Orchard Parade Holdings Limited (OPHL) and the port authority of the Xiamen Municipal Government, Xiamen Harbour Group Co Ltd, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 25 February 2004 to explore the joint development of an international passenger terminal in Xiamen city, China.

The Xiamen Harbour International Tourist / Passenger Terminal Wharf is to be built on a 42.5 hectare site in Xiamen Harbour East. It will have berths for ships of various tonnage, international liners, and small passenger steamers. There will also be a passenger service centre with a luxurious hotel, shopping malls and duty-free shops, and residential apartments.

Mr Lin Shouzhang, Vice Secretary General of the Xiamen People’s Municipal Government, signing the MOU on behalf of the Xiamen Harbour Group Co Ltd, said, “The Xiamen Harbour International Tourist / Passenger Terminal Wharf will play a key role in the development of Xiamen city into a major trading, tourism, shipping and logistics centre in Southeast China. Orchard Parade Holdings and Far East Organization’s extensive experience in real estate development and hotel management both in Singapore and Hong Kong will bring useful synergy to this exciting project.”

“Xiamen, one of China’s first four Special Economic Zones, is a key economic powerhouse. Home to one of the top 10 seaports and airports in China, and one of the top 40 container ports in the world, Xiamen is an important gateway to the vast, fast growing and vibrant China market, as well as a vital linkage between China and the rest of the world. We are pleased to work with Xiamen Harbour Group Co Ltd in exploring this groundbreaking project which will bring together the collective experience and expertise of Far East Organization and Sino Group,” said Mr Wee Kheng Jin, Executive Director, Orchard Parade Holdings Limited.

Far East Organization’s sister company, Sino Group, has successfully developed various similar large-scale integrated developments in Hong Kong, such as the China Hong Kong City and Hong Kong Gold Coast.