Kong Government. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ "HK$32b Kai Tak park 'no white elephant', insists sports chief". South China Morning Post. 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
- ^ "Kai Tak sports complex cost put at HK$23 billion by government". South China Morning Post. 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
- ^ Kelly Ip (6 November 2012). "Single operator mooted for Kai Tak complex". The Standard. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Legco gives green light to HK$62.7 million for Kai Tak stadium". South China Morning Post. 2015-07-04. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
- ^ Chan Kin-wa (23 June 2017). "Hong Kong Legco grants cash for Kai Tak sports park – 11 years after it was first mooted". South China Morning Post.
- ^ a b "New World wins right to build and run HK$30 billion Kai Tak Sports Park". South China Morning Post. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ "Sports park construction starts". Hong Kong's Information Services Department (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ "Kai Tak Sports Park operator to face huge fines for failing to fill venues". South China Morning Post. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-07-12.