Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing For discussion TFK/08/2017 on 10 November 2017 Progress Update on the West Kowloon Cultural District PURPOSE This paper serves to update Members on the development progress of the West Kowloon Cultural District (“WKCD”), including the Xiqu Centre, the Artist Square Development Area (“ASDA”), the Art Park, the Hong Kong Palace Museum (“HKPM”), together with other connectivity improvement efforts on the marine access and the Austin Road Pedestrian Linkage System (“APLS”). BACKGROUND 2. West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (“WKCDA”) has reported the progress of key developments within WKCD to the Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing (the “Task Force”) on a regular basis since December 2013. PROGRESS OF KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN WKCD Xiqu Centre 3. The Xiqu Centre will be a world-class venue specifically built for Xiqu (Chinese opera) performances. It will house a range of facilities for performances, developing new repertory, research, education, training and exchange, and will offer professional development programmes to help nurture young talents and support the development of new performances. The building structure of Xiqu Centre was substantially completed at the end of April 2017. Works on the Grand Theatre, Atrium, Tea House Theatre and Seminar Hall are proceeding apace, with the building services installation and interior fitting out works in good progress. The façade of the building is in the final stage of installation. Statutory building inspections are underway. Xiqu Centre’s planned opening in the 4th quarter of 2018 remains on schedule. Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing TFK/08/2017 Artist Square Development Area (“ASDA”) 4. The ASDA, comprising M+, Lyric Theatre Complex, other arts and cultural facilities, retail/dining/entertainment facilities as well as office/hotel developments, will form a “mini-WKCD” supported by a balanced mix of various land uses to facilitate “destination building” of the WKCD development. 5. Construction works on M+, a new museum for visual art in Hong Kong are ongoing. The completion of the mega-truss transfer structure marks a key milestone in the development of the project. The remaining portion of the podium and the tower are under construction now. The M+ museum is scheduled to open in late 2019. 6. The foundation works for the Lyric Theatre Complex and the Zone 3B Integrated Basement commenced in January 2016 and is now completed. The next construction phase of the Zone 3B Integrated Basement will commence in the first quarter of 2018 subject to funding approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. 7. The funding proposal for the Artist Square Bridge (“ASB”) was discussed at the Joint Subcommittee to Monitor the Implementation of the West Kowloon Cultural District Project (“Joint Subcommittee”) of Legislative Council on 21 April 2017. The Joint Subcommittee expressed concerns mainly about the high estimated cost of the proposed ASB and did not support the proposal. WKCDA is critically reviewing the ASB project with the Government. Members will be updated when the revised ASB design is available. Art Park 8. Construction works on the Art Park commenced in July 2016 and are on track with the completion of Phase 1 expected by the end of this year. Freespace (including a black box theatre and an outdoor stage) saw its official topping-out in July 2017 and is anticipated to open in 2019. The waterfront promenade in front of the Art Park and the M+ Museum will be opened in phases starting from 2018. Page 2 Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing TFK/08/2017 Hong Kong Palace Museum (“HKPM”) 9. WKCDA formally signed a Collaborative Agreement with the Palace Museum on 29 June 2017 to take the HKPM project forward. The scheme design for the HKPM was approved by the WKCDA Board in September 2017. The scheme design for the HKPM is shown in Annex 1. 10. HKPM is broadly divided into three zones: the Education Centre at the lower ground floor, the Exhibition Galleries occupying the main bulk of the building, and the supporting facilities and offices at the very top. There are also dining facilities along the waterfront frontage to promote a leisurely waterfront ambience. The design concept of HKPM originates from the study of the masterplan of the Forbidden City in Beijing, and takes on the traditional courtyard progression as the basis for re-interpretation. The successive courtyards are transformed into stacked atria at successive stages inside the HKPM. Each atrium is designed to frame a designated view at different altitudes: The grand atrium at ground floor serves not only as a functional museum foyer but an occasional event space; the middle atrium is rotated to face south, enjoying the spectacular view of the Victoria Harbour; and the third atrium occupies the topmost floor and is rotated to face west where visitors can enjoy the scenery of the setting sun and the distant Lantau Island silhouette. 11. WKCDA has commenced the next stage of public engagement for the HKPM project. A media roundtable was arranged on 6 October 2017, where Mr Rocco Yim, the design consultant of HKPM, took attendees through the scheme design and key features of HKPM. Pop-up exhibitions were held over three weekends at China Hong Kong City, Hong Kong Maritime Museum and Sha Tin Town Hall from 20 October 2017. The tender for the foundation works of HKPM was issued on 16 October 2017 with piling work scheduled to commence by April 2018. Study on Proposed Marine Access 12. Marine access is recommended to be developed at the WKCD to provide a water transport alternative for visitors to/from the WKCD. It is recommended that the WKCD’s primary marine access should be developed Page 3 Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing TFK/08/2017 adjacent to the M+ and the main park area (Figures 1 & 2). The recommended location is close to the key cultural buildings within the WKCD and is on the existing sloping seawall which is an area with relatively stable wave conditions for passenger berthing. Figure 1 Recommended Marine Access Location Figure 2 Location Plan of Recommended Marine Access Location Recommended Location Early Phase Development Page 4 Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing TFK/08/2017 13. The overall design concept of the marine access is known as Enhanced Landing Step (“ELS”) which is a simple design but with a ramp integrated into a widen step structure to create a hybrid ramp-step structure. With a transitional interface linking up the ramp and widened landing steps, a smooth access and arrival experience for both normal and disabled users could be provided. The preliminary design concept of the ELS is presented in Figure 3. Figure 3 Enhanced Landing Step Preliminary Design Concept 14. The ELS is recommended to be provided at the existing sloping seawall to minimise disruption to the existing shoreline, integrate well with the waterfront promenade and align with the status of the WKCD. It can provide both efficient marine access and a more enriching waterfront experience for the WKCD visitors. It is initially considered that constructing the ELS at the recommended location adjacent to the M+ should not trigger the justification test under the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance as it will not involve reclamation in the harbour. The design of ELS would only utilize the area at the landside above the existing High Water Mark (HWM) along the slopping Page 5 Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing TFK/08/2017 seawall which therefore can be implemented without affecting the water spaces. However, gazettal process will be required for the seawall modification works under the Foreshore and Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance. Austin Road Pedestrian Linkage System (“APLS”) 15. To enhance connectivity of the WKCD and relieve the anticipated congestion of the existing pedestrian subway at the junction of Austin Road and Canton Road after the stage by stage opening of the WKCD facilities, a direct and convenient pedestrian linkage between the MTR Austin Station and Xiqu Centre in the WKCD, i.e. the APLS, for heading WKCD and other destinations in Tsim Sha Tsui area. The layout plan of the APLS is shown in Annex 2. Pending the Legislative Council’s funding approval, the construction of APLS is targeted to commence in the first quarter of 2018. ADVICE SOUGHT 16. Members are invited to note the development progress of WKCD and the connectivity improvement efforts involved. West Kowloon Cultural District Authority November 2017 Page 6 .