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Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Propels Hong Kong into Asia’s Top Trade Fair Destination
Since its establishment in 1988, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has not only contributed to the founding of the expo industry in Hong Kong, it also fully illustrates the city’s endless potential for architectural design and construction management. Having completed two phases of expansion, HKCEC is now one of the landmarks in town and strengthens Hong Kong’s leading position as Asia’s convention and exhibition hub.
The HKCEC has contributed immensely to the establishment of the exhibition industry in Hong Kong alongside rapid local economic growth.
Summary
- The Hong Kong government foresaw the lack of trade fair and exhibition facilities when the economy began to take off, hence the decision to build HKCEC. Shortly after its establishment, the capacity of HKCEC was quickly filled up by numerous events and some of which were large-scale international exhibitions and promotional conventions. The HKCEC has not only contributed to the establishment of the new exhibition industry in Hong Kong, but has also significantly promoted the city’s tourism and retail ecology.
- The design of the HKCEC strikes a seamless balance between aesthetic and commercial functions.
- Phase One of the HKCEC has a total floor area of approximately 400,000 square metres, a quarter of which is attributed to exhibition facilities. As Hong Kong’s first integrated project of public-private partnership, the HKCEC launched its ground-breaking ceremony in 1986 and official opening in 1988.
- Phase Two took only 39 months from reclamation to completion – a perfect example of the superb efficiency of local construction industry.
- Despite the restriction of “no land, no reclamation”, the creative “flawless connection” conception of the atrium link extension was brought to life by Hong Kong’s outstanding architectural management and construction techniques.
According to the statistics provided by Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), the exhibition industry contributed HK$52.9 billion (US$6.8 billion) to Hong Kong's economy in 2014 (equivalent to 2.3% of Hong Kong’s GDP), up 29.6% from 2012. The exhibition industry's activities during 2014 were estimated to have provided an employment equivalent to 83,500 full-time jobs across a number of related industries, up 20% from 2012. According to 2015 Hong Kong Exhibition Survey by the HKECIA, the number of exhibiting companies in Hong Kong increased by 1.3% to reach 67,019 in 2015. The number of exhibition visitors grew 12.9% to more than two million.
HKTDC: Developing the Trade Fair Industry
Chan Kwok Fai, Head of HKCEC Affairs, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, considers the Hong Kong government’s green light to the construction of the HKCEC as a visionary decision. “When Hong Kong’s economy began to take off in the early 1980s, a lack of exhibition space for trade and promotion became evident. Therefore, the then government’s decision to build the HKECE was a rather wise move.”
Chan Kwok Fai, Head of HKCEC Affairs, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (middle) and Jocelyn Chung, Deputy Head, HKCEC Affairs, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, agree that the then government’s decision to build the HKCEC became the engine of the development of the new exhibition industry in Hong Kong.
The HKCEC is co-owned by the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Phase One was constructed according to the “Build, Operate, Transfer” construction management model. Private property developer New World Development Company Limited (NWD) was selected to finance the complex's construction after call for bids. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Management Limited (HML), a wholly owned subsidiary of NWD, was contracted for the management and operation of the HKCEC.
Jocelyn Chung, Deputy Head, HKCEC Affairs, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, addresses the concern for the utilisation rate of the two 8,900-square-metre exhibition halls established in 1988. “The fact is that the insufficient exhibition space in 1992 urgently cried for site expansion, hence the enactment of the second phase expansion in 1994.” In the same year, Hong Kong was selected to play host to the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund and the meeting was held at the HKCEC. It further reinforced the status of Hong Kong as a major international financial centre and the Asian capital of exhibition.
As Chan Kwok Fai describes, the exhibition industry of Hong Kong has developed and matured rapidly within the few years after the opening of the HKCEC. “The HKCEC, in its early days, mainly organised exhibitions of toys and fashion, before including gifts, jewelleries, watches and clocks.” In addition to product exhibitions, more and more service exhibitions and promotional campaigns, covering film and television, licensing and intellectual property, were introduced in recent years.” Chan Kwok Fai stresses that the exhibition industry of Hong Kong has become more international and some of exhibitions are the Asia’s, or even the world’s, largest.
