Grand Hall of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in July 2011Interior at Eastbound of Phase 2 of the Centre in October 2005Interior at Westbound of Phase 2 of the Centre in October 2005Interior of Phase 2 of the Centre in July 2011
The original building was built on reclaimed land off Gloucester Road in 1988. The glass curtain was the world's largest at the time, overlooking the Victoria Harbour on three sides.
The second phase of the centre, located on an artificial island, was constructed from 1994 to 1997, and features a bird-like rooftop (also referred to as a turtle by some critics[who?]). The project took only 48 months from reclamation to completion. The main constructor of the extension was a joint venture named Hip Hing Construction Co Ltd Dragages et Travaux Publics. Originally, Phase Two was connected to Phase One with an atrium link (a sky bridge), and to Convention Road with two road bridges, but now the two phases are connected by an expanded exhibition hall.[3]
HKCEC made a second expansion during 2006–2009. Upon completion, the HK$1.4 billion expansion added 19,400 square metres to the HKCEC, bringing the total exhibition space to nearly 83,000 square metres and total rentable function space to over 92,000 square metres.
Management
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NWS Holdings (新創建集團有限公司), is contracted by the HKTDC for the day-to-day management and operation of the HKCEC. The 850 member staff's responsibilities include administration, marketing, booking, scheduling, event co-ordination, maintenance, security and food and beverage operations. The latter including banqueting, and managing the centre's restaurants. The managing director of the company is Monica Lee-Müller.
2 convention halls: 5,699 m2; total seating for 6,100
2 theatres: 800 m2; total seating for 1,000
52 meeting rooms: 6,004 m2
Pre-function areas: 8,000 m2
7 restaurants: total seating for 1,870
Business centre: 150 m2
Carpark spaces parking: for 1,300 cars and 60 vans
Total available rental space: 92,061 m2
Capacity: 140,000 visitors per day
The HKCEC has facilities for video-conferencing, teleconferencing, satellite links, simultaneous interpretation in up to eight languages, audio-visual equipment, foyer registration space, and event signage.
The centre hosts more than 45 international trade fairs for buyers from more than 100 countries each year, including the world's largest leather fair and watch and clock fair. The regular international fairs for giftware, toys, fashion, jewellery, electronics and optical products are Asia's largest.
In addition, HKCEC hosts the annual film expo CineAsia where all major Hollywood studios present their upcoming productions to the Asian theatrical industry.
The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference took place at the HKCEC from 13–18 December 2005. The NGO Centre was located at "Phase I" of the centre. This is the first time a WTO Ministerial Conference and the NGO Centre was located under the same roof as the Conference proceedings.
Since 2013, a huge countdown clock was installed at facade of HKCEC to celebrate the New Year's Eve with fireworks and light show and was held ever since.
In May 2023, the HKCEC cancelled an event planned by pro-democracy singer Anthony Wong, after initially approving it.[4]
Access
Located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, the HKCEC is easily accessible via the Star Ferry service, whose Wan Chai Pier is situated just east of the main building and operates from the HKCEC across Victoria Harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui Pier, adjacent to the Cultural Centre.
During the Chinese campaign of the 2003 video game Command & Conquer: Generals, the player is ordered to destroy the HKCEC with military force after it falls under the control of a fictional terrorist group, the Global Liberation Army. The game series was banned in China.[5]
