A spokesman of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said here Thursday that an exhibition would be held beginning March 28 to enable the public to look at the design proposals submitted by four tenderers for the Tamar Development Project.

The exhibition, scheduled from March 28 to May 27, 2007, will display the physical models of the tenderers' designs, as well as presentation drawings and videos highlighting their design philosophy and key features, the spokesman said.

The spokesman described the exhibition as an "unprecedented arrangement," in light of the uniqueness and significance of the Tamar Development Project, which will cost taxpayers about 667 million U.S. dollars.

The Legislative Council of HKSAR approved the 5.2 billion-HK dollar (667 million U.S. dollars) funding for the development of a new government office complex at Tamar site last June.

"The government is still working on the tender assessment," the spokesman said, adding the final outcome is subject to the determination of the Special Selection Board for the Tamar Development Project.

The spokesman said the Special Selection Board for the Tamar Development Project, chaired by Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui, will be the sole authority for assessing the tenders and deciding on the contract award.

"The board will assess the tender submissions against a comprehensive list of criteria set out in the tender document," he said.

He said an independent consultant, the Public Policy Research Institute of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, had been engaged by the government to collate and analyze all the public views collected at the exhibition.

"The consultant will submit a report on its findings to the board, which will take these views into account when assessing the design and aesthetic aspects of the tenders before the final selection," he added.

The contract for the project is expected to be awarded later this year, the spokesman said, adding that the project was targeted to be completed around the end of 2010, providing accommodation and facilities for more than 3,000 employees from the government and the Legislative Council.

(Source: Xinhua English)