About half of the Tamar site, measuring two hectares, has been designated for open space, which will be developed into a Civic Place for the public's recreational use, the Constitutional Affairs Bureau says.

In response to remarks made by legislator Kwok Ka-ki on the Tamar development project in the Letter to Hong Kong broadcast on RTHK today, the bureau said the development project is not solely for a new central Government complex. 

The remaining half of the site will be for construction of a new Legislative Council complex, in addition to the new central Government complex, it said.

The Government conducted assessments of the traffic impact of the Tamar development project in 2002 and 2005. According to the Transport Department's latest figures in September, the traffic flow generated from the project in the operation stage is estimated to be insignificant, and will not cause adverse impacts on the traffic flow of the central business district.

Subject to the funding approval of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee, the Tamar development project will start in 2007 and be ready in 2010 at the earliest. There is considerable time before the relocation of the existing Government headquarters. 

HK's iconic prime civic core

At present, the Central Government Offices and Murray Building sites are zoned for "Government, Institution or Community" use. The established statutory procedures, including the necessary public consultation process instituted under the Town Planning Ordinance, will be followed in case of any change.

The Government proposes to implement the Tamar development project with a 'design-and-build' approach. The tenderers are required to propose design schemes that can blend in with the urban context of the Central District, as well as the natural environment of the waterfront setting. The ultimate goal is to develop the Tamar site into an iconic prime civic core of Hong Kong.