Site 3 of the New Central Harbourfront will be sold by open tender under a two-envelope approach, the Government announced today.

The site, Inland Lot No 9088, has a site area of about 47,967 sq m and is designated for non-industrial purposes, excluding residential, godown and petrol filling station uses.

The maximum gross floor area is 150,000 sq m, excluding public facilities and the government accommodation to be constructed or reprovisioned by the purchaser.

The purchaser will be required to provide within the lot public open space of not less than 25,000 sq m in total, a continuous landscaped deck spanning above Lung Wo Road and Yiu Sing Street, and a multi-level pedestrian connection linking up the hinterland of the core business district in Central with the harbourfront.

The public open space and pedestrian connection facilities will be open to the public round the clock and free of charge in the future.

Noting that the site is a sizeable premier commercial site in the core business district in Central coupled with a prime harbourfront location, the Development Bureau said the integrated development there will benefit Hong Kong both economically and socially.

The bureau said the Government hopes that the project can optimise development space by providing the maximum possible commercial floor space to address the city's strong demand for prime Grade A offices, while creating a world-class harbourfront with quality public open space and pedestrian-oriented connectivity.

It added that the Government’s vision is for the site to become a new landmark for Hong Kong, setting a benchmark for people-centric design with emphases on sustainable and urban design considerations as well as integration with the surroundings.

In this connection, the Government has decided to adopt a two-envelope tender process whereby tenderers' proposals will be evaluated on the bases of design merits and premium offers. The proposal achieving the best combination of both will win.

The assessment criteria have been grouped into six categories, namely overall design and development concept, setting a new benchmark for people-centric and sustainable design, quality of architectural and urban design, quality of landscaping and attractiveness of public open space, connectivity and walkability within and outside the site and composition of commercial uses and placement of government, institution and community uses.

The assessment criteria also reward proposals that can realise the Government’s vision and attach particular importance to aspects with strong public interest, including the quality of architectural and urban design, connectivity and walkability as well as greening and landscaping.

Since the announcement of Site 3’s disposal under the two-envelope approach in February, the Government has briefed the Harbourfront Commission, the Land & Development Advisory Committee, the Town Planning Board and representatives of five development-related professional organisations, and listened to their views.

In light of the complexity of the site and having regard to the views of the relevant sectors, the tender period will last for six months to allow sufficient time for tenderers and their teams to prepare design proposals.

The tender invitation will close on June 18, 2021.

In accordance with the regulation requirements, assessment will be carried out by a Tender Assessment Panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning & Lands), to safeguard the integrity of the procurement exercise.

Additionally, the Government has appointed eight experts from the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, planning, building surveying, urban design, place making, creation of public realms, social development and more as independent Technical Advisors to provide views on the assessment criteria and offer professional advice to the panel on the non-premium proposals received.

Click here for the land sale documents.

Apart from announcing the successful tenderer and its combined score, premium offer and details of the design proposal after completion of the tendering process, the Government will also disclose the combined scores, premium offers and the gist of design proposals of all unsuccessful tenderers to enhance transparency.

Additionally, the purchaser of the site is required to prepare a master layout plan in accordance with its non-premium proposal for approval by the Town Planning Board before commencing development.