Firstly, please let me wish you all the best in the Year of the Horse!

In future, besides visiting friends and relatives or going out to watch the Night Parade and firework show during the Chinese New Year holiday, you might think about taking a closer look at the remnants of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge, which was built in the 18th century and has witnessed many of Kowloon City District’s historical, social and economic changes.

In mid-January, we announced the results of the Design Ideas Competition for Preservation Corridor for Lung Tsun Stone Bridge Remnants, and presented awards to 10 outstanding designs. The competition received an overwhelming response, attracting more than 130 quality entries from different countries and places which will serve as valuable references for the detailed design and preservation of the remnants of this 140-year-old stone bridge. Some of the winning entries were submitted by local teams or participants, demonstrating that Hong Kong’s architecture and design industries have reached high international standards.

Originally some 200 metres in length, Lung Tsun Stone Bridge was built between 1873 and 1875 and served as the landing steps to the Kowloon City District, linking with the Kowloon Walled City at that time. However, it underwent several reconstructions to cater for the district’s development needs. In 1942, during the Japanese occupation in World War II, the bridge and the then Kowloon City Pier were buried. The site was later developed as part of the North Apron of the former Kai Tak Airport. It was not until the launch of the Kai Tak Development Plan in 2008 that the remnants of the bridge were unearthed again.

We understand that the community attaches great importance to the preservation and conservation of our historic heritage. Therefore, between 2010 and 2011, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) conducted two stages of public engagement exercise in collaboration with the Antiquities and Monuments Office and the Planning Department to solicit views from the public on the preservation and display of the bridge’s remnants. Additionally, we consulted the Antiquities Advisory Board, the Town Planning Board and the District Councils of Kowloon City and Wong Tai Sin. Having considered the views gathered, we designated  a 30-metre wide and 300-metre long preservation corridor as “open space” on t the Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan in 2012, so as to preserve the bridge’s remnants in situ for the enjoyment of the community.

Through the Design Ideas Competition mentioned above we received design concepts that respect the historical value of the bridge as well as featuring contemporary architectural elements, showcasing the corridor’s distinctive characteristics with good blending of old and new elements. The designs also had to provide ancillary facilities connecting with heritage features nearby, create an appropriate ambience and environment to tie in with the entire Kai Tak Development Plan, and set aside a comfortable open area for the community.

As mentioned above, the entries for the competition will serve as valuable reference materials. For example, a design idea titled “Broken Bridge Hidden Dragon”, which won first prize in the professional group, not only takes into account the heritage, social and cultural significance of the bridge’s remnants, but also provides a cost-effective architecture and landscape design that achieves balance and integration with the existing urban structure in the surroundings.

Moreover, since the preservation of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge remnants is inseparably linked with the historic Kowloon Walled City, another interesting recommendation is the provision of a pedestrian subway across Prince Edward Road East that runs along Shek Ku Lung Road Playground to connect the Preservation Corridor with Kowloon Walled City Park. The development site near the preservation corridor was also rezoned as Comprehensive Development Area so as to ensure that its development mix, scale, design and disposition can match with the corridor. In addition, there are many historic sites such as Sung Wong Toi Garden and Hoi Sham Park in the vicinity of Lung Tsun Stone Bridge. We will connect the preservation corridor and the open spaces in the Kai Tak Development  with these scenic spots for the public to visit and learn more about the history of Kowloon City.

The CEDD will hold roving exhibitions in Kowloon City, Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin from February 11 to March 2 to showcase the winning designs as well as many other competition entries. You are welcomed to visit the exhibition, and please find more details at www.ltsb-design.hk*.

*Remark: The website has been closed after the Competition completed.