Editorial | Completed harbourfront boardwalk lets Hong Kong strut its stuff
The extension in North Point is the final piece of a puzzle that showcases Victoria Harbour and should serve as a point of pride
It offers open views of Kowloon and the harbour and even a glass observatory deck hovering above the water. The idea for the boardwalk was floated in 2009, and a construction contract was awarded for about HK$1.18 billion (US$152 million) in 2021.
For years, tourists and residents found few places to view the harbour’s natural beauty without concrete or metal barriers. Now Hong Kong has a 13km boardwalk showcasing Victoria Harbour, a natural treasure that helps define the city’s identity.
Other places with famous harbours, including Sydney, Singapore and San Francisco, have found ways to improve accessibility. Hong Kong had to overcome some unique pressures, such as intense demand for land and having to find ways to integrate a walkway and waters already so busy with shipping, ferries and recreational and commercial activities.
While praising the arrival of the last puzzle piece, Harbourfront Commission chairman Ivan Ho Man-yiu also predicted that residents will find creative ways to make the best of the “tremendous potential and vitality” that has been created.
But making the shoreline accessible is arguably just the first step. The authorities must ensure the space is well maintained. Officials should monitor how it is used and ensure safety and security without hindering its free use.