[2] The terminal has the capacity to berth two large 360-metre (1,180 ft) long vessels, which carry a total of 5,400 passengers and 1,200 crew, as well as anticipating the demands of cruise liners currently on the drawing board.

Selected through an open tender exercise, the successful bidder would have owned the 76,000 square metres (19 acres) of land for a 50-year period and form the site as well as design, build and operate the terminal.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government issued an open tender on 9 November 2007 for the development of the new cruise terminal.

The new cruise terminal is designed with about 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft) for a baggage handling area, a passenger waiting/queuing area, a customs, immigration and health quarantine area and accommodation for other government departments; a maximum of 50,000 square metres (540,000 sq ft) in the cruise terminal building was set aside for such purposes as hotels, retail space, convention halls, offices, shops and eating places; and at least 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft) for a landscaped deck.

[6][7] Subject to lawmakers' approval, the Government will re-tender the site by year's end, aiming to award the tender by the third quarter of 2009.

The Civil Engineering & Development Department awarded a $407 million contract for stage-one infrastructure works at the former Kai Tak Airport on 2 September 2009.

The contract comprises the construction of a 1.8 km (1.1 mi)-long two-lane road, associated drainage, sewerage and water works, and a fireboat berth and public landing steps.

The works will provide infrastructure to serve the early development of the southern part of the former runway area, which includes the first cruise terminal berth and a park.

The interior, which spans 70 metres (230 ft), can be converted into a venue for performances, events and exhibitions, supported by the terminal's restaurants and shops.

The sustainable design combines a number of energy-saving measures, and will generate power from renewable sources, as well as making use of recycled rain water for cooling.