Jocelyn Chung, Deputy Head, HKCEC Affairs, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, addresses the concern for the utilisation rate of the two 8,900-square-metre exhibition halls established in 1988. “The fact is that the insufficient exhibition space in 1992 urgently cried for site expansion, hence the enactment of the second phase expansion in 1994.” In the same year, Hong Kong was selected to play host to the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund and the meeting was held at the HKCEC. It further reinforced the status of Hong Kong as a major international financial centre and the Asian capital of exhibition.
As Chan Kwok Fai describes, the exhibition industry of Hong Kong has developed and matured rapidly within the few years after the opening of the HKCEC. “The HKCEC, in its early days, mainly organised exhibitions of toys and fashion, before including gifts, jewelleries, watches and clocks.” In addition to product exhibitions, more and more service exhibitions and promotional campaigns, covering film and television, licensing and intellectual property, were introduced in recent years.” Chan Kwok Fai stresses that the exhibition industry of Hong Kong has become more international and some of exhibitions are the Asia’s, or even the world’s, largest.
Phase One of the HKCEC was completed and ready for service in 1988.
DLN: Perfect balance between architectural aesthetics and functional operations
Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man Architects and Engineers (Hong Kong) Limited (DLN) was responsible for the design of Phase One. As the company’s Director, Cheung Kwong-wing recalls, the site selection of the Wan Chai North Reclamation Zone isolated the HKCEC from the old Wan Chai district. The separation, enabled by Gloucester Road, prevented Wan Chai North from fully developing into a vibrant business district. “The project therefore required independent operation and versatile ancillary facilities to complement and inspire synergy. It did not only have to serve the international commercial world, but also the needs of local community.”
Cheung Kwong-wing, Director of Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man Architects and Engineers (Hong Kong) Limited, regards the architectural design of the HKCEC as a perfect balance between fulfilling business and trading needs and taking care of aesthetic and communal expectations.
As Cheung Kwong-wing continues, the design of the HKCEC also includes an elevated walkway network of Wai Chai. The system connects the HKCEC to Central Plaza, Great Eagle Centre, Shui On Centre, Wan Chai North waterfront, Sun Hung Kai Centre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, and Wan Chai MTR station. It extends the old Wan Chai district to the HKCEC and facilitates better traffic through pedestrian and vehicle separation.
Cheung Kwong-wing notes that the convention centres of many countries are located far away from the city centre and face great operating difficulties because of limited ancillary facilities. Based on the concept of “a city within a city”, the design of the HKCEC Phase One aims to provide versatile convention and exhibition facilities, alongside two 5 stars hotels, a serviced apartment tower, and an office building. The all-round planning creates a successful synergy that brings about huge economic benefits. He further illustrates with examples, “The two hotels share their back-of-house departments, which include the loading dock, main kitchen, logistics management centre, staff canteen.” He emphasises, “The HKCEC is the world’s first project that coordinates various factors in its development model.” The enthusiastic reception of the completed project turns over a new leaf for the trade development of Hong Kong.”
In view of the sky-high rent prices in Hong Kong, Cheung Kwong-wing points to the need for the HKCEC to achieve trademark status and high efficiency. “It means that each and every inch of the space has to be fully utilised. The design consultant team has to communicate with different stakeholders and, in so doing, constantly refine the design.” For instance, the second to fourth floors of Phase One have been undergoing refurbishments – new meeting rooms are added because of popular demand and the largest theatre has eight simultaneous interpretation booths, a setup that marks one of the few first attempts in the history of Hong Kong construction.
