LCQ20: Development of harbourfront of Kowloon City District
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Following is a concern by Dr the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 30):
Concern:
There are views that as the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill 2024 was gone by this Council in May this year, and the authorities have actually welcomed the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited to perform a research study to establish the waterside and previous pier websites to the south of Hung Hom Station into a brand-new harbourfront landmark with private yacht club, it is hoped that the harbourfront of Kowloon City District can understand connection through linking locations such as Whampoa, To Kwa Wan and Kai Tak, which the harbourfront zone can even be encompassed the harbourfront of Tsim Sha Tsui and Kwun Tong. This acts as an essential chance for the Government to establish a “Harbourfront for the People”At the exact same time, offered the conclusion of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the constant advancement of the runway location of Kai Tak, the harbourfront zone will draw in a great deal of members of the general public and travelers, and the need for supplementary transportation centers and connection centers in the surrounding locations will increase significantly. In this connection, will the Government notify this Council:
(1) of the particular proposition and schedule for attending to the existing disconnection issue in the harbourfront of Kowloon City District, consisting of the gas offtake station off Grand Waterfront, the area of the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park, and the personal area of the Green Island Cement Pier;
(2) how it examines the insufficiencies of the existing secondary transportation centers in Kai Tak location (particularly the runway location); of the strategies in location to enhance transportation connection in the location, consisting of waterborne transportation and land transportation, so regarding improve the availability of the location and manage the need developing from pedestrian circulation when mega occasions are occurring;
(3) how it will attend to insufficient connection in between old districts and the harbourfront; whether it will collaborate with the Urban Renewal Authority to improve the network of pedestrian systems in redevelopment jobs, so regarding boost connection in between old districts and the harbourfront;
(4) of the authorities’ initial concepts on optimising making use of water resources at the harbourfront of Kowloon City; whether the advancement of water sports centers will be thought about for supporting the building of the Kai Tak Sports Park and “Youth Post” hostel; and
(5) how it assesses the synergy in between the historic and cultural resources and harbourfront advancement in Kowloon City District; of the strategies in location to include the historic and cultural components of the district into harbourfront advancement?
Reply:
President,
The Government has actually been working carefully with the Harbourfront Commission to promote numerous efforts to boost the Victoria Harbourfront, with a view to producing a varied, lively, available and inclusive harbourfront area for the general public. Relating to the harbourfront advancement from Tsim Sha Tsui to Kai Tak that Dr the Hon Lee is interested in, out of the developable boardwalk of roughly 15 kilometres, almost 70 percent has actually been linked up until now, and around 85 percent is anticipated to be linked by the end of 2028. In addition, we will continue to enhance harbourfront centers in the district, such as the opening of the Hung Hom Urban Park (Phase 2) in mid-July, along with current proposition to make excellent usage of the structured system under the changed Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531) to perform little scale recovery beneath the waterside area of the Hung Hom Bypass when establishing the websites around Hung Hom Station and waterside locations, with a view to linking the Tsim Sha Tsui waterside boardwalk with the Hung Hom waterside boardwalk through building and construction of a brand-new boardwalk, and likewise enhancing the pedestrian connection in between the harbourfront and the inland locations for boosting the ease of access throughout areas.
In assessment with the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO), the reply to numerous parts of the concern is as follows:
(1) Regarding the 3 places pointed out by Dr the Hon Lee, the most recent views of the Development Bureau (DEVB) are as follows:
(i) for the waterside in the area of the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park: We think about that being among the only staying natural coastlines along the Victoria Harbour, the waterside area of Fishtail Rock ought to be maintained and there are no prepare for recovery at this phase. Presently, there is a pedestrian connection behind the Fishtail Rock linking to the boardwalk of the Hoi Sham Park Extension. We will continue to check out the alternatives and expediency for improving the existing pedestrian connection with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, with a view to additional enhancing the ease of access of the waterside in the area of the Fishtail Rock.
(ii) for the waterside gas center website off Grand Waterfront in To Kwa Wan: Currently, the gas offtake station and the jetty for transfer of naphtha, the raw product for production of gas, are still in operation. We have actually been communicating with the landowner to check out the possibility of supplying a path at its lot under the condition that the operation of the above centers would not be impacted. The Civil Engineering and Development Department is performing a quantitative threat evaluation on numerous pedestrian connection alternatives, with a target of conclusion within this year.
(iii) for the waterside location near the Green Island Cement Pier in Hung Hom: Connecting the worried waterside location is more complicated and needs more time to deal with than the other 2 places due to the reality that the lots therein are under numerous ownership with different owners, and particular parts of these lots have access to the sea according to the appropriate leases. The Government would at the minute check out non-reclamation choices to link the harbourfront location, consisting of the case where the worried owners mean to utilize the website for a function constant with the harbourfront advancement, the Government wants to check out practical services collaboratively with a view to accomplishing a great deal. Must the non-reclamation alternatives be shown not practical in the end, we will study the possibility of a boardwalk with little scale recovery.
