The one-kilometer Tsui Ping River was formerly the King Yip Street nullah and has 50 years of history.

The department is also building six cross-river footbridges, including one at the harborfront which has linked a 1.7-kilometer promenade from Kwun Tong to Cha Kwo Ling. The promenade will be opened to citizens this summer, while the project will be completed by mid-next year.

Director of Drainage Services Alice Pang said the department has adopted a "rivers in the city" strategy for enhancing drainage designs. "Our earlier drainage designs focused on enhancing the flood-carrying capacity," she said, adding that cement was mainly used to fill the river bank in the past.

"But after referencing from other countries, we can rehabilitate our rivers to minimize the heat island effect in the city."

Pang added that the idea of opening the harborfront promenade came after the department launched three construction projects in the area.

The Kwun Tong preliminary treatment works plant was retreated by 15 meters to save space for the promenade, while a rooftop was added on top of the Kwun Tong sewage pumping station to provide a one-hectare recreational space which is expected to open to the public this summer at the soonest.

The river introduced facilities such as a smart water gate that links to the Observatory's weather forecast system and can adjust itself based on the weather.

The department has also introduced desilting robots at Tsui Ping River. Pang said the robots can replace workers during bad weather.

There are a total of six desilting robots working across the rivers in the city.

Meanwhile, Pang added that the department has cleared a total of 127 flooding black spots since 1995. She said that two black spots - Chatham Road South in Tsim Sha Tsui and Pok Fu Lam Village - are under construction and will be completed within two years.