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The environment of three footbridges in Causeway Bay has been greatly improved through the implementation of a beautification project under the Urban Minor Works (UMW) programme of the Home Affairs Department.
The beautified footbridges, each of them carries a special theme, are the Olympic Bridge at Leighton Road and Yee Wo Street, the Anecdotes Gallery at Sugar Street and Yee Wo Street, and the Calligraphy Gallery at Causeway Road and Shelter Street.
Improvement works were carried out by the Highways Department on behalf of the Wan Chai District Office in support of the District Council's "Hygiene, Healthy and Dynamic City" project.
Speaking at an opening ceremony for the footbridges this (June 22) morning, District Officer for Wan Chai, Miss Pauline Wong said the footbridge beautification project fully demonstrated the co-operative spirit of the local community, the Wan Chai District Council and Government departments.
She noted that various community sectors had proposed design concepts for the footbridges and provided the relevant literatures and old photographs required for the decoration of the pedestrian flyovers.
"The unique designs concept of the Olympic Bridge was suggested by students and teaching staff of St Paul's Convent School.
"It is hoped that the Olympic games colour scheme of the staircases, on which, the names and years of the countries hosting the Games were painted, would encourage people to pursue the "Faster, Higher, and Stronger" goals of the Olympic Games," Miss Wong said.
The idea of turning the once very ordinary bridge at Sugar Street and Yee Wo Street into an anecdote gallery was from a community body, the Urban Watch.
Most of the historical photographs engraved on the bronze plates displaying in the gallery are provided by the Hong Kong Museum of History.
Pedestrians using the bridge now might cherish the memory of the good old day of the Wan Chai district.
After the "face-lift", the footbridge at Causeway Road and Shelter Street is full of scent of cultural arts. Chinese calligraphy of different styles is displayed on its walls. Also on display are mottoes by famous persons of the world.
The beautification project for the three footbridges involved a total cost of about $2.5 million ($600,000 each for Olympic Bridge and Calligraphy Gallery, and $1.3 million for Anecdotes Gallery).
The Government would continue to cooperate with District Councils to improve the living environment of residents through the implementation of the UMW programme, the Assistant Director of Home Affairs, Mr Chris William said after the opening ceremony.
"The UMW programme is evidence of the Government's determination to improve the living environment in urban areas," he added.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Deputy Director of Highways, Mr Wong Chee-keung, and Chairlady of the Wan Chai District Council, Mrs Peggy Lam.
End/Saturday, June 22, 2002
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