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1. Hung Hom Track Remodelling Project

2. Tenders in for $4b airport exhibition centre

1. Hung Hom Track Remodelling Project
KCRC, 12 June 2003

To tie in with the construction of Tsim Sha Tsui Extension, a track remodelling project will be carried out in Hung Hom Station between June and December 2003.

The Tsim Sha Tsui Extension is scheduled to complete in end 2004. By then, KCR East Rail will be extended to Tsim Sha Tsui. To provide an efficient and reliable train service when Tsim Sha Tsui Extension commissions, a track improvement project has commenced in June in Hung Hom Station. The project includes the remodelling of track layout and reducing the number of rail crossings.

Passengers can enjoy a more reliable train service and a more comfortable journey when the project is completed.

To facilitate construction work, train service in the morning peak will be slightly affected between 16 June and 31 August 2003. KCR East Rail apologized for any inconvenience caused.

2. Tenders in for $4b airport exhibition centre
Keith Wallis, The Standard 14 June 2003

All four groups shortlisted to bid for the HK$4 billion development of an international exhibition centre are believed to have submitted tenders to Invest Hong Kong by yesterday's deadline.

An Invest Hong Kong spokeswoman refused to give the number of firms that lodged tenders.

``We are very satisfied with the response to the tender exercise. In light of the commercially confidential nature of the tender, we will not disclose the details of the submissions at this stage but will announce the result after a thorough evaluation in due course,'' she said.

The four comprise: Gammon Skanska with London's Earl's Court and Olympia Group; Dragages et Travaux Publics with Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre; Bovis Lend Lease with US outfit SMG; and Hong Kong partnership Cheung Kong with Pico.

In a briefing paper to legislators in December, Invest Hong Kong said tenders would be returned in April, although the date was later fixed for May 30. But Invest Hong Kong granted a two-week extension following the Sars crisis because some of the overseas bidders imposed a travel ban on executives visiting Hong Kong to meet their local partners.

Invest Hong Kong associate director-general Simon Galpin said the organisation hoped to appoint a successful group by the end of June. But he conceded this could slip to some time next month. Despite the delay he was sure the complex would be completed in 2005 as initially planned.

The tender documents called for the finance, design, construction and operation of a facility of at least 60,000 square metres. The bidders would have the option to offer to develop a larger complex of up to 100,000 square metres.

The tenderers must be willing to contribute at least 15 per cent of the equity, while government investment in the scheme has been capped at HK$2 billion. The Airport Authority is providing the 17-hectare site for the complex, although this is equal to a 10 per cent stake in the project.