Editorial | Tighter rules will help ensure Hong Kong’s harbourfront events dazzle
Stricter standards for Central Harbourfront Event Space tenants are meant to make sure the site is well utilised and events live up to expectations
The Development Bureau said on Monday that stricter standards had been put in place for an open tender that was under way until mid-February for a new tenant of the roughly 3.7-hectare (9.1-acre) site. The winning bid is to be chosen by April. Tighter rules are also in place for spaces at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and at The Pier, the former Hung Hom railway freight yard.
The fiasco inflated into a public relations mess that put a pin in the city’s events-hosting image. New tenancy agreements will help ensure operators are less passive landlords. Future tenants must vet the track record of event organisers and hold tripartite meetings with authorities to ensure required licences have been secured. The lease term has been extended from three to five years to encourage tenants seeking more long-term engagement.
To ensure the site is not underutilised, future tenants must also fill at least a third of its annual schedule with events for the public. If a third or more of the event space is unused or unrented for three consecutive days or more, it must be opened to the public for free.
The harbourfront should be a vibrant showcase of Hong Kong life. Its broad appeal to visitors and residents is why tenants remain interested in tapping into the local mega-event economy. Tougher standards will hopefully help ensure future shows dazzle rather than disappoint.