Hong Kong’s mega SkyCity rides Greater Bay Area connectivity

Rendering of the 35ha entertainment hub connected to HKIA

As grand plans to develop Greater China’s Greater Bay Area get afoot, New World Development has been awarded the tender for SkyCity, a HK$20 billion (US$2.5 billion) project connected to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

A scheme by the Chinese government to link the cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing into an integrated economic and business hub, the Greater Bay Area stretches over 5.7 million ha.

Rendering of the 35ha entertainment hub connected to HKIA

The region covers economies that were worth nearly US$1.4 trillion in 2016, and has an estimated population of 66.7 million, placing it amongst the ranks of Greater Tokyo Bay Area, Greater New York Bay Area and San Francisco Bay Area, according to a statement from New World Development Company.

SkyCity is set to be the largest entertainment, dining and retail landmark of its kind in Hong Kong, which New World Development hopes would serve as a commercial-retail-entertainment hub for locals and visitors from the Greater Bay Area and abroad.

The project will introduce an array of international “technovation” brands to the city and region, including Hong Kong’s first indoor and outdoor go-kart track, AR and VR interactive game facilities and an “experiential zone” for kids.

Situated next to HKIA, SkyCity will take up a gross floor area of 35ha, comprising 19.5ha for dining and retail outlets and 5.3ha each for experience-based entertainment facilities and office space. The remaining floor area will be used for public facilities and carparks.

The project is expected to be completed in phases from 2023 to 2027, with New World Development responsible for design, development and management.

Apart from residents in the Greater Bay Area, the project is also targeting HKIA’s passenger base. Passenger traffic at HKIA, which amounted to 72.9 million passengers in 2017, is projected to rise to more than 100 million by 2030 with the completion of the Three Runway System.

SkyCity will also tap into the potential brought by the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which will greatly enhance the connectivity of HKIA with 10 other cities in the Greater Bay Area.

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