Tamar site
Encyclopedia
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
large, the former location of the naval basin attached to the headquarters of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
British Forces Overseas Hong Kong consisted of the elements of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Much of the British military left Hong Kong prior to the handover in 1997. The present article focuses mainly on the British garrison in Hong Kong in the post Second World War era...
, is currently the site of the Central Government Offices (headquarter) of the Hong Kong SAR Government at the harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
front of Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
, Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
To the east, it connects with cultural and convention facilities including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong, along with AsiaWorld-Expo. It is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island. Built along the Victoria Harbour, it is linked by covered walkways to nearby hotels and commercial...
; to the south, it connects with financial, commercial and tourism hubs; to the southwest, it connects to Garden Road
Garden Road, Hong Kong
Garden Road is a major road on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, connecting the Central and Mid-levels areas.At its lower end, Garden Road forms a grade-separated intersection with Queensway. For most of its length, Garden Road carries traffic only in the downhill direction. Uphill traffic is carried...
which is rich in historical and heritage values.
It is currently the most expensive piece of empty land in Hong Kong, valued at $24.3 billion on the market ($9,000 per square foot). Different parties were in favour of building their own projects in the site, including the government's new headquarters, highly profitable office or retailing space, and a waterfront open green space.
History
HMS TamarHMS Tamar (1863)
HMS Tamar was a Royal Navy troopship built by the Samuda Brothers at Cubitt Town, London, and launched in Britain in 1863. She served as a supply ship from 1897 to 1941, and gave her name to the HMS Tamar shore station in Hong Kong ....
was originally the name of a British naval vessel which arrived in Hong Kong in 1897 and remained in the British territory until Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1941. In memory of this vessel, the British named the Royal Naval station in Hong Kong "HMS Tamar
HMS Tamar (shore station)
HMS Tamar was the name for the Royal Navy's base in Hong Kong from 1897 to 1997. It took its name from HMS Tamar a ship that was used as the base until replaced by buildings ashore.-19th Century:...
". The British garrison pre-handover
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
was stationed at the "Prince of Wales Building", within the base, and which is part of the site.
Past uses
Saltimbanco
Saltimbanco is the oldest major touring show of Cirque du Soleil that remains active in some form. Saltimbanco ran from 1992 to 2006 in its original form, performed under a large circus tent called the Grand Chapiteau; its last performance in that form was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 10,...
by Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
, the annual Hong Kong Product Expo, the Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
and the ill-fated "Harbour Fest". The entire site has played host to a fun-fair in 2005 and 2006.
Concert venue
The Tamar site has been a target of strong criticism by the public for its poor record of music events. In 2003, the Hong Kong government made plans to create a major concert event to help Hong Kong out of the economic crisis brought about by the SARSSevere acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . Between November 2002 and July 2003 an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide according to the WHO...
epidemic, naming it "Harbour Fest
Harbour Fest
The Hong Kong Harbour Fest , held from 17 October to 11 November 2003, was part of a HK$1 billion program to revive the economy of Hong Kong SAR after the SARS. It was a government underwritten event organised by InvestHK, under the auspices of the Economic Relaunch Working Group, in collaboration...
". The event took heavy criticism as it was considered "extremely poor organization".
In October 2006, international pop singer Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
was scheduled for her first ever Hong Kong concert at the Tamar site, but was cancelled due to conflicts with the concert promotor, 8,000 out of the 10,000 tickets were sold 2 days prior to the show.
Use during the sixth WTO Ministerial meeting
The Tamar site was one of the protest sites suggested by members of the Hong Kong People's Alliance on WTOHong Kong People's Alliance on WTO
The Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO is a grassroots organization that aimed to protest at the WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005 which was held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai North on 13–18 December 2005.Representatives for 148 countries attended and HKPAOWTO aimed to...
, a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) that represents dozens of organizations heading to Hong Kong to protest the WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005
WTO Ministerial Conference of 2005
The Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, also known as the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference and abbreviated as MC6, was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong from 13 to 18 December 2005...
