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Victoria Harbour is widely recognised as the symbol of Hong Kong as well as a treasure that is one of a kind. The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Victoria Harbourfront development. Last week, I attended the celebration ceremony organised by the Harbourfront Commission (HC) in the East Coast Park Precinct, North Point. Since the establishment of the Harbour front Enhancement Committee in 2004 and the succession of the HC in 2010, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the HC have been committed to facilitating harbourfront development and improvement works on both sides of the harbour. This time, I have invited the incumbent and former Chairmen of the HC, and the Chairpersons of the various Task Forces under the HC to share the bits and pieces of their experience in developing the harbourfront and to give us a brief account of the latest harbourfront development.

Harbourfront enhancement work

Mr HO Man-yiu, Ivan, Chairman of the HC since July this year, and Mr NG Wing-shun, Vincent, former Chairman of the HC, say that the DEVB and the HC have been endeavouring to take forward harbourfront enhancement work and connect promenade sections on both sides of the harbour under the incremental approach, with a view to opening up more quality harbourfront sites for enjoyment by locals and tourists as early as possible. The harbourfront promenades are expected to be extended to 29 kilometres by the end of 2024, and they look forward to further extension to 34 kilometres in 2028.

Vision-driven open management approach

Mr Ivan HO explains that in addition to connecting the harbourfront promenades, the HC has also made attempts at new management and development modes for the harbourfront, taken forward different types of activities, and adopted water-friendly designs to bring the public closer to the water, thereby creating a more vibrant and attractive harbourfront and enriching the experience of locals and tourists. The harbourfront is a testing ground to explore different ways in realising the vision. Mr Ivan HO is pleased to see that “Harbourfront Shared Space”, which the DEVB and the HC have been actively developing in recent years, is gradually building up its brand. The “Harbourfront Shared Space” refers to a venue management approach which attempts to break through the existing regulatory framework by minimising restrictions or rules for visitors enjoying the harbourfront. Members of the public may engage in various activities at the harbourfront, such as jogging, sitting around, cycling, skateboarding or strolling with their pets. They can unleash their creativity as they harmoniously enjoy the harbourfront spaces according to their preferences and on the premise of mutual respect and acceptance. Following the opening of the first and well-received “Harbourfront Shared Space” on the Belcher Bay Promenade in Kennedy Town in 2020, we extended the mode of “Harbourfront Shared Space” to five other sites, namely the HarbourChill and the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct in Wan Chai, the Revitalised Typhoon Shelter Precinct in Causeway Bay, the East Coast Park Precinct in North Point and the Tsuen Wan Promenade. The first section of the East Coast Boardwalk under the Island Eastern Corridor will be substantially completed by the end of 2024 and opened in phases. Upon its full commissioning in 2025, a continuous harbourfront promenade of around 13 kilometres connecting Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan will then be available for public enjoyment. This new “Harbourfront Shared Space” will also mark the last piece of the jigsaw for connecting all promenade sections along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island.

Diverse development modes to suit local characteristics

The Chairlady of the Task Force on Harbourfront Developments in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, Professor LOO Pui-ying, Becky, says that the management and operation of harbourfront sites must suit local characteristics in light of the nature and features of the sites. In this connection, flexible and diverse management modes have all along been adopted at harbourfront sites along the Victoria Harbour, with the sites’ daily operation and management taken up by government departments, public organisations, non-profit-making organisations, private contractors and developers. For instance, the Avenue of Stars and Salisbury Garden, which are popular tourist attractions on the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront, are currently managed, operated and maintained by a non-profit-making organisation to provide a public open space combining arts, culture, tourism and leisure elements, while some harbourfront sites, such as the Hung Hom Urban Park and the Cheung Sha Wan Promenade, are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to provide the public with places to rest and relax. In addition, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel site in Central is operated by a private operator under a short-term tenancy, while the Quarryside in Quarry Bay is leased to a non-profit-making organisation for construction and operation under a short-term tenancy.

