The Highways Department will use the construction of the Central Kowloon Route as an opportunity to achieve a sustainable Yau Ma Tei through integrated planning with conservation, enhancement and land-use restructuring.

This was the message from Major Works Project Management Office Senior Engineer Robert Chan who recently told news.gov.hk the mainstream proposal of the Yau Ma Tei revamp for the Central Kowloon Route project has been reached after a series of focus groups and public forums.

The new 4.7km link will connect West Kowloon with Kowloon Bay and the future Kai Tak development with a whole new urban design concept for the affected Yau Ma Tei area.

New look: Highways Department Major Works Project Management Office Senior Engineer Robert Chan shows the Yau Ma Tei revamp plan.

Urban design vision

It will be the first time urban design has been integrated into a construction project in Hong Kong. Not only will the engineers take the lead in reconstructing facilities, they will enhance the area's local characteristics.

Mr Chan said Temple Street and the Jade Market are among the major Yau Ma Tei landmarks which need to be preserved.

"These places are the gathering places of the unique local culture, which we are striving to retain," he said.

The Yau Ma Tei Specialist Clinic on Battery Street, the Kowloon Government Offices on Nathan Road and the Yau Ma Tei Multi-storey Car Park Building on Shanghai Street will be demolished to make way for the Central Kowloon Route construction. For better urban design the site will be constructed to allow more open space. But library and postal services will remain.

Architects and urban designers involved in the urban design propose to broaden a passage from Nathan Road to Ferry Street with a large civic square connecting the area. In addition Temple Street will be straightened to provide a comfortable walking experience for pedestrians.

Public engagement

To preserve the local characteristics the department has been collecting public views for more than a year. An interschool planning competition was held inviting student participation in the project.

"Students went to interview local residents and took videos of their responses," Mr Chan said, adding forums were also held to allow people to voice their opinions. The department's strengthened communication with residents offered a deeper understanding of their expectations.

A consensus has been reached to conserve the new and old wings of Yau Ma Tei Police Station. More studies and discussions are underway before the conservation plan can be finalised. The public generally wants the premises to be made open and used for police related purposes. The station was built in Edwardian style in 1922 and is classified as an historical building.

The project is currently planned to start in 2012 and for completion in 2016.