New proposals for West Kowloon project to be unveiled next week
A maximum of HK$25 billion in public money - most of which the government will get back - will be involved in the revised plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District, tipped to be presided over by former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan.
Details of the proposal will be unveiled in a consultation document to be launched by Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing next week. It will be overseen by a new authority, which Mr Hui is expected to chair.
The government will brief members of the consultative committee on the West Kowloon project tomorrow and legislators on Wednesday before making the document public.
Government sources said the paper would state as one of the principles for the development that the project should be financially self-sustaining. Others include that it should be developed phase by phase and that the government should handle the land auction and the cultural project separately. The paper will also spell out how the new authority will operate.
Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai said she hoped the project would win majority support from the public and legislators. She said it would provide diversified cultural activities to the public and tourists and boost the city's cultural development.
The launch of the consultation marks a fresh start for the arts hub, which was first put forward in September 2003 but was shelved last year - after three consortiums had been short-listed - amid fierce opposition to one developer being awarded the entire project.