In view of the sky-high rent prices in Hong Kong, Cheung Kwong-wing points to the need for the HKCEC to achieve trademark status and high efficiency. “It means that each and every inch of the space has to be fully utilised. The design consultant team has to communicate with different stakeholders and, in so doing, constantly refine the design.” For instance, the second to fourth floors of Phase One have been undergoing refurbishments – new meeting rooms are added because of popular demand and the largest theatre has eight simultaneous interpretation booths, a setup that marks one of the few first attempts in the history of Hong Kong construction.
Low frequency noises can be heard when a MTR train passes through. “Given the demanding noise control requirements, the theatres adopt the ‘box-in-box’ design. They are the first theatres in Hong Kong that adopt a design of such high standards.” Additionally, the top of the theatres is a garden and a swimming pool located 50 metres up from the ground. Because of its location in the huge aerial space of the atrium link roof, the swimming pool chooses a stainless steel tank over a concrete one for less weight and lower risks of leak.
Cheung Kwong-wing highlights that architectural design is a means and a process with the aim to realise the capacity of the architecture. “The HKCEC Phase One involves a complicated and intricate design. The successful implementation of the design does not only promote commercial trading and humanitarian culture, it also balances aesthetics with the mission to elevate urban development.”
Cheung Kwong-wing highlights that architectural design is a means and a process with the aim to realise the capacity of the architecture. “The HKCEC Phase One involves a complicated and intricate design. The successful implementation of the design does not only promote commercial trading and humanitarian culture, it also balances aesthetics with the mission to elevate urban development.”
Wong & Ouyang (HK): Hong Kong Building Techniques in Full Swing
Wong & Ouyang (Hong Kong) Limited took up the expansion of the second phase and the atrium link. The company’s Director Susan Leung, recalls the collaboration on the architectural design with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill from Chicago. The construction of Phase Two commenced in February 1994. The expansion involved the construction of an artificial island of 6.5 hectares in the Victoria Harbour and an elevated walkway of 90 metres over the sea to connect the two phases because the underground was reserved for railway. The iconic bird-like rooftop made of aluminium alloy is not only the architectural feature of Phase Two, but also one of the landmarks of Hong Kong.
Susan Leung (Left), Director of Wong & Ouyang (Hong Kong) Limited, regards the second phase expansion of the HKCEC as competing against time and the atrium link extension as Hong Kong building techniques in their full swing. Next to her is the company’s Director Margaret Wong.
She identifies time issue as the biggest challenge in the second phase expansion, because the project only took 39 months from reclamation to completion. She also helps clarify an urban myth, “Phase Two was allegedly said to be constructed for the handover celebration in 1997. The truth was, however, that the celebration was expected to take place at the Hong Kong Stadium in Happy Valley. Not until the end of 1996 did the Chinese organiser confirm the HKCEC Phase Two as the venue for the celebration.”
Susan Leung recalls, “Phase Two was scheduled to be completed in May or June, followed by additional six months of testing. It turned out we needed all hands on deck (around 3000 workers at its peak). Our electrical and mechanical team needed to work around the clock until the eve of the handover. The testing of the air conditioning system was yet to be completed and some water leaks were spotted because of the ongoing pouring rain.”
The podium of the Grand Hall features a pillarless design, an arc ceiling, and a 33-metre high glass wall. When guests from all over the world gathered at the podium, they were all in awe of the spectacular 180-degree night view of the Kowloon Peninsula across the enchanting Victoria Harbour. “They could clearly feel the pulse of Hong Kong – such vitality is not only one of a kind in Asia, but also in the whole world.”
Susan Leung recalls, “Phase Two was scheduled to be completed in May or June, followed by additional six months of testing. It turned out we needed all hands on deck (around 3000 workers at its peak). Our electrical and mechanical team needed to work around the clock until the eve of the handover. The testing of the air conditioning system was yet to be completed and some water leaks were spotted because of the ongoing pouring rain.”
The podium of the Grand Hall features a pillarless design, an arc ceiling, and a 33-metre high glass wall. When guests from all over the world gathered at the podium, they were all in awe of the spectacular 180-degree night view of the Kowloon Peninsula across the enchanting Victoria Harbour. “They could clearly feel the pulse of Hong Kong – such vitality is not only one of a kind in Asia, but also in the whole world.”
