CE inspects Kai Tak Development Area (with photos/video)
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Accompanied by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, Mrs Lam received briefings by colleagues from the Home Affairs Bureau and representatives of the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited on the works progress of the Kai Tak Sports Park. Mrs Lam noted that piling works of the project and the preliminary design have largely been completed, while superstructure works and the detailed design of the project are underway. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023. The Kai Tak Sports Park will include a world-class and all-weather venue accommodating 50 000 spectators for sports competitions and performances, a 10 000-seat indoor sports centre and a 5 000-seat public sports ground. There are also a harbourfront promenade, retail and dining facilities, diverse public spaces and more.
"Occupying an urban area of 28 hectares with a $31.9 billion construction cost, the Kai Tak Sports Park is a huge investment in sports infrastructure by the Government. It will significantly enhance sports development in Hong Kong upon completion. The performance of Hong Kong athletes in international competitions has been distinguished in recent years. They achieved the best results in Hong Kong's history at the Tokyo Olympics, which just concluded. I announced a host of measures days earlier, including the promotion of the sports industry on the basis of supporting elite sports, promoting sports in the community and maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events. The commissioning of the Kai Tak Sports Park will enable Hong Kong to host more international competitions, which will be conducive to the professionalisation of sports and the development of the sports industry," Mrs Lam said.
Next, Mrs Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, and the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Ricky Lau, visited the Kai Tak Sky Garden built at the former runway of Kai Tak. The Kai Tak Sky Garden has an approximate length of 1.4 kilometres and encapsulates the theme of aviation. It is the first sky garden built on noise barriers in Hong Kong, which is in line with the "single site, multiple use" concept and adds another new landmark to the Kai Tak Development Area. Mrs Lam also received a briefing from colleagues on the progress of the whole Kai Tak Development Area including the tourism node commercial project adjacent to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the Kai Tak Runway Park.
Mrs Lam, together with Mr Wong and the Director of Drainage Services, Ms Alice Pang, then inspected the Kai Tak River and received a briefing on how the improvement works have enhanced the drainage capacity of the river and the injection of greening and ecological elements into the waterway. The Drainage Services Department also makes use of technology to monitor the water level of the river and rainfall in the neighbouring areas to mitigate flooding risks to the roads in the vicinity. Mrs Lam noted that the residents nearby are pleased to see the transformation of the Kai Tak "smelly nullah" into the Kai Tak River, which has become a habitat and feeding site for birds.
"The Kai Tak Development is a mammoth plan with a mix of community, housing, commercial, tourism and infrastructure uses. The development blueprint of Kai Tak underwent rounds of public engagement and several amendments. The implementation work has also lasted for more than 10 years. I express my gratitude to various sectors in the community and the relevant departments for their hard work in participating in the construction of the Kai Tak Development Area. It will be a liveable place for over 130 000 residents and provides a quality working environment for the 110 000-strong workforce.
"The Kai Tak Development Area is also an important component of the Energizing Kowloon East Project announced by the Government in 2011. The project strives to transform Kowloon East into the second Central Business District in Hong Kong through boosting the old industrial areas in Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay via the new Kai Tak Development Area, combined with the revitalisation policy for industrial buildings and the "place making" approach. Currently, the existing supply of commercial gross floor area in Kowloon East has reached about 2.9 million sq m and another one million sq m has been granted the relevant permits or is under construction. In the long run, there is still quite a lot of development potential and will certainly enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international commercial hub," Mrs Lam said.
Ends/Friday, August 13, 2021
Issued at HKT 21:49
Issued at HKT 21:49
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