Transformation of Former Police Married Quarters into "PMQ" (with photos/video)
The Development Bureau today (November 15) announced that the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road would be transformed into a creative industries landmark named "PMQ" by the Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation Limited (Musketeers Foundation), with the support of Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Vocational Training Council's Hong Kong Design Institute.
The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings, Mr Bernard Chan, held a press conference today to announce the selection result of the invitation for proposals exercise for transforming the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road into a creative industries landmark.
Mrs Carrie Lam said that the PMQ project was a very thorough and comprehensive proposal, and would best fulfil the three objectives of the scheme, namely promotion of creative industries, heritage conservation and the provision of local open space.
PMQ will provide studios for retailing creative products, an indoor multi-function activity hall, outdoor open space for creative activities, a creative resources centre, rooms for artists-in-residence, an interpretation area displaying the remains of the former Central School, a landscaped open area and other ancillary commercial facilities such as food and beverage outlets.
Mrs Lam said, "With the completion of the selection process, the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road, together with the contemporary arts centre to be taken forward by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the Central Police Station Compound and the Central Oasis to be created by the Urban Renewal Authority at Central Market, an 'area' is gradually being formed under the approach of 'spot', 'line' and 'area' for heritage conservation. Several years from now, Central will not only be the financial centre of Hong Kong, but also become a great place for public enjoyment."
She also said that the Government had reserved about $420 million under the Public Works Programme for primary renovation of the project by the Government. The Musketeers Foundation would bear the costs incurred beyond the Government's works, as well as the costs for interior decoration and daily operation of the creative landmark.
The project will create about 280 jobs during the construction period and about 130 full-time and part-time jobs upon commissioning. About 630 further jobs will be provided by future tenants of the studios. Renovation work is expected to commence in 2012 and to be completed in 2014 for operation in the same year.
The applications were assessed by the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings together with four experts from creative industries. The committee scrutinised the applications in accordance with a marking scheme comprising the following four criteria:
(a) reflection of historical value and technical aspects;
(b) creative industries value, social value and social enterprise operation;
(c) financial viability; and
(d) management capability and other considerations.
The committee chairman, Mr Bernard Chan, said that the committee had visited a number of sites that had been revitalised for creative industries in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong before vetting the applications.
Mr Chan said, "The proposal submitted by the selected applicant is comprehensive. It can best meet the requirements stated in the invitation for proposals. It also has the most potential for transforming the site into a creative industries landmark."
Also attending the press conference were the Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology), Mr Alan Siu, and the Chief Architect of Architectural Services Department, Mr Li Ho-kin.
Mr Alan Siu said that creative industry was one of the six new economic areas the Government sought to drive forward. Developing creative clusters in the community and turning them into focal points for creative activities was one of the development strategies for driving the industries.
"PMQ will provide an all-round platform where different creative establishments can carry out their creative works, display and sell their works, and organise events to attract visitors and develop a creative atmosphere in the community," he said.
The transformation of the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road is one of the eight projects under the "Conserving Central" initiative announced by the Chief Executive in his 2009-10 Policy Address.
The Development Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Architectural Services Department will work closely with the Musketeers Foundation and the local creative industries sector to implement the project and provide necessary assistance to the Musketeers Foundation in complying with the various administrative and statutory procedures.
Details of the project can be found at the heritage conservation website (http://www.heritage.gov.hk/).
Ends/Monday, November 15, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:10
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