News Stories:

Click-on these handy "jump links" to quickly access the news item
you're looking for.

1. Seven deals put KCRC on track in Sha Tin to Central link

2. BorPlaza developer targeting young pub crowdd

1. Seven deals put KCRC on track in Sha Tin to Central link
Keith Wallis, The Standard 29 January 2003

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has kicked off the start of work on its HK$35 billion Sha Tin to Central link with the award of seven scheme design contracts worth HK$471 million.

Under the terms of the assignments, engineering teams will ``flesh out'' the preliminary designs submitted in 2001 as part of the KCRC's bid for the 18-kilometre railway, according to senior director of capital works James Blake.

The scheme engineering consultants will prepare about 60 per cent of the total design of the railway.

Most of the remaining work will be done by contractors under design and build contracts when the main construction contracts are awarded early next year.

The KCRC confirmed that a joint venture between Atkins China and Meinhardt had won the largest contract, a HK$108.36 million deal to design the section from Admiralty to Central West. This includes new stations at Admiralty and Central near Hollywood Road.

Atkins China has also won a HK$101 million contract to design work at Hung Hom, including a new station and the Whampoa people mover system, or a light tram network.

Other contracts have been awarded to:

Mott Connell for the Tai Wai to Diamond Hill section, including Tsz Wan Shan station;

Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) for a segment between Diamond Hill and Kai Tak, including Diamond Hill station and Kai Tak maintenance centre;

Mott Connell in partnership with Atkins China for the Kai Tak to Hung Hom section that also comprises Kai Tak, To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Wai and Ho Man Tin stations;

Scott Wilson for a fourth harbour rail crossing;

Ove Arup and Partners for the section from the harbour crossing to Admiralty, including Exhibition station.

The KCRC is hoping to start construction on the Sha Tin to Central line next year with completion in 2008.

It is also planning to launch construction of the HK$11 billion Kowloon southern link, between Tsim Sha Tsui East and West Rail's Nam Cheong station at the same time.

2. Plaza developer targeting young pub crowd
Joyce Li , The Standard 29 January 2003

Pub operators have given a warm response to a plan to turn Kowloon Development's New Mandarin Plaza into a cluster of bars to meet demand from young locals.

There were four pubs already in the Tsim Sha Tsui East plaza, and the developer was in final talks with four to five other pub groups which planned to take space there, Kowloon Development's general manager of sales and marketing Steven Law said.

Law said the deals could be finalised by the end of February, and eventually there might be 10 to 15 pubs at the plaza.

``We plan to spend over HK$1 million to give the plaza a new look and allocate HK$500,000 as promotional expenses,'' he said.

The plaza is looking to capitalise on the government's legalisation of soccer gambling from July, and Kowloon Development is in talks with Cable Television about allowing live broadcasts at bars.

``Consumers from the young working group love to hang out with friends and watch football matches while having a beer,'' Law said.

Many business sectors see the emerging young consumer market as attractive because of its high purchasing power and low overheads, such as having to support families.

Henderson's Knutsford Terrace and Lan Kwai Fong in Central are popular hangouts for youngsters, though Law said New Mandarin Plaza was not trying to annex that territory.

``We target local young working groups that have a lower average spending. Lan Kwai Fong attracts expats, tourists and yuppies while Knutsford Terrace is more of a dining area,'' he added.

New Mandarin Plaza covers 40,000 square feet, of which 70 per cent is occupied by pubs, restaurants and a sauna. Some businesses would not have their contracts renewed once they expired.

New Mandarin Plaza rental rates are about HK$15-18 per square foot and management fee is HK$3 psf. Shares of Kowloon Development closed down 1.39 per cent at HK$3.62 yesterday.