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WTSDC Paper No. 20/2016 (22.3.2016)

Construction of New Inland Revenue Tower in

Kai Tak Development Area

Purpose

This paper invites the Wong Tai Sin District Council to give their views on

the Government’s proposal for constructing the new Inland Revenue Tower (IR Tower)

in the Kai Tak Development Area (KTDA).

Proposal

2. To take forward the Government’s policy of relocating government offices

out of high value areas (including central business districts), the Government is

planning to relocate the three government office buildings at the Wan Chai waterfront

(i.e. the Revenue Tower, the Immigration Tower and the Wanchai Tower) to release the

floor area concerned for commercial use, so as to increase the supply of Grade A office

space in the market. The new IR Tower will be built at Site 1D3 of KTDA for

reprovisioning the offices of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) currently

accommodated in the Revenue Tower in Wan Chai. The initiative will take forward

the above-mentioned proposal and is expected to promote the development of KTDA

and its neighbouring regions.

3. The site of the proposed building occupies an area of approximately 9 900

square metres on Prince Edward Road East, adjacent to the Trade and Industry Tower

(TI Tower). Please refer to the location plan at Annex I and the site layout plan at

Annex II.

Scope of the Works Project

4. The proposed new IR Tower will provide a net operating floor area of about

45 000 square metres. It will be designated as the departmental building of the IRD

for reprovisioning the offices accommodated in the existing Revenue Tower in Wan

Chai (including the Units for tax assessment and collection) and providing frontline

services relating to tax affairs:

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(i) Central Enquiry Counter – the counter services to be provided include

answering enquiries made by visitors, receiving letters and distributing

forms, hence sparing the referral to other IRD Units in attending to these

duties;

(ii) Stamp Office – the counter services to be provided include immediate

adjudication of whether stamp duty is required for the documents

concerned and assessment of the amount of stamp duty payable,

preliminary audits of complicated cases involving applications for

adjudication and applications for exemption of stamp duty, handling

stamp duty payments, stamping documents, and answering enquiries;

and

(iii) Business Registration Office – the counter services to be provided

include processing of applications for business registration, renewal of

business registration, change of business registration particulars,

handling requests for business registration documents, answering

enquiries and collection of business registration fees, levies and other

document fees.

5. The height of the new IR Tower will conform to the height restriction of not

exceeding 80 mPD as approved by the Town Planning Board in April 2015. The

actual height, the number of storeys and the floor area of the new IR Tower will be

subject to the final design. In addition, a wind corridor of 35 metres in width

(comprising a pedestrian street of 10 metres in width) will be provided between the new

IR Tower and the neighbouring TI Tower to increase visual permeability for the area as

well as to improve natural lighting, air ventilation and the streetscape for the pedestrians.

The project also includes the construction of a footbridge connecting the new IR

Tower and the first floor of TI Tower. The design of the new IR Tower will comply

with energy conservation policy of the Government and greening requirements which is

also in line with the “Green City” concept of the KTDA. Moreover, a preliminary

environmental review will be conducted for the project to prevent and reduce the impact

of noise, dust and air quality on nearby residents arising from the construction and

operation of the new IR Tower. We will discuss and collaborate with the Transport

Department to closely monitor the traffic condition in the local and adjacent areas and to

enhance relevant measures for coping with the transport demand which may be

generated by the new IR Tower upon its completion.

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Implementation Plan

6. The project will be delivered through a “design-and-build” contract. The

contractor will design and build the new IR Tower in accordance with the requirements

and specifications that are stated in the contract. We plan to commence the

pre-construction works and to invite for pre-qualification tenders of the

design-and-build contract in mid-2016. The funding application for the project is

anticipated to be submitted to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in early

2018. Subject to the approval of funding, the construction work is anticipated to

commence in the first half of 2018 for completion in 2022.

Advice sought

7. Members are invited to put forward their views on the planning of the new IR

Tower.

Inland Revenue Department Ref: HAD WTSDC 13-5/5/53 Pt.42

March 2016

Annex I: Location plan

Annex II: Site layout plan

Annex I

Annex II