HONG KONG - keen on developing a regional cruise hub positioning

eTN, 27-10-2006

Hong Kong is gearing up to buildd a 2.4 bln hkd cruise ship terminal at the former Kai Tak airport site.Making an emphatic statement about making Hong Kong a regional cruise hub, the government of HK has shared that it will focus on the development of a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak. Its first berth is slated to open by 2012.

Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Stephen Ip says Hong Kong needs an additional berth between 2009 and 2015, and one to two more berths beyond 2015 to capture the growth of the regional cruise market. New cruise terminal facilities could bolster Hong Kong’s coffers by up to $2.2 billion a year by 2020, and offer almost 11,000 jobs. Ip said the six suggestions received in last year’s study on whether there are feasible locations other than Kai Tak, could not meet the Government's requirements in full.

“It has always been the Government’s intention to develop new cruise terminal facilities at Kai Tak, as it is the only site within Victoria Harbour with the capability to offer two or more alongside berths without reclamation. The outcome of the Kai Tak Planning Review Stage 3 Public Consultation indicated general support for the development of cruise terminal facilities at Kai Tak,” Ip said.

“As the market cannot provide a better and faster suggestion than Kai Tak, the Government will focus on the development of a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak, and expedite the development process, with a view to completing the first berth by 2012,” he added.

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