Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities: International Design Ideas Competition

The Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), Mr Francis Ho, said at the prize presentation ceremony last week that the superb quality of entries for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB)‧Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) International Design Ideas Competition had provided lots of valuable creative concepts to serve as reference for the detailed design of the HKBCF. Mr Ho said he looked forward to continued support from the community for the HZMB and HKBCF projects with a view to making the latter a new international boundary crossing facility for Hong Kong and to enhancing the economic development and competitiveness of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region.

“The HKBCF is a very important part of the Hong Kong section of the HZMB project. To us, the HKBCF will be more than a cargo processing and passenger clearance facility for goods and passengers traveling via the HZMB. It will definitely serve as a strategic road network and thus will further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international transportation and aviation hub,” said Mr Ho at the prize presentation ceremony of the HZMB HKBCF International ‧ Design Ideas Competition.

Situated on an artificial island reclaimed from the open water off the north-east of Hong Kong International Airport, the HKBCF has the geographical advantages of being located next to the Airport and connected to the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, which is under planning.

Mr Ho pointed out that the HZMB is a project of strategic importance to Hong Kong, Macao and the PRD area in terms of economic development as well as community integration.

“With the new bridge in operation, the journey time between Hong Kong and the western PRD can be shortened to within three hours. It will significantly reduce the cost and time for passenger and goods flow between the two areas.”

To cope with the construction schedule of the HZMB projects, the detailed design of reclamation works within Hong Kong territory and the ground investigation works have already started in September and December 2009 respectively. The detailed design work of the HKBCF will begin soon.

To make the HKBCF a new landmark for Hong Kong and enhance its reputation in the international arena, the Highways Department co-organized the design ideas competition last December with relevant government departments as well as local professional institutions, including the Architectural Services Department; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Environmental Protection Department; The Hong Kong Institute of Architects; The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers; The Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation; The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects and Hong Kong Institute of Planners. Qualified professionals in the fields of architecture, planning and engineering as well as the general public in Hong Kong and worldwide were invited to contribute their innovative ideas and concepts, including the use of advanced environmental and sustainable technologies for the design and construction of the HKBCF, in particular the Passenger Clearance Building.

The competition received an overwhelming response with over 160 entries from more than 20 countries and regions, over half of which were from countries spanning the five continents, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, India, Egypt, Romania and Jordan.

The jury panel of the design competition comprised renowned professionals and celebrities from different fields from the Mainland, Hong Kong and overseas. The members include renowned architect Mr Richard Hawkins of Foster + Partners; Professor and Chair of Department of Architecture and Urban Design, University of California, Los Angeles, Dr Hitoshi Abe; former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, Sir David Akers-Jones; Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development, Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan; Past President of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Dr Cheng Hon-kwan; China Architectural Design Master and Director of the College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, South China University of Technology, Professor He Jingtang; and Immediate Past President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Dr Ronald Lu.

To enable the public to enjoy the high quality work, the Highways Department has arranged a sharing session with the winners of the open and professional groups as well as a roving exhibition of the entries. Details of these activities are as follows:

Date: May 15 to June 6, 2010
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm
Venue: Former Central Police Station at 10 Hollywood Road, Central
Exhibition of winning entries (the first stop)

Date: May 15 to 28, 2010
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm
Venue: Tung Chung MTR Station

For further details of competition results and roving exhibitions, please visit the competition website.