. The Tamar site is suggested since the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong, along with AsiaWorld-Expo. It is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island. Built along the Victoria Harbour, it is linked by covered walkways to nearby hotels and commercial...
, where the conference is to be held, will be visible from it.
However, the government has already turned down this suggestion and the site will be used exclusively as a vehicle processing centre during the conference instead. It is estimated that over 1,000 vehicles will be traveling to and from the conference venue on a daily basis. All vehicles and their drivers and passengers will have to go through screening at the Tamar Site for security verification before they are allowed to enter the conference venue.
New Central Government Offices
Hong Kong Government is relocating their Central Government OfficesCentral Government Offices
The Central Government Offices houses the most major offices of the Hong Kong Government. Located in Central in Hong Kong, it occupies the lower level of Government Hill.- History :...
(former at Government Hill
Government Hill
The Government Hill is a hill in Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, bounded by upper section of Upper Albert Road on the south, Queen's Road Central north, Garden Road east, and Glenealy west of Hong Kong Island....
), Legislative Council Building
Legislative Council Building
The Legislative Council Building of Hong Kong, also called the Former Supreme Court Building , was the home of the former Supreme Court until 1985, when it was renamed and became home to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Members of the Council and the President have offices in this building...
and the Chief Executive's Office to the Tamar site (Central Government Complex, Tamar
Central Government Complex, Tamar
Central Government Complex, Tamar will be the new location for the offices of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.The new government building will neither use Communist Chinese or European government building designs, but a rather a mix of postmodern architecture and...
). The government halted the Tamar project developments in November 2003 because of the tough economic climate during the SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a respiratory disease in humans which is caused by the SARS coronavirus . Between November 2002 and July 2003 an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide according to the WHO...
outbreak.
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
. The council chambers will abandon the traditional British layout and favouring a seating arrangement similar to the Congress Hall of the Great Hall of the People
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It functions as the People's Republic of China's...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
In order to ensure the buildings behind the site such as the Far East Finance Centre, the Admiralty Centre, Lippo Centre
Lippo Centre, Hong Kong
The Lippo Centre is a pair of twin office towers in Hong Kong, previously known as the Bond Center . The buildings are located at 89 Queensway, in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island. They were taken over by the Lippo Group after the collapse of the Bond Corporation...
, the United Centre
United Centre
United Centre is a Ukrainian political party. It is an offspring of Our Ukraine. It will participate in the next Ukrainian parliamentary election independently. Legally United Centre is the successor of the Party of Private Property , registered with the Ministry of Justice on September 24, 1999....
, Pacific Place Offices Towers
Pacific Place
Pacific Place is a complex of office towers, hotels and a shopping centre situated at 88 Queensway, in Admiralty, Hong Kong. The latest phase, Three Pacific Place, is located at 1 Queen's Road East....
, Island Shangri-La
Island Shangri-La
Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is the flagship hotel of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, the largest Hong Kong-based hotel chain. Opened on 1 March 1991, the hotel is managed by Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited....
and the Conrad Hotel continue to have views of the harbour, the height of the government buildings will only be allowed to be 130-180mPD.
The government had also decided to cut the exhibition gallery from the project. In 2004, the government had promised the Trade Development Council that they would be able to rent the grounds as a temporary venue for mega fairs twice a year, for a total of three years. Originally the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair
The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair is a trade fair organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, held annually at the downtown location of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is the largest fair of its kind in the world and celebrates its 27th anniversary in 2012...
and the Hong Kong Electronics Fair
Hong Kong Electronics Fair
Hong Kong Electronics Fair is the world's biggest electronics event, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in October every year...
were to exhibit at the Tamar site once a year. It was meant to become Asia's largest sourcing fair. The government decided to cut out the exhibitions because it will help lower the development intensity of the site and alleviates effects on transport arising from the project.
The contract for the project is signed on 28 January and work started in mid-February 2008 and finished in 2011. The project engaged 3,000 workers.
A flag-raising ceremony was held on Monday 1 August, 2011, morning to mark the event with staff from the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau having the honor of being first in at Tamar.