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On Background and Planning
On Organisational Structure On the Public Engagement Exercise
On M+ On the Appointment of the Conceptual Plan Consultants and the Project Consultant
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| 1. |
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What is the vision of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD)? The WKCD aspires to be: |
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| 2. |
How will the HK$21.6 billion endowment be spent? On July 4, 2008, the Legislative Council approved a one-off upfront endowment of HK$21.6 billion primarily to cover the capital cost of planning, design and construction of the arts and cultural and related facilities at the WKCD. The breakdown of the distribution of the upfront endowment fund is shown in this table.
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| 3. |
Does the WKCDA have any plan to develop cultural software? WKCDA is well aware that the hardware design – that is the physical buildings and infrastructure - as well as the software development – that is the people, the programmes, the events - are equally important for the long-term success of the WKCD. In the run-up to the commissioning of the facilities, and when arts and cultural experts have been recruited by the WKCDA, the Authority will organize public activities related to performing arts and museum activities that are conducive to the development of the district and to connecting with the people of Hong Kong. These include the formulation of a performing arts programme, collection and exhibition programmes for M+, audience building and outreach to all potential audience. The WKCDA will plan these activities prudently, taking into account its overall financial position. |
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| 4. |
Will arts educational institutions be included in the WKCD? The WKCDA fully understands the need for Hong Kong to groom more arts and cultural talent for the future development of arts and culture. We believe that the future WKCD should provide room for people to learn, and we are open to ideas about this during the public engagement exercise. |
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| On Organisational Structure | ||||||||||
| 5. |
How is the WKCDA organised? Based on the recently completed consultancy report on the Authority's organisational structure, the Authority is to be headed by a Chief Executive Officer leading seven functional departments covering museum policy and management services, performing arts policy and management services, project delivery, communications and marketing, finance, human resources and legal services. During the planning stage, the fully-staffed Authority is estimated to comprise about 80 people. The detailed structure of the museum and performing arts policy departments as well as the number of staff required will be further finalised when the consultancy studies on mode of governance of the museum and performing arts venues are completed in 2010. Organisational Structure of the WKCDA during the Planning Stage (2009-2011) |
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| On the Public Engagement Exercise | ||||||||||
| 6. |
What is the public engagement (PE) exercise? How can I participate? The WKCD is an asset of Hong Kong, and it is for all Hong Kong people to enjoy. With an area of about 40 hectares, the WKCD will be developed into an integrated arts, cultural, entertainment and commercial district with a distinguished identity. A total of 23 of these hectares have been designated as public space for the free enjoyment of everyone, including locals and tourists from all walks of life. As such, the WKCDA is committed to engaging and working closely with all stakeholders in making the vision and mission of WKCD a reality. The WKCDA has decided to organise a public engagement exercise to gather public views on the planning of the district and the core arts and cultural facilities. These views will be incorporated throughout the planning and design process of West Kowloon Cultural District. The public engagement exercise is being conducted in three different stages:
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| 7. |
The focus of the Stage 1 public engagement exercise is only on hardware? How about software? The public engagement exercise places equal emphasis on the software development of the WKCD. For example, on general planning matters, we seek respondents' views on their expectations on the provision of programmes and educational activities for the WKCD. During stakeholder group engagement, we ask, say, universities and teachers, what educational programmes should be provided in the WKCD for the benefit of arts students and practitioners. |
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| 8. |
Why was there no question on the planning of residential, office and hotel developments within the WKCD in the questionnaire for the Stage 1 PE exercise? Residential, office and hotel developments are not the major elements of the WKCD. Neither were they the focus of the Stage 1 public engagement exercise. Through the questionnaire, we hoped to collect public views on the arts and cultural facilities and the public space in the WKCD so as to assist the Conceptual Plan Consultants to prepare Conceptual Plan Options. This was the most important task for the development of the WKCD at that stage. The planning process is interactive. After obtaining the views of the public and various stakeholders on the arts and cultural facilities and the public space in WKCD, the Conceptual Plan Consultants will include residential, office and hotel developments in the master layout plan for WKCD, according to prescribed parametres. These parametres include the restriction of residential development to no more than 20% of the WCKD's gross floor area and the provision of a waterfront promenade with a width of at least 20 metres. Anyone with views on the location of residential, office and hotel developments within the WKCD could indicate their views in their response to the open-ended questions in the questionnaire. At Stage 2 of the PE exercise, the Conceptual Plan Consultants will each present a master layout plan for the entire WKCD for public consultation. |