The second phase expansion took only 39 months from reclamation to completion
The demand for exhibition and convention continued to grow, hence another expansion of the HKCEC. Yet, the plan was held back because of the lack of suitable location nearby. Peter Woo, then Chairman of HKTDC, came up with an idea. His proposed sketches transformed the elevated walkway that connected the two phases into a three-storey exhibition hall.
Wong & Ouyang (HK) also took part in the atrium link extension. Permanent foundation works were not allowed because the “Protection of the Harbour Ordinance” protected the sea-bed of the expansion site from further construction and the land was reserved for the Shatin to Central Link and the potential Wan Chai Bypass. In other words, the aerial space was the only option for expansion. The company’s Director Margaret Wong, describes, “The steel frame of the roof was built before the three storeys were hung up and transferred separately to the site for assembling.”
Because of the pedestrian area in the west of the HKCEC, the steel platform could only be built on the east side. “The whole structure comprised 4 steel frames and the heaviest one was weighed 2,100 tons. We had to first hang the steel frames before moving them to their other side – just like assembling lego blocks.” She emphasises that there was only one chance to get the hanging and moving of the steel frames right – absolutely no room for error.
To ensure normal daily operation of the HKCEC during the construction period, two temporary walkways were built to replace the Atrium Link for the connection between Phase One and Phase Two. One of the skyways even struck right through the heart of the construction site. Margaret Wong continues to recall, “The construction was a battlefield but the temporary skyways just a stone’s throw away was nothing but calm because of the air conditioning and soundproofing facilities.”
Under the principle of “no land, no space, no reclamation”, the atrium link extension commenced in 2006 and completed in 2009. The expanded hall space is seamlessly connected to the Phase I and Phase II complexes and increases the exhibition area of the HKCEC by 42%. Susan Leung says, “The project fully realises the potential of Hong Kong building techniques.”
Wong & Ouyang (HK) also took part in the atrium link extension. Permanent foundation works were not allowed because the “Protection of the Harbour Ordinance” protected the sea-bed of the expansion site from further construction and the land was reserved for the Shatin to Central Link and the potential Wan Chai Bypass. In other words, the aerial space was the only option for expansion. The company’s Director Margaret Wong, describes, “The steel frame of the roof was built before the three storeys were hung up and transferred separately to the site for assembling.”
Because of the pedestrian area in the west of the HKCEC, the steel platform could only be built on the east side. “The whole structure comprised 4 steel frames and the heaviest one was weighed 2,100 tons. We had to first hang the steel frames before moving them to their other side – just like assembling lego blocks.” She emphasises that there was only one chance to get the hanging and moving of the steel frames right – absolutely no room for error.
To ensure normal daily operation of the HKCEC during the construction period, two temporary walkways were built to replace the Atrium Link for the connection between Phase One and Phase Two. One of the skyways even struck right through the heart of the construction site. Margaret Wong continues to recall, “The construction was a battlefield but the temporary skyways just a stone’s throw away was nothing but calm because of the air conditioning and soundproofing facilities.”
Under the principle of “no land, no space, no reclamation”, the atrium link extension commenced in 2006 and completed in 2009. The expanded hall space is seamlessly connected to the Phase I and Phase II complexes and increases the exhibition area of the HKCEC by 42%. Susan Leung says, “The project fully realises the potential of Hong Kong building techniques.”
Brief Overview
| Construction and Expansion | Construction costs | |
| Phase One | Commenced in 1995; completed in 1989 (all facilities) | 1.6 billion (premium not included) |
| Phase Two | Commenced in 1994; completed in 1997 | 4.8 billion |
| Atrium Link | Commenced in 2006; completed in 2009 | 1.4 billion |
| Total available exhibition rental space | 91,500 sqm | |
| Facilities |
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