LCQ20: Development of harbourfront of Kowloon City District
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Question:
There are views that as the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by this Council in May this year, and the authorities have invited the Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited to conduct a study to develop the waterfront and former pier sites to the south of Hung Hom Station into a new harbourfront landmark with yacht club, it is hoped that the harbourfront of Kowloon City District can realise connectivity through linking up areas such as Whampoa, To Kwa Wan and Kai Tak, and that the harbourfront zone can even be extended to the harbourfront of Tsim Sha Tsui and Kwun Tong. This serves as an important opportunity for the Government to develop a "Harbourfront for the People". At the same time, given the completion of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the continuous development of the runway area of Kai Tak, the harbourfront zone will attract a large number of members of the public and tourists, and the demand for ancillary transport facilities and connection facilities in the surrounding areas will increase substantially. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the specific proposal and timetable for addressing the existing disconnection problem in the harbourfront of Kowloon City District, including the gas offtake station off Grand Waterfront, the vicinity of the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park, and the private section of the Green Island Cement Pier;
(2) how it evaluates the inadequacies of the existing ancillary transport facilities in Kai Tak area (especially the runway area); of the plans in place to improve transport connectivity in the area, including waterborne transport and land transport, so as to enhance the accessibility of the area and cope with the demand arising from pedestrian flow when mega events are taking place;
(3) how it will address inadequate connectivity between old districts and the harbourfront; whether it will coordinate with the Urban Renewal Authority to enhance the network of pedestrian systems in redevelopment projects, so as to enhance connectivity between old districts and the harbourfront;
(4) of the authorities' preliminary ideas on optimising the use of water resources at the harbourfront of Kowloon City; whether the development of water sports facilities will be considered for supporting the construction of the Kai Tak Sports Park and "Youth Post" hostel; and
(5) how it evaluates the synergy between the historical and cultural resources and harbourfront development in Kowloon City District; of the plans in place to incorporate the historical and cultural elements of the district into harbourfront development?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been working closely with the Harbourfront Commission to promote various initiatives to enhance the Victoria Harbourfront, with a view to creating a diversified, vibrant, accessible and inclusive harbourfront space for the public. Regarding the harbourfront development from Tsim Sha Tsui to Kai Tak that Dr the Hon Lee is concerned with, out of the developable promenade of approximately 15 kilometres, nearly 70 per cent has been connected so far, and around 85 per cent is expected to be connected by the end of 2028. In addition, we will continue to improve harbourfront facilities in the district, such as the opening of the Hung Hom Urban Park (Phase 2) in mid-July, as well as recent proposal to make good use of the streamlined mechanism under the amended Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531) to carry out small scale reclamation underneath the waterfront section of the Hung Hom Bypass when developing the sites around Hung Hom Station and waterfront areas, with a view to connecting the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade with the Hung Hom waterfront promenade through construction of a new boardwalk, and also strengthening the pedestrian connectivity between the harbourfront and the inland areas for enhancing the accessibility across regions.
In consultation 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 various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) Regarding the three locations mentioned by Dr the Hon Lee, the latest views of the Development Bureau (DEVB) are as follows:
(i) for the waterfront in the vicinity of the Fishtail Rock in Hoi Sham Park: We consider that being one of the only remaining natural shorelines along the Victoria Harbour, the waterfront section of Fishtail Rock should be retained and there are no plans for reclamation at this stage. Currently, there is a pedestrian connection behind the Fishtail Rock connecting to the promenade of the Hoi Sham Park Extension. We will continue to explore the options and feasibility for enhancing the existing pedestrian connection with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, with a view to further improving the accessibility of the waterfront in the vicinity of the Fishtail Rock.
(ii) for the waterfront gas facility site off Grand Waterfront in To Kwa Wan: Currently, the gas offtake station and the jetty for transfer of naphtha, the raw material for production of gas, are still in operation. We have been liaising with the landowner to explore the possibility of providing a pathway at its lot under the condition that the operation of the above facilities would not be affected. The Civil Engineering and Development Department is conducting a quantitative risk assessment on various pedestrian connection options, with a target of completion within this year.
(iii) for the waterfront area near the Green Island Cement Pier in Hung Hom: Connecting the concerned waterfront area is more complex and requires more time to tackle than the other two locations due to the fact that the lots therein are under multiple ownership with various owners, and certain parts of these lots have access to the sea according to the relevant leases. The Government would at the moment explore non-reclamation options to connect the harbourfront area, including the case where the concerned owners intend to use the site for a purpose consistent with the harbourfront development, the Government is willing to explore feasible solutions collaboratively with a view to achieving a win-win situation. However, should the non-reclamation options be proven not feasible in the end, we will study the possibility of a boardwalk with small scale reclamation.
