Ground breaking and launch of construction works for Kwun Tong Composite Development Project and Civil Service College
9.6.2022

The ground breaking ceremony of the Kwun Tong Composite Development Project and Civil Service College took place today (June 9) to mark the launch of the construction project. The ground breaking ceremony was also one of the events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the ground breaking ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, she said that Kwun Tong is an integral component of the Energizing Kowloon East initiative, which she put forward in 2011. The Kwun Tong Composite Development Project is a project reaching out to the community, and can fully complement the development of Kowloon East. She said she was pleased to see that the process starting from the early planning to the present ground breaking of the Kwun Tong Composite Development Project could be conducted within the current term of the Government. She also said that it had all along been her aspiration to build for Hong Kong a college that gives the civil service a sense of belonging. Speaking on the future development of the College, she said, "It is most important for the College to enhance, through its training programmes, the national identity of civil servants and their awareness of safeguarding national security, so as to strengthen their determination and toughness in delivering the pledge they made in their oath to uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China." The Kwun Tong Composite Development Project adopts the "single site, multiple uses" principle and mainly comprises a high block and a low block. The Project will provide a range of facilities jointly planned and taken forward by various bureaux and departments. The high block will provide the long-term accommodation for the Civil Service College and some civil service supporting facilities. The low block will provide accommodation for a range of community and welfare facilities, including the Shine Skills Centre (Kwun Tong) under the Vocational Training Council that will be reprovisioned in-situ, as well as other facilities such as a district health centre, a gerontechnology exhibition centre, a care professions training institute, and an art gallery for artists with disabilities. Apart from the two blocks of buildings, the Project will also provide landscaped covered walkways to strengthen walkability in the area and its connectivity with the surrounding areas. The existing bus and public light bus termini in the site will be reprovisioned in-situ to provide an indoor bus waiting area for the public. Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Chairman of the Civil Service Training Advisory Board, Dr Victor Fung; the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung; the Head of the Civil Service College (designate), Mr Kwok Yam-shu; the Director of Architectural Services, Ms Winnie Ho; the Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council, Mr Donald Tong; and the Chief Executive of Gammon Construction Limited, Mr Kevin O'Brien. Addressing the ceremony, Mr Nip said that the civil service is the backbone of the Government, playing a vital role in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems". Training is an important element in the management of the civil service. The Government established the Civil Service College in December last year to press ahead with various initiatives in stepping up training for civil servants. He emphasised, "Enhancing the understanding of the civil service on the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which includes understanding of the country's Constitution, the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the National Security Law, is the top priority of civil service training. In addition, civil servants should also grasp the social pulse more closely, enhance leadership and decision-making capabilities, and apply innovative thinking and methods in the delivery of public services for the benefit of the community." Mr Nip added, "The co-location of the Civil Service College and the welfare and community facilities in the same site symbolises the efforts of civil servants to reach out to the community and connect with people from all walks of life, so as to build a better future for the community and Hong Kong as a whole. I believe that this is also the aspiration of the community for the Government and the civil service." The Chief Executive proposed to establish the Civil Service College in the 2017 Policy Address, and announced in the 2018 Policy Address that a site in Kwun Tong had been identified for composite development, including the construction of the College. With the commencement of the construction works, the Kwun Tong Composite Development Project is expected to be completed in phases beginning from the end of 2026. Ends/Thursday, June 9, 2022 Issued at HKT 19:34 NNNN