An opening ceremony for the "Central and Western District Promenade - Western Wholesale Food Market Section" was held at piers 1 to 4 and the promenade of the Western Wholesale Food Market Harbourfront today (April 28), marking the completion and commissioning of the first brand new construction project under the Signature Project Scheme (SPS).
      
     Under the SPS, a provision of $100 million has been earmarked for each district council to implement signature projects selected by the District Council, so as to better address local needs. Through bottom-up public participation, the Central and Western District's project has revitalised four idle piers and a waterfront section of the Western Wholesale Food Market into a public open space. Occupying an area of around 5 200 square metres, the 400-metre long promenade will be managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and open for the community round the clock.
      
     The project's completion marked the addition of a new landmark in the district as well as an important step in linking up the Central and Western District Promenade. With the completion of three works projects funded by the District Minor Works programme in the first quarter of 2019, a 1 350-meter-long promenade with an area of about 60 000 square meters will be open for public use.
      
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said she was happy to witness the emergence of a new landmark in the District. The project marked the synergy between the Harbourfront Commission's efforts in promoting harbourfront development and signature projects initiated by the district councils. The new promenade and pier park can provide a quality open space for the public.
      
     Mrs Lam added that she was glad to learn that the project had support from traders at Western Wholesale Food Market. The traders released the harbourfront area of the market, which was still in operation, for conversion to a promenade park. The project has provided an excellent platform to promote social innovation and youth participation in the district.
      
     As part of the opening, art workshops for families, singing and dancing performances by young people and dramas by elderly people were organised by district welfare organisations to meet the objective of promoting cross-sector participation under the SPS.
      
     Other officiating guests included the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Chairman of the Central and Western District Council (C&WDC), Mr Yip Wing-shing; the Director of Home Affairs, Miss Janice Tse; the Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs, Mr Ma Fung-kwok; the Under Secretary for Development, Mr Liu Chun-san; the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Dr Leung Siu-fai; the Director of Architectural Services, Mrs Sylvia Lam; the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Ida Lee; the Vice-Chairman of the C&WDC, Mr Chan Hok-fung; the Chairman of the Harbourfront Commission, Mr Nicholas Brooke; and the District Officer (Central and Western), Mrs Susanne Wong.

Ends/Saturday, April 28, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:08

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