Wikipedia

Kwun Tong Promenade

Kwun Tong Promenade is an urban waterfront park in Kwun Tong, New Kowloon, Hong Kong.[1] The first and second stages of the promenade, opened in 2010 and 2015 respectively, comprise the first open space project of the Kai Tak Development. The promenade is about one kilometre in length.[2][3] It overlooks the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter and sits beneath the Kwun Tong Bypass.

Kwun Tong Promenade
觀塘海濱花園
Map
LocationKwun Tong, Kowloon
Area4.2 hectares
Opened16 January 2010; 14 years ago (2010-01-16) (Phase I)
27 May 2015; 9 years ago (2015-05-27) (Phase II)
Operated byLeisure and Cultural Services Department
OpenYear round
Public transit accessKwun Tong Ferry Pier
Kwun Tong Promenade
Traditional Chinese觀塘海濱花園
Simplified Chinese观塘海滨花园
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuàntáng Hǎibīn Huā​yuán
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggun1 tong4 hoi2 ban1 faa1 jyun4*2

History

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The site of the promenade was formerly occupied by the Kwun Tong Public Cargo Working Area, which was home to many waste paper recycling businesses.[4] The cargo area was reduced in size in 2009 to make way for the first phase of the promenade, a 200-metre long section near the ferry piers.[5] This section opened to the public on 16 January 2010.[4][6][7]

The existing Hoi Bun Road Sitting-out Area, south of the Kwun Tong Promenade, was built by the Urban Council in 1982.[8] After the new promenade opened in 2010, this existing sitting-out area was reconstructed to adopt the same architectural style. In addition, a dry weather flow interceptor (DWFI) belonging to the Drainage Services Department was demolished and moved underground. This was completed in December 2013.[9] The DWFI would have otherwise served as a barrier between the Kwun Tong Promenade and the Hoi Bun Road Sitting-out Area. The reconstruction of the sitting-out area was completed in 2014, effectively extending the promenade about 80 metres southward.[10][9]

The waste paper recyclers in Kwun Tong protested the closure of the public cargo working area. The government responded that there was adequate space at other cargo areas in Tuen Mun, Rambler Channel, and Chai Wan and encouraged them to relocate.[11] The public cargo working area was fully decommissioned in December 2011.[4] The promenade was subsequently extended by 750 metres to the north, to a total length of about one kilometre.[4] This second stage opened on 27 May 2015.[12]

Musical fountain

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A musical fountain opened on 22 April 2021. It was built under the Signature Project Scheme, under which the Hong Kong government provided grants for the implementation of projects recommended by district councils. The musical fountain was proposed by the fourth term of the Kwun Tong District Council.[13] It was endorsed by the council in 2015.[14]

The HK$50-million cost of the fountain was widely criticised, and the project was called a "white elephant" by some residents and district councillors.[14][15] A poll by the pro-Beijing political party DAB reported that 85 per cent of residents supported the project, while a 2015 poll by the Kowloon East Community Concern Group reported the opposite result, finding that 85 per cent of respondents opposed it. The government cited the DAB poll in seeking the project's approval from the Legislative Council (LegCo).[14] Funding for the project was approved by LegCo in November 2018.[16]

The 2019 district council elections, which took place against the backdrop of the 2019–20 pro-democracy protests, saw the pro-democracy camp take control of 17 of the 18 councils, including Kwun Tong District Council. During its first meeting, the council passed a motion calling on the government to halt the project.[17] The government's secretary for home affairs Lau Kong-wah refused an invitation to the council and refused to send representatives of his department, and stated that the project would go ahead as planned.[17][18] Pro-democracy council members suggested that if the project could not be halted, the musical fountain could play Glory to Hong Kong and be surrounded by such features as a permanent Lennon Wall and a Speakers' Corner.[16] However, the project was implemented by the government without any such changes.

In addition to the fountain, the site includes "three interactive wet play zones equipped with sensory devices" and an "amenity lawn".[19] Part of the fountain was closed for repairs a day after opening as "too many children came to play", thereby damaging the pavers.[20]

Features

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  • Amphitheatre
  • Children's play area
  • Fitness stations
  • Landmark tower with musical mist fountain
  • Lawn
  • Musical fountain
  • Plaza
  • Toilets
  • Viewing pavilion
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  •  
    Viewing Deck
  •  
    Panorama of Kwun Tong Promenade
  •  
    Night view of the park
  •  
    Children's play area under Kwun Tong Bypass

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "康樂及文化事務署 - 觀塘海濱花園 - 簡介".
  2. ^ "Fun in Kwun Tong - Kwun Tong Promenade (Stage 1)".
  3. ^ "Energizing Kowloon East - Kwun Tong Promenade Stage 2". www.ekeo.gov.hk. Archived from the original on 2012-12-17.
  4. ^ a b c d "439RO – Kwun Tong promenade (stage 2)" (PDF). Legislative Council. 13 June 2012.
  5. ^ "New boundaries for Kwun Tong Public Cargo Working Area gazetted" (PDF). Hong Kong Government. 30 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Harbourfront promenade opened in Kwun Tong (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Kwun Tong Promenade opens". Hong Kong Government. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Permanent and Temporary Alienation of Land - Hoi Bun Sitting Out Area, Kwun Tong". Urban Council. 2 July 1991.
  9. ^ a b "Progress Update on Energizing Hoi Bun Road – Green Operation" (PDF). Task Force on Harbourfront Development. 19 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Hoi Bun Road park". WCWP International Limited. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Response to waste paper recyclers' vehicular procession". Hong Kong Government. 10 September 2010.
  12. ^ "Kwun Tong Promenade's nearly 1km seaside boardwalk to be fully opened (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 26 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Kwun Tong music fountain opens today". The Standard. 22 April 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Chan, Holmes (7 July 2018). "'White elephant' that won't go away: fate of HK$50m Kwun Tong musical fountain to be decided at legislature". Hong Kong Free Press.
  15. ^ Chan, Vanesse (22 April 2021). "'White elephant' musical fountain opens at Kwun Tong Promenade". Coconuts Hong Kong.
  16. ^ a b "Pro-dem district councillor says white elephant musical fountain could play 'Glory to Hong Kong'". Coconuts Hong Kong. 4 December 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Lau Kong-wah says Kwun Tong musical fountain project will go ahead". The Standard. 10 January 2020.
  18. ^ Sum, Lok-kei (14 January 2020). "District councillors slam Hong Kong minister over refusal to halt work on controversial HK$50 million musical fountain". South China Morning Post.
  19. ^ "Music fountains at Kwun Tong Promenade to open tomorrow (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 21 April 2021.
  20. ^ "HK$50 million Kwun Tong music fountain damages a day after opening". The Standard. 24 April 2021.
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