The Chairperson of the Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development, Sr LAM Ka-fai, Francis, remarks that the DEVB and the HC will leverage private development projects to create quality harbourfront spaces. Some of the harbourfront promenades are “Public Open Space in Private Development” (POSPD), that is, when the developers take forward their commercial projects, the Government will require the construction of promenades within their private harbourfront lots, and the completed promenades will be managed by the developers and opened for public enjoyment in accordance with the lease conditions. The section of harbourfront opposite the Kai Tak Sports Park Hotel Development is one of such examples. There is also a GreenWay within this section of the Kai Tak Development to provide shared space for pedestrians and cyclists. These public open spaces developed with the participation of the private sector can, on the one hand, complement community development and improve the living environment, and on the other hand, enhance the connectivity with the adjoining harbourfront areas.

Harbourfront development with public engagement

The Chairman of the Task Force on Water-land Interface and Harbourfront Activation, Mr LEUNG Kong-yui, says that it has long been the vision of the HC to bring the public to the harbourfront and engage the community in harbourfront development. By implementing water-friendly designs such as fence-free breakwaters and harbour steps, the DEVB and the HC have been enhancing water-land interfaces and promoting water-friendly culture and activities. To encourage community participation in harbourfront development, the DEVB and the HC organised the Victoria Harbour Word Art Competition in 2020. The winning entry “The Beacon of Hong Kong”, which was also the first large-scale word art installation designed under the theme of Victoria Harbour, has been displayed at the East Coast Park Precinct in North Point. As regards the East Vent Shaft of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass at the end of the breakwater at the East Coast Park Precinct, it was specially designed with the theme of “Flowing Sails” to be in harmony with the harbour vista and was the winning entry of an exterior design competition. It was sited away from the residential area as far as practical, taking into account the concerns of nearby residents.

Unlimited possibilities hidden in a vibrant harbourfront

The vibrant waterfront on both sides of Victoria Harbour offers unlimited possibilities. Mr Vincent NG points out that, with the progressive opening of more harbourfront sites in recent years, the HC hopes that each section of the harbourfront sites can stand out with their own characteristics. The HC has advocated the 3E Principle (i.e. Experiment, Engagement and Empowerment), which has realised not only the possibility of its collaboration with various non-governmental organisations and local artists, and by opening up harbourfront sites for use by different stakeholders, the harbourfront has become increasingly diversified, vibrant and special. A vast array of activities have been held on the harbourfront in recent years. For instance, the Harbour Chill Carnival, Night Vibes Hong Kong and the Double Ducks by Florentijn Hofman, as well as the first watershow at the harbour and various water activities, are examples where event planners are empowered to be creative in making good use of harbourfront sites, unleashing their potential.

Mr Ivan HO looks forward to better utilisation of the advantages of the Victoria Harbourfront for development at various fronts in the future. For example, the DEVB and the HC will gradually introduce commercial elements, such as food and beverages, entertainment and retail, at suitable locations in order to keep visitors on the harbourfront for a wider range of activities, making the Victoria Harbourfront a more comprehensive and attractive destination.

Introduction of the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill 2024 into the Legislative Council (LegCo)

The development of Victoria Harbourfront has made a smooth start, but there is still much work to be done. The DEVB has introduced the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill 2024 into the Legislative Council (LegCo), which seeks to establish mechanisms for maintaining the protection of Victoria Harbour while promoting harbourfront enhancement for public enjoyment and strengthening harbour functions. Subject to the enactment of the amendment bill, 14 categories of small-scale reclamations for harbour enhancement, such as the construction of piers and viewing decks, will benefit from the new streamlined mechanism, thereby facilitating harbourfront development in a reasonable manner.

Mr Ivan HO sees the amendment bill proposed by the DEVB as a timely response to the community's growing aspirations for harbourfront development. With the gradual connection of the harbourfront on both sides of Victoria Harbour under the incremental approach, it is an opportune juncture to step up efforts in enhancing the harbourfront. Mr HO also points out that the proposed amendments had been thoroughly discussed since last year, with the vast majority of HC members, including himself, being very supportive of it. They look forward to continue working closely with the Government to promptly take forward harbourfront enhancement projects under the new mechanism, so as to provide the public with water-friendly and diversified experiences in the harbourfront.

As the harbourfront development work is heading towards a new milestone, I would like to extend my gratitude, as the Secretary for Development and the Vice-Chairperson of the HC, to each and every one of those who have taken part in developing the Victoria Harbourfront. It is my belief that, with the concerted effort of the DEVB and the HC, as well as a creative mindset and through public engagement, we can continue to develop more accessible, vibrant and attractive harbourfront promenades, discovering all the possibilities hidden in our harbour.