The Jockey Club CPS Limited (JCCPS) today provided an update on the Central Police Station Revitalisation Project, as follows:
The Central Police Station Revitalisation Project is an important initiative to conserve and revitalise the heritage site comprising the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison for adaptive reuse. A partnership between The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Project aims to transform the historic site into a leading cultural destination where heritage, contemporary art and leisure elements are creatively integrated for all to enjoy.
Despite the very challenging site conditions, restoration works to the best international practice standards in heritage renovation is progressing on the 16 heritage buildings, with extensive works being undertaken on the roofs, facades and interiors. The target is to achieve substantial completion of the restoration works in phases in the last quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2016.
The foundation works for the two new low-rise buildings designed by the internationally acclaimed architects Herzog & de Meuron are completed and the superstructure work is progressing. These buildings will provide high quality cultural space as well as building systems that serve the whole site thereby reducing the amount of intervention in the heritage buildings.
Good progress is also being made on the selection of operators for 10 food and beverage outlets and an integrated cultural and leisure operator for the Central Magistracy. Selection for retail service providers will follow in 2015. These commercial operators will take up not more than 27% of floor space and will provide services to the visitors. JCCPS’s revenues from these activities will be used solely to support the sustainable operation of the Central Police Station Revitalisation Project. The operators are expected to undertake their fitting out and licensing procedures and commence operation in 2016.
JCCPS thanked the respondents of the Request for Proposals (RFP) exercise for operating the heritage and contemporary art element, for their efforts, ideas and suggestions. JCCPS and the selection committee would like to express their appreciation of the efforts and time spent by the eligible respondent in the selection process, its elaborate preparation and the commitment to the cultural development of Hong Kong. JCCPS also thanked members of an independent selection committee for contributing their expertise and time in the selection process for the heritage and contemporary art operator. The selection committee could not identify an integrated operator and recommended JCCPS to consider developing site operation by adopting an approach that includes the participation of various organisations in heritage and contemporary art programming. The objective is to build the capacity of the art and heritage communities in the next few years, with a view to enabling the project to have a sustainable heritage and contemporary art operation in the long term. Bernard Chan, Chairman of the independent selection committee, said, “The selection committee made its recommendation based on a fair and objective assessment of the strategies and plans for the heritage programming; strategies and plans for contemporary art programming; financial capacity, business viability and financial plans for the proposed programmes; and management capability and governance.”
In light of the selection committee’s recommendation and having considered resources and know-how accumulated over the past five years when carrying out the conservation works, JCCPS will take up the heritage interpretation programme of the project in consultation with advisors to be appointed. Heritage groups will also be involved in the heritage programme. “We endeavour to truly reflect the heritage value of the compound in this important revitalisation project,” said Euan Upston, Director of CPS, JCCPS.
Mr Upston said JCCPS would engage and consult the contemporary art community, including the cultural groups that have responded to the RFP, in the coming months with a view to developing a suitable model for providing the contemporary art programme for the scheduled site opening in 2016. “We look forward to beginning a dialogue with the contemporary art community on collaborative opportunities on the revitalisation project,” he said.
“JCCPS is fully committed to the revitalisation project and will continue to guide and fund its development with inclusive participation of the heritage and contemporary art communities,” Mr Upston added.
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The Central Police Station compound.
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