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| On M+ | ||||||||||
| 9. |
What is planned for M+? When will the Interim M+ begin operation? The M+ will be a new and forward-looking cultural institution focusing on 20th and 21st century visual culture with four initial broad groupings, including design, popular culture, moving image and visual art (including ink art). When the Authority's museum professionals assume office, the WKCDA's Museum Committee will develop concrete plans on interim activities for M+. It is anticipated at this stage that the Interim M+ will reach out to the community by organising activities in different areas of Hong Kong to promote the concept of M+ and visual arts. |
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| On the Appointment of the Conceptual Plan Consultants and the Project Consultant | ||||||||||
| 10. |
Who are the three Conceptual Plan Consultants and the Project Consultant that have been appointed to assist the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (the Authority) in the preparation of the Development Plan of the West Kowloon Cultural District? The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (the Authority) has appointed (in alphabetical order) Foster & Partners Ltd., Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and Rocco Design Architects Ltd. the Conceptual Plan Consultants. Mott MacDonald has been appointed the Project Consultant. Profiles of the four consultants (PDF) |
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| 11. |
What are the roles of the three Conceptual Plan Consultants and the Project Consultant? The role of the three Conceptual Plan Consultants is to prepare conceptual plan options for the Authority's consideration, while the Project Consultant is responsible for preparation of a detailed Development Plan for submission to the Town Planning Board, and detailed Schedules of Accommodation and Functional Briefs for the arts and cultural facilities in WKCD. After taking into account the public views collected during the Stage 1 Public Engagement (PE) Exercise, the three Conceptual Plan Consultants will each prepare a conceptual plan option. The three conceptual plan options will be put forth to the public during the Stage 2 PE to solicit public views. After considering the public views, the Authority will select one conceptual plan option as the foundation for preparing a detailed Development Plan by the Project Consultant. The conceptual plan consultant of the selected conceptual plan option will then fine-tune the option according to public views, which may include incorporation of features of the other two conceptual plan options that the public / stakeholders prefer. After fine-tuning the selected conceptual plan option, all the three Conceptual Plan Consultants' work will be finished. The Project Consultant will then prepare the detailed Development Plan on the basis of the selected and fine-tuned conceptual plan option, and the required technical assessments for submission to the Town Planning Board for consideration. After the Chief Executive in Council has approved the Development Plan under the Town Planning Ordinance, the work of the Development Plan will be completed. |
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| 12. |
Will the three Conceptual Plan Consultants be automatically selected as the architect responsible for the detailed design and construction of the WKCD facilities? The work of the three Conceptual Plan Consultants will be finished once the preferred Conceptual Plan Option has been selected, and fine-tuning of it taking into account the views collected in the Stage 2 Public Engagement has been completed. The three Conceptual Plan Consultants will not be automatically selected as the architect responsible for the detailed design and construction of the WKCD facilities. The WKCDA has decided that the design of the three iconic buildings (i.e. M+, the Xiqu Centre, and the Concert Hall/Chamber Music Hall) should go through a competitive process. Other standalone arts and cultural facilities and piazza in the WKCD should also go through a competitive process as far as possible, so as to obtain the best designs for the WKCD. This approach would allow more local and overseas architects to take part in WKCD development. Design competitions and/or tender exercises for the detailed design and construction of the facilities will be carried out when the Development Plan has been drawn up. |
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| 13. |
Why are two different kinds of consultants required in the current planning approach for the WKCD? Will their functions overlap? How will they coordinate with each other? The planning approach for the WKCD project is similar to that of common large-scale public works projects in the past. Both the Project Consultant and the Conceptual Plan Consultants have clearly defined functions. Each Conceptual Plan Consultant will formulate a Conceptual Plan Option, and one of them will fine-tune the Option selected by the Authority. Meanwhile, the Project Consultant has two major functions. Firstly, it is responsible for conducting detailed technical studies and preliminary engineering design for the fine-tuned Conceptual Plan Option with a view to developing it into a detailed Development Plan for consideration by the Town Planning Board. Secondly, it will prepare detailed Schedules of Accommodation and Functional Briefs for the arts and cultural facilities. Their work can facilitate the preparation of detailed designs and project estimates for the arts and cultural facilities in the future. The Authority will closely co-ordinate the work among the consultants to ensure the smooth progress of the project. |
