Interested parties are invited to submit expressions of interest in developing a new cruise terminal at locations other than the former Kai Tak airport, to speed up its construction. The deadline is December 31.

The Government hopes to determine whether there are other feasible locations that could accommodate earlier development of cruise terminal facilities, ideally before 2011.Since the project would involve precious land resources in Victoria Harbour, and substantial investment, the Administration wants to ensure the selected site is the best site available, and that it is acceptable from a town-planning point of view.

The Government has long considered the location at the end of the runway of the former Kai Tak Airport at South East Kowloon to be the ideal location for development of new cruise terminal facilities. Apart from its central location within Victoria Harbour, the site is technically feasible and has expansion capability. However, the Kai Tak Planning Review's timetable cannot fully meet the needs of developing the cruise industry.

 The Government's invitation document specifies that:

* the proposed location must be within Victoria Harbour;

* it must have a faster timetable for developing cruise terminal faculties than Kai Tak;

* it must be technically feasible;

* it must be capable of accommodating mega cruise ships; and

* the site has to be put to tender.

The Government will not consider any suggestions that do not meet all the requirements.

If no other sites are identified after this exercise, the Government will focus on developing a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak. If there are acceptable suggestions, the Government would follow the current planning procedures and conduct an in-depth review of the overall suitability of the proposed locations, and put the site to tender after public consultation.

Interested parties can download the invitation document from Tourism Commission website, or obtain copies from the Tourism Commission office at 2/F East Wing, Central Government Offices.

All submissions must arrive by December 31.