New complex of HKSAR govt embodies four themes

Vice-Premier Li has just officiated the opening ceremony of the new headquarter of HKSAR government on Aug 18. With the imminent relocation of the Legislative Council (LegCo) to the new LegCo Complex in Tamar, it is good time for us to understand more about this new landmark in Hong Kong. The project is composed of 3 principal facilities, i.e. the low block (Chief Executive's Office and Exco Chamber) and the high block of the Central Government Complex (CGC), the LegCo Complex, and a civic park. The design concept of the Development embodies four themes:

1. "Doors always open" – the open portal design of the whole development symbolises openness, transparency of governance and receptiveness to new ideas;

2. "Land always green" – an open lawn (Green Carpet) forming a central park area for public enjoyment;

3. "Sky will be blue" – commitment to environment-friendly and sustainable design to bring back the blue sky;

4. "People will be connected" – physically, the design enhances pedestrian access between the future waterfront promenade and Admiralty; symbolically, it expresses the gesture to unite the diverse functions of Government, signifying constructive dialogue between all parties.

Regarding the LegCo Complex, it consists of a low block and a high block. The former houses the LegCo Chamber, Ante-Chamber, conference rooms, and dining hall, whilst the latter accommodates Members' offices, the LegCo Secretariat and other ancillary facilities. In expectation for future expansion, areas are reserved for additional LegCo Secretariat staff and the Complex is designed to serve 120 LegCo Members.

The Chamber is designed as a timber-clad, glass-wrapped cone topped by a swirling light funnel. These features symbolise transparency, open-mindedness, diversity, democracy and creativity – core values that our society treasure. There are also other facilities like an expanded LegCo Library with a Constitutional Library, an additional LegCo Archives, a studio for sign language interpreters, a lily pond flanking the LegCo Dining Hall, a Sculpture Garden and a LegCo Garden.

The Government's commitment to making the Tamar Development Project green and sustainable is reflected by the sustainable design and the environmental and energy conservation measures adopted. The "Open Door" design of the CGC high block with principal north-south orientation optimises the harnessing of daylight and inter-block shading against sunlight for indoor spaces. The disposition of the buildings forms a major breezeway from the harbour to the inner city area to maintain good air ventilation.

The Tamar Project has incorporated a variety of environment-friendly features. These include thin film photovoltaic panels, light pipes, daylight sensor controls for lighting, computerised lighting controls, occupancy sensor controls, vertical planting walls, high energy efficient sea water cooled chiller plants, rainwater recycling systems, timber products from sustainable forest or plantation, etc. When completed, the Project is expected to achieve Platinum rating under the Hong Kong Building Environment Assessment Method and the Administration will conduct a carbon audit.

At the LegCo Complex, the foyer of the low block has adopted a double-layer façade design that generates air movement between the glass façades to provide natural ventilation and cooling effect to the building, and the roof is covered by a roof garden to reduce the overall heat absorption. The Chamber is topped by a natural light funnel that allows sunlight to enter the plenary hall through reflectors and diffusers from different angles to reduce energy consumption. Besides pleasing to the eyes, the lily pond outside the dining hall is a water feature to improve the micro-climate by producing the evaporation cooling effect. Furthermore, the high block adopts a curtain wall façade using insulated glass units with low emissivity coating and shading devices to reduce solar heat gain.

As a staunch supporter of universal design, I am glad to see that the revised requirements in the "Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008" set out by the Building (Planning) (Amendment) Regulation that came into effect in late 2008 have been adopted in Tamar. Major universal design items are incorporated to meet the community's expectations, such as the provision of improved disabled toilets and urinals, automatic doors, unobstructed space in doors to facilitate wheelchair accessibility, talking sign system, touch activated audio signs and Power Braille computer display units for the visually impaired, wireless microphone and earphone in some meeting rooms for wheelchair-bound people, and compliance with other non-layout design requirements in building service installation, signs, handrail, drop curb, raille and tactile, etc.

In keeping with the latest technological development, the LegCo Complex is serviced by very advanced electronic equipment and application systems. These enhanced equipment provisions include high-definition (HD) grade equipment for the TV Production System and the Press Conferencing System for the live broadcast and webcast of LegCo meetings, HD grade projectors, additional Electronic Voting Systems, etc. The redeveloped LegCo Events Scheduling System can meet the booking need of the expanded facilities and interface and integrate with various new LegCo applications, such as the Annunciator System and Electronic Display System for showing daily LegCo business in different locations of the Complex. There is a Digital Transcription System that provides an online solution for the verbatim transcription for Council meetings, with a data management function to merge all records together. The LegCo website will also be redeveloped to make it more secure and user-friendly, particularly in enhancing the search engine and optimising the legislative knowledge discovery.

The community is very concerned about public accessibility to the Tamar area. At present, the public can reach Tamar either by the elevated walkway across Harcourt Road at the north of Admiralty Centre, or the elevated walkway system linking CITIC Tower. I understand that the Administration is planning to set up more stops for different means of public transport nearby and we must not forget about the northern pedestrian approach when the waterfront promenade is completed.

I hope the community will understand we always need time to break in and adapt when we move to a new environment and I look forward to seeing what challenges and surprise lie ahead when we relocate to the LegCo Complex in the very near future.

The author is a Member (Architectural, Surveying and Planning Functional Constituency) of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR, an honorary professor of architecture at the University of Hong Kong, a professional architect, and past Vice-Chairman of the Town Planning Board.