Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Written by NGUON SOVAN
The Phnom Penh Post
Critics of the move say they are concerned over the fate of the historic building that currently houses the municipal government
IN a bid to alleviate chronic overcrowding at its current offices, City Hall will be relocated outside the capital to the Camko City mega-project site, Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong told the Post.
"Camko City has provided us with a free gift of the premises for City Hall in Camko City," Pa Socheatvong said, adding that he did not know when the move would be made.
"The current location of City Hall is small and cannot meet the expanded administrative needs of the city," Pa Socheatvong said. "We prefer the location we have been offered but we are asking for the approval of the government first."
City Hall is currently located in an orderly complex on Monivong Boulevard dominated by a historic colonial building.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay said he was concerned that the city would sell the complex once the move had been made, adding that the Camko location lacked infrastructure and was plagued by flooding and bad traffic.
"We thank Camko City for offering the City Hall building free of charge, but we appeal to City Hall not to sell the current location because the building is a heritage site," Son Chhay said.
Sung Bonna, president of Bonna Realty Group, said that the land of the current City Hall is worth about US$3,000 to $4,000 per square metre.
Kheng Ser, assistant to DK Kim, vice president of the Camko City project, said that the company will also build an administrative building for the municipal government.
"The construction of City Hall in the Camko site will start some time next year. We are now negotiating with the city to make sure what type of building style they want," Kheng Ser said.
Camko City is a $2 billion development that includes residential areas, shopping malls, hospitals, business facilities, sports facilities and schools.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHUN SOPHAL
IN a bid to alleviate chronic overcrowding at its current offices, City Hall will be relocated outside the capital to the Camko City mega-project site, Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong told the Post.
"Camko City has provided us with a free gift of the premises for City Hall in Camko City," Pa Socheatvong said, adding that he did not know when the move would be made.
"The current location of City Hall is small and cannot meet the expanded administrative needs of the city," Pa Socheatvong said. "We prefer the location we have been offered but we are asking for the approval of the government first."
City Hall is currently located in an orderly complex on Monivong Boulevard dominated by a historic colonial building.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay said he was concerned that the city would sell the complex once the move had been made, adding that the Camko location lacked infrastructure and was plagued by flooding and bad traffic.
"We thank Camko City for offering the City Hall building free of charge, but we appeal to City Hall not to sell the current location because the building is a heritage site," Son Chhay said.
Sung Bonna, president of Bonna Realty Group, said that the land of the current City Hall is worth about US$3,000 to $4,000 per square metre.
Kheng Ser, assistant to DK Kim, vice president of the Camko City project, said that the company will also build an administrative building for the municipal government.
"The construction of City Hall in the Camko site will start some time next year. We are now negotiating with the city to make sure what type of building style they want," Kheng Ser said.
Camko City is a $2 billion development that includes residential areas, shopping malls, hospitals, business facilities, sports facilities and schools.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHUN SOPHAL
14 comments:
I think that Cambo city is just a play thing for investors (www.cambohistory.blogspot.com)
Then sell out the current municipality premises?
What a clever deal!
Raja
If Camko offers a free office at Camco City that means the City Hall is already sold. Who are benefiting? Camco owners and some big big Excellencies. Who are fighting hard to take a long way to the New Office? Poor Staffs. That is why Mr. Kep who is always called Kep chop te dollar because he can convert Public properties to Private money.
Yeah a traditional trick - whatever they said is not something new. Someone would become rich soon noticeably.
Also in addition to that "investment strategy". If Camko can bring the city hall there then their project would boost and not just Camko in the game, some other developers such as the one called Grand City also funds the construction and the site because they are worrying about their projects amid world economic crisis. Bowl is for soup, case is for cash lol! Don't worry Mr. Somchai - traffic jam is a mist of issue, money is most important - All City Hall Staff can buy home there from selling the current city hall. Yo Yo Khmer Hip Hop... other wise go to work by chopper / helicopter.
NOTHING COMES FREE MAN!!!
These people would sell their own mothers, if they could. What value an historic site to them? Cambodian population is oppressed, but who cares and who dares to contest?
The current location of City Hall is very small for a city of uncountable deputy governors... so the idea of selling it is great! Win Win policy...
I think the city hall is not so small but it is small because lots of spaces are available for high rank officers in City Hall. Do you know that lots of places there you can't go inside. That is private.
If the high officers there play normal role as normal people like in overseas then that space is enough for a city with population 1-2 millions.
I think old city hall is big.
It sounds kind of fishy... these people are not to be trusted as they have sold their reputation many times over... Today Cambodia is ruled by ignorants.
It's all a ploy to share corruption money. They are lying and cheating Cambodian people...
By comparison, Phnom Penh City Hall and the land in its premise is about twice as big as the Washington DC's City Hall and bigger that most City Halls in many large cities in the US. The offer by Camko is just a gimic to boost their real estate business and businesses in general. The location of P.Penh City Hall sould not be moved, period.
It is not true that the PP city hall is bigger that the White House.
But yes, there is nothing come free.
The Krean company has already been trouble of not having enough money to pay the construction labour fee. And one of my friends who rented construction equipment to them has not yet received his payment for three months.
I think the city hall will eventually be sold if Hun Sen is willing to do so.
It has already been confirmed that the City Hall is sold out in a land-swap deal. The City Hall may be big enough for all administrative civil servants, but there are more important reasons for this win-win land-swap deal:
- The number of illustrious political City Hall leaders is increased exponentially in order to manage Phnom Penh properly.
- Each illustrious political City Hall leader needs a comfortable and large office space equipped with satellite TV, a king-size water-filled mattress bed bedroom (mistress always likes everything king-size both inside and outside of the pants), a Nintendo game set, a slot machine, a karaoke room, a jacuzzi bathroom, a small meeting room to count the donated money, a gym room, etc., so that he can concentrate on his important work for the nation. Two additional bodyguards are needed and posted outside the office door, and they also need an adjacent office.
- More illustrious political City Hall leaders mean more space is needed for a fleet of Lexus and Land Cruiser SUVs. Phnom Penh is always flooded during the rain season, so they need 4-wheel drive SUVs to get around town to important places, such as Soriya and Sovana shopping malls.
There are too many wonderful reasons for this win-win land-swap deal to list here, but the three reasons above should be enough to convince any critics opposing to this wonderful deal. Long live Dr. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Dechoy Euy Hun Sen and Dr. Kerp Eth Meta!
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