The government has thrown its support behind a $1.3 billion extension of the Convention and Exhibition Centre's atrium, dealing a victory to the Trade Development Council, which has long wanted more exhibition space at the Wan Chai venue.
The green light was given by the Executive Council. Plans for the proposed extension will be submitted to the Town Planning Board next week. If the blueprint is approved, construction could start as soon as next year, which avoids the World Trade Organisation conference in December. It is due to be completed in 2009.
The trade council said traffic would not be adversely affected as work would take place within the venue and large construction pieces would be transported by sea. There will be no reclamation work.
A contractor involved with the extension, Chan Sing-fung, said the height of the atrium would be increased to make room for three levels of exhibition space.
The project will be financed internally and by bank loans, although it is uncertain whether the venue's operator, New World Development, will invest in it.
'We must not slip and lose this opportunity. This is a win-win project for Hong Kong,' trade council chairman Peter Woo Kwong-ching said.