Henderson’s winning bid to run harbour event space could boost Central’s access

A winning bid involving Henderson Land Development to operate a major Hong Kong harbourfront event space has expanded the developer’s footprint in Central to three prime locations, a situation that experts have said could result in greater accessibility and more visitors from surrounding commercial properties. Central Grand, a 50:50 joint venture formed by Henderson and concert organiser YW Company – commonly known as “Yiu Wing” – recently won the tender to operate the 3.7-hectare (9.1 acres) Central Harbourfront Event Space for five years starting July 1. The developer already has a substantial footprint in the city’s core business district. In addition to managing the International Financial Centre (IFC), Henderson in 2021 secured the district’s last major plot – a site dubbed “land king” – to go on sale. The site is being developed into the Central Yards retail and office space, with the first phase expected to open in 2027 and the second to be completed in 2032. Yiu Wing, meanwhile, manages AXA Wonderland in the West Kowloon Cultural District and AXA Dreamland at Go Park Sai Sha in the New Territories. Discussing the tendering exercise for the Central Harbourfront Event Space, lawmaker and urban planner Andrew Lam Siu-lo said on Friday that he agreed that the new requirements for bidders would ensure near year-round access, adding that he considered the measures essential. “If this public area could be connected to the piers and the very important pedestrian footbridge network [among Central’s commercial buildings] … it will be beneficial to the public,” he told the South China Morning Post. Lam added that the bridges connecting the harbourfront and other tourist spots to the rest of the district were not only functional but could also serve as attractions in themselves. The lawmaker said the area was also served by multiple ferry routes and an MTR line, in addition to having ample space for visitor coaches to stop. The area could serve as a tourist hub, but it would need strong attractions at the event space to bring people there, he added. “It’s a public space after all,” he said, referring to the event space. “In the past, when no events were taking place, it became more of a place that sat idle than somewhere the public could enjoy.” Lam said he expected synergy and management efficiency as Henderson would be involved in overseeing the event space. But the lawmaker said he remained cautious as any benefits brought to the area would depend on the approach taken by the joint venture. “There is the flexibility [for synergy], but it’s down to operational details later on. [Central Yards] will need more time before it’s done … What would the conveniences be? No one knows yet,” he said. “We can see on paper as to what would be inside … a bridge that is accessible at all times, and it connects with public spaces. But in reality, how would they be perceived by the general public? That is a whole different matter,” he said. Ivan Ho Man-yiu, the Harbourfront Commission’s chairman, said he was looking forward to the joint venture running the space, given the potential of “the significant synergy”. He compared the relationship between the event space, the IFC and Central Yards to that of shopping centre K11 Musea and the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui. But he stressed the importance of making sure events held there were not too commercial and could be enjoyed by all. “The public’s enjoyment and engagement with the harbourfront are our priorities,” Ho said. Some clauses of the tender enable the tenant or the Development Bureau to intervene to prevent repeats of controversies such as the hot air balloon festival last September that failed to provide tethered rides as advertised. “We also require the tenants of the space to communicate regularly, and that they should consult the bureau and the commission on their yearly plans as to the kinds of activities and arrangements they plan to put on,” Ho said. Ho said that the creation of a new tender clause allowing the government to issue a fine if the number of event days held at the space fell short of commitments was due to the penalty never being clearly laid out in the past. “But based on past experience, [meeting the required number of event days] should not be difficult to achieve,” he said. In a statement on Thursday, the joint venture said that it would create synergies and showcase both sides of Victoria Harbour, and would submit detailed operational and execution plans to authorities. It pledged to open the entire public space on days when there were no commercial events taking place. The venture is also set to pay the government HK$1.51 million (US$192,780) in monthly rent.