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Harbourfront Voices

1.1 Message - Mr John LEE Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

I am pleased to congratulate the Harbourfront Commission on the 20th anniversary of the sustainable development of Victoria Harbourfront.

The harbourfront's sustainable progress began with the establishment, in 2004, of the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee, which pledged to protect and beautify the harbourfront and engage the public in the planning and building of projects surrounding Victoria Harbour. The Committee produced the Harbour Planning Principles and Guidelines, which continue to steer harbourfront's planning and development today. The Committee also brought about quality public spaces such as the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade and Belcher Bay Promenade, some of which have since developed into notable leisure destinations for locals and visitors from around the world.

Its successor, the Harbourfront Commission, is now 14 years into its bold vision of realising the harbourfront as an attractive, accessible and sustainable world-class resource – a harbour for the people, a harbour of life.

The Commission, I am pleased to say, works with all sectors of the community, emphasising an open and flexible management approach to the waterfront's open space while encouraging the private sector to provide promenades in private lots. The Commission's commitment to creating a dynamic and appealing harbourfront has given us a magnificent 27-kilometre stretch of land wrapping around storied Victoria Harbour: on the island's north shore, it stretches from Kennedy Town to Eastern District, and on the opposite side of the Harbour, it connects the waterfronts of Tsuen Wan, Cheung Sha Wan and Cha Kwo Ling. It encourages community-driven events and activities and other innovative developments, from the night market activities of the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign at the Wan Chai, Kennedy Town and Kwun Tong harbourfront areas to Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Regatta, as well as large-scale music and arts festivals, waterfront pyrotechnic shows and drone performances.

On this milestone occasion, I am grateful to the Harbourfront Commission for its far-reaching contributions to the people of Hong Kong. Thanks to the Commission, I am confident that the indispensable work of creating an accessible, vibrant and delightful harbourfront for Victoria Harbour – an internationally recognised symbol of Hong Kong – will continue.