We will continue to embrace the technique of “tackling the simple issues first before the difficult ones” to enhance availability of the 3 waterside places above, and will include them into the Study on East Kowloon Harbourfront Trail to be begun in the future, to analyze additional linking the appropriate harbourfront areas.
(2) The TLB has actually been co-ordinating with numerous public transportation operators to offer services in line with the total preparation and development of the conclusion of the numerous tasks along the Kowloon City harbourftont. The Kai Tak Development Area (KTDA) is now linked to the MTR network, and together with the primary roadways and linking roadways in its area (consisting of Prince Edward Road East, Shing Kai Road, Shing Fung Road, and so on) are presently served by over 50 franchised bus and green minibus (GMB) paths, making it hassle-free for citizens to take a trip to and from various districts on the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The Transport Department (TD) has actually likewise prepared to present 2 brand-new franchised bus paths, which will supply express service from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal through the Kai Tak Runway Area (KTRA) to Hung Hom/Tsim Sha Tsui direct and linking service to Sung Wong Toi Station and Kai Tak Station respectively. In addition, the TLB is executing the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak (the Project) in complete swing for linking the KTRA to the Kai Tak Station. It is targeted to welcome tender for the Project in the 2nd half of 2025 for granting the agreement in 2026. In regards to water transportation, presently the “North Point–Kwun Tong–Kai Tak” ferryboat path calls at the KTRA on weekends and public vacations.
To handle the need emerging from pedestrian circulation when mega occasions are happening in the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), the TD will keep close interaction with the KTSP, occasion organisers and public transportation operators to make advance preparations and plans in regards to transport management. Depending upon the scale of occasions and the requirements of the viewers, the Government and public transportation operators will reinforce rail services, present unique bus services (consisting of regional and cross-boundary services) and co-ordinate improved taxi services.
(3) The DEVB and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) have actually all along been keeping close interaction and co-ordination to enhance the pedestrian network in redevelopment tasks, assisting in people’ lives and benefiting the neighborhood. Relating To Kwa Wan, the URA commissioned experts in March this year to introduce the To Kwa Wan Harbourfront Study. Among the research study’s goals is to enhance the connection in between the inland location and the harbourfront, check out procedures to enhance the environment of old district and the roadway network through city renewal jobs, therefore boosting the connection and availability in between the To Kwa Wan old district and the harbourfront. The URA anticipated the expert group to send an initial research study report and expediency research study propositions in the 2nd half of this year. We will co-ordinate and sign up with forces with the URA on checking out methods to improve connection in between inland locations and the waterside.
(4) The Government has actually carried out different efforts to take advantage of harbourfront resources in the Kowloon City District and its nearby locations. Concerning the advancement of water sports centers, 3 water sports training centres at waterside websites around the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter (KTTS) have actually entered operation. Just recently, various organisations have actually arranged a range of regional and global water sports/recreational activities/training courses at the water bodies near KTTS, efficiently using the water bodies and boosting the vibrancy and beauty of the Kowloon East waterside.
In regard of making great usage of the water bodies, the Energizing Kowloon East Office under the DEVB and the Marine Department have actually collectively promoted the Guidelines for Co-using KTTS to promote water body co-use in between vessels and water leisure activities in the KTTS throughout non-typhoon days. The Marine Department has actually expanded the passage in KTTS along Kwun Tong Promenade from 50 m to about 100 m in 2018 to enable more area for water leisure activities. The Government will continue to keep close interaction with pertinent stakeholders, such as sports associations and the operator of the “Youth Post” in Kai Tak, to optimise making use of the surrounding Victoria Harbourfront and water resources.
(5) The Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots, led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, revealed 9 traveler hotspot jobs in May 2025, amongst which is “Featured community – In-depth travel in Kowloon City”Taking the “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” Motion Picture Set Exhibition as the beginning point, this task curates and promotes numerous distinct travel paths to improve travelers’ experience in Kowloon City District. Kowloon City District is a distinct area with multicultural background and the mix of old and brand-new components. The KCDO will take advantage of the historical and cultural resources in the district to develop thorough travel experiences that display the distinct character of Hong Kong. These travel paths will include different historic and cultural styles, such as the history of the Kowloon Walled City, Thai and Chiu Chow cultures, historical websites and the tradition of Kai Tak airport, and will motivate both travelers and the general public to check out various tourist attractions along the thematic paths, such as the Cattle Depot Artist Village and Hoi Sham Park, together with other historical and cultural tourist attractions surrounding to the harbourfront. With the progressive redevelopment of waterside websites in Kowloon City, consisting of the subsidised real estate jobs of the Hong Kong Housing Society and the metropolitan renewal efforts close by, more quality public areas will be attended to public pleasure. We will welcome the pertinent advancement bodies to actively think about integrating the historic and cultural components of the Kowloon City District into the harbourfront areas.