wco81

My previous visit to HK was in Nov 2011.

On this brief trip, I discovered Ocean Terminal, more for a couple of mid range restaurants there with great harbor views. I don't know if it was there CA in 2011.

The bigger discovery today is the new piers and promenade between the Central Star Ferry terminal and Wanchai -- about half way towards the CEC?

Back in 2011, it was a construction zone, especially between the terminal and towards he MTR station. Obviously there's a big Ferris wheel there, though it's not like the London Eye or if wheels in other cities.

But the "new" waterfront provides great views of the skyline, both looking east and back west as you get towards the end of it and you run into another huge construction zone that seems to reach the CEC.

Are they planning to extend the waterfront promenade all the way to the CEC? That would be a huge improvement. I walked all the way to the CEC so I walked along the noisy road and the construction areas.

Though the Kowloon skyline from the Island side is very unimpressive, especially from Golden Bauhinia Square, though looking westward towards the skyline with the IFC would look great once the construction of whatever they're doing is complete.

That green zone along the promenade looks good too, though there wasn't that many people there even though it was a nice clear day in early February.

christep

In principle the waterfront promenade will extend all the way along both sides of the harbour. But this has been the plan for many years, and like most such things in HK they take for ever to be implemented (Singapore gets similar things done in a small fraction of the time).

889

" . . . like most such things in HK they take forever to be implemented."

Can you say "Kai Tak"?

wco81

How long ago did they start the work?

Like I said, there was already a lot of construction back in 2011.

It must be more for tourism than residents? That area is a pretty decent hike from the MTR stations and the east-west bus routes. Would residents use that park regularly if perhaps they didn't work in the nearby office towers? Seems a long ways from the residential areas which I thought were more on the other side of the MTR lines.

Maybe they could run some bus lines or build trams there?

jerry a. laska

Here's a story from last summer discussing some of the project:
http://www.scmp.com/culture/article/...s-about-happen

Also some of the plans:
http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/achieveme...i_central.html
http://www.wd2.gov.hk/eng/introduction.html

wco81

Interesting background in those links. Land reclamation in the name of lowering housing prices yet people are suspicious that developers will put up luxury apts. to draw more people from the mainland.

And there are plans to build a North Island line, which will cause more construction to return to the new reclaimed space.

Then of course the environmental concerns.

moondog

I haven't heard of this or researched it, but I'm wondering how it's possible to go any further north than the current Island Line without being in the water.

christep

Part of it is already under construction as the Shatin to Central Link, which will include Exhibition station (near the exhibition centre obviously) in Wanchai North. Opening is scheduled for 2020, from memory.

rkkwan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future...nterchange.svg