Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council (‘Welfare Council’) was supported by the Urban Renewal Fund to design and operate the Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail. The Walking Trail is the first in Hong Kong to be themed after a district, stretches more than 6.5 kilometres, and comprises five routes, each with its own characteristics. By connecting residents and stakeholders in the district, the Walking Trail promotes the preservation of historical relics and the development of arts, culture, and more.
After five years, the Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail, titled ‘Kowloon City in Transformation’, has completed construction. The five routes are, respectively, the Walled City Historical Walk; the Local Culture Walk; the Community Art Walk; the Waterfront Leisure Walk; and the Temple and Church Walk. Combining the history of the Walled City, local historical sites, art and culture, cityscape and religious features, not only does it link up the district’s main historical buildings and facilities, it also passes on the district's precious history and reinterprets the stories of people and the community.
The operating concept of the Walking Trail involves the integration of software and hardware and the adoption of human-centred participatory design. The latter included public workshops to gather initial design concepts and local consultations at different stages to fine-tune ideas, so that members of the public could enjoy participatory experiences. Some of the public’s designs and ideas have ended up in different sections of the Walking Trail, such as light pole sign plates, informational panels, etc. The Walking Trail incorporates Augmented Reality (AR) technology to connect the main historical buildings and facilities in the district. The use of AR and mobile applications throughout the project enhances the interactivity and fun for the public. The Walking Trail also recruits and trains residents and community members to join its team of volunteers. Through a series of training and practical activities, participants learn the culture and history of the Kowloon City District and take part in the planning and promotion of different projects.
The kick-off ceremony of the Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail was held today. In attendance as officiating guests were: Ms Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, JP, Secretary for Development; Prof. Steven Ngai Sek-yum, Chairman of the Board of the Urban Renewal Fund; The Very Revd Frankin Lee On-Yip Dean, Holy Trinity Cathedral Priest-in-Charge, St Augustine’s Chapel; Revd Canon Hon Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming, BBS, OStJ, JP, Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council; Ir Wai Chi Sing, GBS, JP, FHKEng, Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority; Mr Arthur Chan Tsz-fung, Assistant District Officer of Home Affairs Department, Kowloon City District Office; Mr Ho Hin-ming, BBS, MH, Chairman of Kowloon City District Council; and Mrs Patricia Lau, CEO of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council. Also held at the event was the exhibition ‘Kowloon City in Transformation: Inheritance and the Way Forward’, which showcased the Walking Trail’s development and the district’s history and stories.
Ms Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, JP, Secretary for Development said in her speech, ‘Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail is an important landmark that connects the communities of Kowloon City, To Kwa Wan, and Hung Hom, shaping local characteristics, and creating a beautiful atmosphere. The Development Bureau expresses gratitude to the Urban Renewal Fund for providing financial support to the project. I would also like to thank the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council for actively bringing together various community forces to ensure the smooth completion and use of the walkway. It is hoped that everyone can continue to work together to promote and pass on similar walkway projects to other districts. I would like to invite citizens and tourists to experience the results of the integration of history, culture, technology, and creativity on the walkway. The Development Bureau will continue to fully support relevant projects. In addition, the Government has also launched a project to renew part of the To Kwa Wan preliminary treatment works into a waterfront promenade, connecting to the expansion of the Hoi Sham Park, which is expected to be completed this year.’
Prof. Steven Ngai Sek-yum, Chairman of the Board of the Urban Renewal Fund said, ‘We are pleased to see that the project, from its inception to the completion of the five routes at the end of last year, achieved great results at every stage. That was all thanks to everyone’s support. On behalf of the Urban Renewal Fund, I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude to you all. First, I would like to thank the Development Bureau and other related government departments, especially the Kowloon City District Office for its tremendous support and guidance. I would also like to thank the Kowloon City District Council for providing us with encouragement and valuable advice along the way. We are also very grateful to all the resident volunteers for their enthusiastic participation and generous contribution over the past few years.’
Koon was glad that the Welfare Council got to participate in the Walking Trail project: ‘After a century, the Welfare Council is honoured to expand its scope of social services in the Kowloon City District and be part of its conservation work. The Walking Trail allows us to extend our care and commitment to Kowloon City. The themed walking trail presented today, which stretches from Hau Wong Temple in Kowloon City to Hung Hom, is most certainly the result of our colleagues, various community service units, institutions, residents, etc. The Walking Trail was built step by step, together. It also reinterprets the relationship between people and the community and embodies the spirit of the Walking Trail: while Kowloon City is transforming, human connection is forever.’
To date, the Walking Trail has organised more than 760 activities, reaching more than 85,000 people, installing more than 2,500 pieces of hardware facilities. It has been interviewed by many local media and China Tourism magazine. Nineteen quarterly newsletters have been published, with a total print run of 150,000. The Walking Trail will continue to roll out a range of promotional activities to encourage the public, the youth, the elderly, and families to visit the Walking Trail and to promote the integration of people of different ages in the community. This July, the Walking Trail will participate in the Hong Kong Book Fair to promote its own series of picture books about the community. In late July and late October, the Walking Trail will also participate in the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation’s Roving Architecture Exhibition, bringing Hong Kong’s stories to Kuala Lumpur and Nanjing.
