Late last year, I talked about our vision and preparation work for the Kai Tak Fantasy (KTF) - International Ideas Competition on Urban Planning and Design. As the head juror, I, together with my fellow jurors, have been longing to see the entries submitted by professionals such as planners, urban designers, architects, engineers, surveyors and landscape architects all over the world.

There are two rounds of adjudication for the competition. We conducted the first round of adjudication meetings in April. When we first viewed the 80 creative and unique submissions in a conference room, we felt like we had opened a treasure trove of marvellous designs filled with imagination.

It was a challenge for the jurors from different sectors to shortlist four entries for the next round of the competition from the many excellent works. After listening to the Technical Committee’s assessment on the submissions, the jury carefully reviewed every one of them according to the adjudication criteria and technical specifications. After two consecutive days of in-depth deliberation, we reached a consensus and shortlisted four submissions for the next round.

Early this month, the Energizing Kowloon East Office announced the design proposals of the four shortlisted submissions, which can be viewed on our website and at roving exhibitions being staged across the territory. You are welcome to give us your views on the shortlisted works and your preferred planning and design ideas.

We have commissioned the Social Sciences Research Centre (SSRC) of the University of Hong Kong to collect public views submitted through the dedicated website or at the exhibition venues until August 5. Your views will be consolidated in the SSRC’s report for the jury’s consideration in the final round of adjudication. In other words, your views will serve as a valuable reference when we pick the winner.

You may be planning your summer holidays this year.  What counts as your ideal destination? We are organising a video contest entitled "A Place for You" at the same time. You may make reference to the planning designs of the four shortlisted submissions and show us your visions for KTF with sounds and images. The video contest has three divisions, with one open to all and the others for the tertiary and secondary students. Why not make use of the upcoming summer holidays to produce a video with your creativity and imagination and tell us how we could best use the space in KTF? Please submit your entries on or before September 8.

Our vision for KTF is to create a place for the enjoyment of the whole community. It will truly be a place for you all.