Hong Kong SAR Government's Tamar complex will be one of the administration's greenest facilities when completed in 2011.

That was the message from Director of Administration Jennifer Mak who told the media the Government has issued a Letter of Acceptance to the Gammon-Hip Hing Joint Venture for the design-and-build contract of the Tamar Development Project.

Works will take 39 months and will provide Hong Kong with a new and iconic civic centre and greatly enhance connectivity to the harbourfront and surrounding areas.

She said:The contract covers the design and construction of the Central Government Complex, the Legislative Council Complex, an open space of not less than two hectares, two covered pedestrian footbridges and other ancillary facilities.

Environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient features include double-layer ventilated facades, green roofs, high energy-efficiency sea-water cooled chiller plants, rainwater recycling for irrigation, solar electricity panels, service-on-demand escalators, daylight sensor controls and computerised lighting controls.

The design also provides a landscaped green carpet open space for public enjoyment, which occupies half the Tamar area.

She added:We hope placing both the executive and legislative arms in the site will help enhance efficiency and exchange between the two parties.

A 3,000-strong workforce will be engaged at the peak of the project's construction period, helping ease unemployment in the construction sector and solve the acute shortage of office space faced by the Government and Legislative Council.

Liang Tao, CRI News, Hong Kong.