Conservation of Urban Rivers

Urban rivers can significantly reduce the ‘heat island’ effect. With a greening scheme and proper planning, these can create public spaces and revitalize local districts. The Administration announced the plan to deckng over 16 urban nullahs in the next ten years in the 2005 Policy Address. CA is concerned about this issue. While the majority assume that a nullah is just a foul-smelling sewer, it is indeed a storm drain. Such misunderstanding is due to illegal discharges to the nullah.

Lung Chu Street Nullah

Among the nullahs, there were more trees along Lung Chu Street Nullah and Flower Market Road Nullah; while Kai Tak Nullah has the highest historical value. Although Lung Chu Nullah in Sham Shui Po was only 95m long, there were over 20 wall trees grew along the two sides. Most of the wall trees in Lung Chu Street were Common Red Stem (Ficus variegata var. chlorocarpa) and Opposite Leaf Fig (Ficus hispida), which were characterized by the plaster-like roots and different from the web-like roots of the commonly-seen wall trees Chinese Banyan.

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) planned to cut down all the wall trees in 2006 to make way for the nullah decking works. CA staged a green ribbon campaign in 20th March 2006 and demanded DSD to devise a conservation plan for the wall trees before the works stated. After several meetings with DSD and the Sham Shui Po District Council, DSD finally promised to preserve eight wall trees in 28 April 2008 meeting. Nullah decking works was completed in January 2008 and CA was also invited to the completion ceremony. CA welcomed DSD’s acceptance of our proposal to rebuild part of the masonry wall with stones taken out from the original nullah walls as well as erecting display panels under the wall trees to let the public understand the importance of tree conservation.

Flower Market Road Nullah

Flower Market Road Nullah was 210m long and there were about 130 trees along the two sides of which two were Old and Valuable Trees. CA had expressed our concern over tree conservation of the Flower Market Road Nullan decking works during the discussion with  DSD on Lung Chu Street Nullah. DSD decided to preserve all but one tree (a Chinese Hackberry Celtis sinensis with health problem) along the nullah and consulted CA in 2007. Although CA disagrees with the Administration’s policy of decking the nullahs, we are satisfied that DSD could preserve almost all the trees within the scope of work.  Decking works would start in 2008.

Kai Tak River

Kai Tak River is literally the source of Kowloon. Written records dated the earliest settlement along the rivers to at least 800 years ago. Kai Tak River is a rare case that is not a work by the Hong Kong Governmetn. Kai Tak River (Choi Hung Road Section) was built under the supervision of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Japanese occupation. The streams nearby, including the Lung Chun River, were diverted into the stone nullah to prevent flooding in Kai Tak Airport. The moat of Nga Tsin Wai was disappeared as the nullah came too close to the village.

Due to the long history of the Kai Tak River and its strong connection with Southeast Kowloon where a lot of heritage buildings and landmarks are located, decking the entire nullah entirely is simply like eliminating the history and the chance of revitalizing the community would be lost. CA thinks that the Administration should implement a greening scheme for the river channel and continue to improve water quality to create a new landmark and intensify the sense of belonging to the community.

Kai Tak River is 3000m long. The improvement works will be divided into three parts: from Wong Tai Sin Police Station to Yiu Tung House; Nga Tsin Wai to Prince Edward Road East; and the Kai Tak Development Area. In September 2007, Wong Tai Sin District Council proposed to deck the entire first 600m section. CA together with the Department of Architecture in CUHK, Community Alliance on Kai Tak Development and Chan Yuen Han FTU Legco Office suggested transforming the old Kai Tak Nullah into an urban wetland and green corridor. Under the effort of various parties, the latest plan of DSD only decks the section from Wong Tai Sin Police Station to Kai Tak Garden. The part of Kai Tak Garden will also include landscaped channel. As there are a lot of heritage and historical landmarks near Kai Tak River, such as Nga Tsin Wai, Hau Wong Temple, remnants of the Kowloon Walled City, CA suggested to install display panels introducing local history and culture along the river so that the Hong Kong people can understand more on the origin of Kowloon.

 Nga Tsin Wai

The Chinese character"Crane" in one stroke behind Hau Wong Temple

Remnants of the Kowloon Walled City