The Government will invite tenders for the development of a new cruise terminal at Kai Tak starting tomorrow. The successful bidder is expected to design, build, operate, manage and maintain the new cruise terminal for 50 years and begin operating the first berth in February 2012.

The Tourism Commission today said the Government plans to close the tender on March 7, after the completion of relevant statutory processes under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance and Foreshore & Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance, and to award the tender in the second quarter of 2008.

Tenderers are expected to fulfil a minimum requirement of three years' immediate experience in operating a cruise terminal with a minimum annual throughput of 200,000 embarking and disembarking homeport passengers. 

Service agreement

The successful tenderer will be required to enter into a service agreement with the Government. The service agreement incorporates the successful tenderer's proposals and service pledges for the operation and management of the new cruise terminal. It will be co-terminous with the land lease.   

The Government will adopt a two-envelope tender approach, with 70% weighting to be given to the quality aspects and 30% to the premium aspects in assessing the bids.

The tender assessment panel, chaired by the Commissioner for Tourism and comprising representatives of the relevant Government bureaus and departments, will assess the bids' technical aspects as well as the operation and management aspects.

International experts appointed by the Tourism Commission and Civil Engineering & Development Department wil advise the panel on the bids. The experts will act as consultants and provide input on cruise terminal operation and engineering aspects. 

Expert advice available

The Legislative Council's Economic Development Panel Chairman Jeffrey Lam and Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau will serve as advisers to the panel on tourism and marketing aspects.

The Institute of Architects and Institution of Engineers are invited to each nominate a member to advise the panel on architectural and engineering aspects.  

More information will be uploaded onto the Lands Department's website tomorrow. The Tourism Commission will also launch a designated web page tomorrow.