Chief Executive Carrie Lam today inspected the Kai Tak Development Area to learn more about the Kai Tak Sports Park project’s work progress.

She also visited the Kai Tak Sky Garden and Kai Tak River where improvement works have been completed.

Accompanied by Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui, Mrs Lam received briefings on the advancement of work regarding the Kai Tak Sports Park.

The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023. It will include a world-class and all-weather venue accommodating 50,000 spectators for sports competitions and performances, an indoor sports centre and a public sports ground.

Mrs Lam emphasised that the sports park is a huge investment in sports infrastructure by the Government that will significantly enhance sports development in Hong Kong upon completion.

She pointed out that 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, accompanied by Secretary for Development Michael Wong, then visited the Kai Tak Sky Garden built at the former Kai Tak runway.

She 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 Kai Tak Runway Park.

Mrs Lam inspected the Kai Tak River and received a briefing on how the improvement works have enhanced the river’s drainage capacity and the injection of greening and ecological elements into the waterway.

The Chief Executive 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.

Mrs Lam thanked 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, she added.

Noting that the development area is an important component of the Energising Kowloon East initiative, Mrs Lam said in the long run, there is still quite a lot of development potential and Kowloon East will certainly enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international commercial hub.