The tender closing date for the Tamar Development Project will be extended three weeks to February 16 in response to bidders' requests. The extension will not have any major impact on the project's overall programme.

The four prequalified tenderers were invited to submit bids for the project's design-and-build contract on September 29. The original tender closing date was January 26, but they have requested an extension to better prepare for the tender.

The Government has carefully considered the circumstances and decided to extend the tender period by three weeks.

The design-and-build contract is expected to run for 39 months. It remains the Government's target to award the contract in 2007.