Rail-hit terminus finds new life with child's play
A disused bus terminal at the Wan Chai harbourfront has been transformed into a "racing track" for children, with Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun saying six zones will be themed by local artists in a bit of summer fun.
Among artist groups diving in are Chocolate Rain and Messy Desk.
The effort comes courtesy of the "SummerHarbour" campaign held by the Harbour Commission to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the handover.
"We will add 'season special' elements to the shared spaces on the harborfront, with the attempt being to give each section of the space a sense of uniqueness, and to deliver a new experience every time people visit," Wong said in his blog yesterday.
A nine-meter-tall hot balloon art installation has been placed at HarbourChill in Wan Chai, while people can also ride the Victora Harbour Water Bike.
The theme of one of the installations, forest adventure, is aimed at helping alleviate the pressure of urban life.
The bus terminus is a victim of the opening of the cross-harbor section of the East Rail Line.
Victoria Harbour Children Ride, held from July 3 to September 30, will allow children to steer themselves around guided tracks in minicars .
Parents can book a session online starting from July 3 for HK$30 for 10 minutes on weekdays and HK$50 for 10 minutes on weekends and holidays.
"The bus terminal had become open to the people for leisure just two months after becoming vacant, showing our new mindset in harborfront management," Wong said.
The other theme zones are "The Connector," which links Wan Chai and Admiralty, the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct near the exhibition center, East Coast Promenade at Fortress Hill, Belcher Bay Promenade at Kennedy Town and Tsuen Wan Promenade.
Wong said his bureau and the commission had always stuck to the belief the harbor should be a public asset and the harborfront a place people could take pride in.
"I am convinced that the bureau and the commission will keep on leveraging the efforts of citizens, the business sector and the government, extending such a method of public space management to other appropriate harborfront projects, and creating a more attractive coastline," he wrote in his last blog before becoming deputy financial secretary on July 1.
"I would like to thank the Development Bureau, colleagues and friends, who spared no effort on development planning, opening sites, and boosting the wellbeing of the people," he wrote.