'It's logical': harbour watchdog defends New World as partner in Avenue of Stars expansion despite lack of bidding
A public-private partnership between the government and New World Development to manage an expanded Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui is "logical", according to the head of Hong Kong's official advisory body on harbourfront planning.
Future projects along the new Central-Wan Chai waterfront should, however, be contracted out through a competitive process, Harbourfront Commission chairman Nicholas Brooke said.
The remarks come amid conditional approval from the government to give the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade a facelift, a plan critics fear favours the avenue's existing operator, New World.
They say public land is being entrusted to a designated developer without a bidding process.
The project is heading for the courts, with activists Chong Wing-fai and Kwok Cheuk-kin applying for a judicial review against the government's refusal to launch an open tender.
WATCH: What do Hongkongers think of the project?
New World has been managing the current avenue on a 20-year term since 2004. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department plans to sign a fresh 20-year contract with its non-profit subsidiary so the company will manage the longer avenue until 2035.
"This is not a completely new scheme, but a continuation of the entrustment to New World," Brooke said.
"Apparently, New World has been managing the avenue satisfactorily, so it seems logical to me for New World to be the agent."
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Brooke said his commission was twice briefed by the department and the company on the Tsim Sha Tsui concept plan and was consulted again in January.
The commission supported the general direction of the revitalisation scheme, he said, but it had yet to see the detailed design.
However, how the government selected its project partner was outside its remit, he added.
"Our role is only advisory. What we do is to examine whether a plan is in line with harbour planning principles," Brooke said. "For example, is it going to increase public enjoyment of the harbourfront? ... We are not involved in the implementation of management."
A task force under the commission will meet on Tuesday to discuss the latest progress of the proposal.
Citing the temporary Ferris wheel on the Central harbourfront as an example, Brooke said the operators of such projects in Hong Kong would normally be secured via open tenders.
The Avenue of Stars was an "odd case", he said, because a contract with New World already existed.
He hoped the practice of putting out tenders would continue as the government was also developing the waterfront on Hong Kong Island.
"There will be a number of attractions along the Central-Wan Chai waterfront and I hope they will be tendered out in an open manner," Brooke said.
Under New World's expansion plan, the 440-metre avenue will more than double by 500 metres towards Hung Hom, featuring new leisure and dining facilities.
