HKCEC expansion offers concert venue enhancements

(22 June 2009) The second expansion to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) opened in April has added several enhancements to the venue's Hall 5BC which is regularly used in an arena configuration for music concerts.

Capacity audiences for Eason Chan and Air Supply concerts on 11 June and 12 June respectively have proved the benefits of the enhancements through heightened efficiency and reduced time for ingress and egress to the Centre's concert hall.

The enhancement work includes additional concourse space and added escalators adjacent to Hall 5BC, which greatly improves crowd management, especially for patrons¡¦ egress following concerts. Also new are a green room and dressing room facilities along with additional back stage space for VIP receptions and media gatherings.

Roks Lam, President of Wolfman Jack Entertainment, the HKCEC's most active international organiser for music events said, "The enhancements to the HKCEC's arena configuration show HKCEC management's commitment to luring more quality artists to Hong Kong and the HKCEC. The improvements will assure the artists an even better experience and the word of these improvements will travel quickly through the industry. It is also wonderful that we have such a venue in the heart of Hong Kong and professional management to ensure a proper venue operation and dedicated customer services for the patrons."

The column-free Hall 5BC, with seating up to 8,000 and 3,200 seats on a retractable telescopic seating system, is fully-equipped with extra acoustical material for highest sound quality and multi-media communications links.

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The HKCEC is managed and operated by Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML), a private professional management company. The HML is a member of NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited (¡§NWS Holdings¡¨, Hong Kong stock code: 659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 17), embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports projects. Its Service & Rental division comprises Facilities Rental (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and ATL Logistics Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction and NWS Engineering), Financial Services (Taifook Securities and New World Insurance) and Other Services (New World First Bus, Citybus and New World First Ferry).