Lantau development is an important part of the long-term development strategy of Hong Kong. Among the development projects is the 150-hectare Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), which is adjacent to the Hong Kong International Airport and will serve as an important gateway connecting Hong Kong with the western Pearl River Delta (PRD) region and different parts of the world. To capitalise on the unique geographical advantages of the artificial island, we launched in July a two-month Stage 1 Community Engagement for the Planning, Engineering and Architectural Study for Topside Development at Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge – Feasibility Study, with a view to exploring with the public the planning and uses of developable land on the artificial island.

The prevailing global trend shows that some of the major transport hubs, such as airports or inter-city railway stations, are no longer limited to performing their transportation functions. They also serve as key convergence points for people and goods, and have comprehensive development with the land in their vicinity in order to unleash their potential as bridgehead economies. A bridgehead economy is one that makes good use of a strategic location as a bridgehead and harnesses its advantages in the flow of people, goods, capital and information to promote economic development. For example, Singapore has proposed the Jewel Changi Airport project in recent years to build upon the hub position of the airport and serve as a leisure and lifestyle destination. Apart from conventional retail, catering and hotel complexes, it will also feature an iconic greenhouse that will reinforce Singapore’s image as a garden city. In Japan, Grand Front Osaka located next to Osaka Station places an emphasis on technological innovation and provides intelligent entertainment, conference facilities, a convention centre and a multi-purpose theatre in order to promote knowledge exchange and innovation. In Frankfurt, Germany, the top of the InterCity Express high-speed train station is turned into the Squaire, which is focused on commercial development by offering state-of-the-art office, retail, catering, hotel and conference facilities, and has attracted many internationally renowned companies as tenants.

These overseas experiences of bridgehead economies are good examples for us. We launched the preliminary planning, engineering and architectural study for topside development at the HKBCF Island early this year. Preliminary analysis has shown that with the commissioning of the HZMB and the robust economic growth of the PRD region, the topside development at the HKBCF Island can help promote the flow of passengers and goods between Hong Kong and the PRD region, and has the potential to develop into a bridgehead economy. In addition, given our well-established advantages in tourism, retail, creative industries, MICE (meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions) and logistics, as well as business and professional services, we initially propose “The World Converging” as the theme for the topside development, and will consider providing various facilities to feature the three core elements as follows:

1. Experiencing Hong Kong and the world: Providing spaces and galleries for showcases, promotional events, retail, catering, leisure and entertainment to bring some of the cutting-edge features of the world to Hong Kong and showcase Hong Kong to the world at the same time. The facilities would mainly target both internationally renowned businesses and local start-ups, with a view to offering experiences on the latest technologies, innovation, lifestyle trends, design and craftsmanship.

2. Business launch pad: Providing offices, conference/multi-functional facilities, business hotels and more to promote the economic interactions in and business growth between Hong Kong and the PRD region, which would attract global and local firms wishing to expand into the Mainland and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Mainland firms seeking to expand abroad.

3. Logistics support: Taking advantage of the proximity to the airport and the cross-boundary strategic road link to develop high-value-added logistics services, such as providing security and special support services for valuable goods like art works, antiques, wine, pharmaceuticals and electronics.

These commercial developments and the related economic activities would create new employment opportunities for Hong Kong. While taking forward the topside development at the HKBCF Island, we will take into account other ongoing projects, such as the development of the North Commercial District on the airport island, the Tung Chung New Town Extension and the reclamation at Siu Ho Wan and Sunny Bay, and devise market positioning and strategies with due care in order to create synergy among them.

I invite all of you to give your views on the above ideas and land uses. For details, please visit the website of the Planning, Engineering and Architectural Study for Topside Development at Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge at (http://www.hzdemo.com2.hk/index.php?langset=_eng).