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| 14. |
The consultant selection process seems to lack transparency? The Consultants were selected through an open and competitive process in two stages. The assessment criteria in both stages were posted on the Authority's website throughout the assessment period. The Authority received 40 express of interest submissions from local and overseas consultants after the Authority kicked start a global tendering exercises in November 2008 through both invitations and posting of the tender documents in the Authority's website at the same time. 16 Consultants – 12 for Conceptual Plan Consultancies and 4 for Project Consultancy were shortlisted in stage one assessment to submit technical and fee proposals. In stage two assessment, the Authority took into account the Consultants' proposed fees, and their technical merits, including their experience, creativity and innovative arts and cultural ideas, appreciation of the objectives, staff organisation and experience, methodology, and work programme. |
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| 15. |
Who were involved in assessing and making decisions on the Project Consultant and three Conceptual Plan Consultants? A 7-person assessment panel, comprising renowned personalities from the architectural, planning and engineering fields, was formed by the Board to assess the submissions from shortlisted consultancy firms. The Assessment Panel comprised the Chairman of the Development Committee as the Chairman, the Chairman of the Performing Arts Committee, the Chairman of the Museum Committee, three other members of the Development Committee (Prof David Lung Ping-yee, Mr Raymond Fung Wing-kee and Mr Lee Shing-see), and a chief engineer from the Civil Engineering and Development Department as members. The Assessment Panel then made recommendations to the Board on who should be appointed to undertake the Consultancies. |
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| 16. |
Given the fact that Norman Foster's first design for the WKCD with the much criticized giant canopy was scrapped, why has Foster + Partners been selected again? Isn't the Authority worried about a repeat of the episode? Will the Authority be throwing public monies into water for nothing? All consultants were judged on the merits of their ability to meet the assessment criteria and the consultancy brief. Foster's previous design was a totally different exercise which has been discontinued. |
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| 17. |
How will the Authority select one Conceptual Plan Option among the three? How will the views of the public be weighted? The Authority would consider different factors in selecting the preferred Option. Public views will be very important and the mechanism of selection would also be transparent. The Authority will further deliberate on the selection factors. |
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Only one Conceptual Plan Option would be selected. Would it render the work done by the other two Conceptual Plan Consultants redundant, with the cost of hiring them becoming wastage? The Authority will present all three Conceptual Plan Options to the public during the PE exercise. The Authority will select one preferred Option after listening to public views. The Authority will also consider whether or not to incorporate features of the other two Options preferred by the stakeholders, including the public and the arts and cultural and other relevant sectors. Therefore, the work done by the three Conceptual Plan Consultants is equally important. |
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Is engaging three consultancies for conceptual plan design a waste of public money? The WKCD is a mega project, starting from scratch. The three consultancies on conceptual plan will offer more choices to the public, and the Project Consultant will incorporate in their work comprehensive development elements, such as environment, traffic, planning, and sustainability impact assessments. The ideas proposed and materials prepared by the consultants will be put to good use during the development stage of the project. We are keen to engage the public, with different options, in selecting the eventual conceptual plan for the WKCD. |
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| 20. |
How much will each Consultant be paid for the consultancies ? Is it value-for-money ? The total fees for the Consultancies are about HK$230m. The fees for the Conceptual Plan Consultants are about HK$49m each, while the fee for the Project Consultant is about HK$84m. The expenditure can be met by the Authority's budget for project management which stands at HK$1,264 million It is very important that we should look for the best talents in the world to plan and design the district so as to meet the objective of building a world class arts and cultural hub. We want to put forward to the public 3 Conceptual Plan options that are innovative as well as viable technically and financially. The consultants are required to carry out preliminary assessments to ascertain the viability of their proposals. The fee for the Project Consultant is higher than that for the Conceptual Plan Consultant because the Project Consultant's work covers a wider scope and will last about three years:
The consultants were selected on open tender and on a fair and competitive basis. They have ample experience of working for projects of similar nature and scale across the world. We think it is a value-for-money investment. |
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