We will continue to adopt the approach of "tackling the simple issues first before the difficult ones" to improve accessibility of the three waterfront locations above, and will incorporate them into the Study on East Kowloon Harbourfront Trail to be commenced in the near future, to examine further connecting the relevant harbourfront sections.
(2) The TLB has been co-ordinating with various public transport operators to provide services in line with the overall planning and progress of the completion of the various projects along the Kowloon City harbourftont. The Kai Tak Development Area (KTDA) is now connected to the MTR network, and together with the main roads and connecting roads in its vicinity (including Prince Edward Road East, Shing Kai Road, Shing Fung Road, etc.) are currently served by over 50 franchised bus and green minibus (GMB) routes, making it convenient for residents to travel to and from different districts on the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The Transport Department (TD) has also planned to introduce two new franchised bus routes, which will provide express service from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal via the Kai Tak Runway Area (KTRA) to Hung Hom/Tsim Sha Tsui direct and connecting service to Sung Wong Toi Station and Kai Tak Station respectively. In addition, the TLB is implementing the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in Kai Tak (the Project) in full swing for connecting the KTRA to the Kai Tak Station. It is targeted to invite tender for the Project in the second half of 2025 for awarding the contract in 2026. In terms of water transport, currently the "North Point–Kwun Tong–Kai Tak" ferry route calls at the KTRA on weekends and public holidays.
To cope with the demand arising from pedestrian flow when mega events are taking place in the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), the TD will maintain close communication with the KTSP, event organisers and public transport operators to make advance preparations and arrangements in terms of transportation management. Depending on the scale of events and the needs of the spectators, the Government and public transport operators will strengthen rail services, introduce special bus services (including local and cross-boundary services) and co-ordinate enhanced taxi services.
(3) The DEVB and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) have all along been maintaining close communication and co-ordination to strengthen the pedestrian network in redevelopment projects, facilitating citizens' daily lives and benefiting the community. Regarding To Kwa Wan, the URA commissioned consultants in March this year to launch the To Kwa Wan Harbourfront Study. One of the study's objectives is to strengthen the connection between the inland area and the harbourfront, explore measures to improve the environment of old district and the road network through urban renewal projects, thereby enhancing the connectivity and accessibility between the To Kwa Wan old district and the harbourfront. The URA expected the consultant team to submit a preliminary study report and feasibility study proposals in the second half of this year. We will co-ordinate and join forces with the URA on exploring ways to enhance connectivity between inland areas and the waterfront.
(4) The Government has undertaken various initiatives to leverage harbourfront resources in the Kowloon City District and its adjacent areas. Regarding the development of water sports facilities, three water sports training centres at waterfront sites around the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter (KTTS) have come into operation. Recently, different organisations have organised a variety of local and international water sports/recreational activities/training courses at the water bodies near KTTS, effectively utilising the water bodies and enhancing the vibrancy and attractiveness of the Kowloon East waterfront.
In respect of making good use of the water bodies, the Energizing Kowloon East Office under the DEVB and the Marine Department have jointly promulgated the Guidelines for Co-using KTTS to promote water body co-use between vessels and water recreational activities in the KTTS during non-typhoon days. Besides, the Marine Department has widened the passageway in KTTS along Kwun Tong Promenade from 50 m to about 100 m in 2018 to allow more space for water recreational activities. The Government will continue to maintain close communication with relevant stakeholders, such as sports associations and the operator of the "Youth Post" in Kai Tak, to optimise the use of the adjacent Victoria Harbourfront and water resources.
(5) The Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots, led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, announced nine tourist hotspot projects in May 2025, among which is "Featured community - In-depth travel in Kowloon City". Taking the "Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey" Movie Set Exhibition as the starting point, this project curates and promotes several unique travel routes to enhance tourists' experience in Kowloon City District. Kowloon City District is a distinctive neighbourhood with multicultural background and the blend of old and new elements. The KCDO will leverage the historic and cultural resources in the district to design in-depth travel experiences that showcase the unique character of Hong Kong. These travel routes will feature various historical and cultural themes, such as the history of the Kowloon Walled City, Thai and Chiu Chow cultures, historic sites and the legacy of Kai Tak airport, and will encourage both tourists and the public to explore different attractions along the thematic routes, such as the Cattle Depot Artist Village and Hoi Sham Park, along with other historic and cultural attractions adjacent to the harbourfront. With the progressive redevelopment of waterfront sites in Kowloon City, including the subsidised housing projects of the Hong Kong Housing Society and the urban renewal initiatives nearby, more quality public spaces will be provided for public enjoyment. We will invite the relevant development bodies to actively consider incorporating the historical and cultural elements of the Kowloon City District into the harbourfront spaces.
Ends/Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:15
Issued at HKT 18:15
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