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Infrastructure
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Kai Tak River’s HK$2.8 billion makeover ready before rainy season in Hong Kong

The channel – previously known as the notoriously smelly Kai Tak nullah – will have a deepened riverbed and improved drainage capacity when completed next month

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The once-smelly nullah is now the Kai Tak River. Photo: Handout
Ernest Kao

Long-awaited revitalisation works on Hong Kong’s Kai Tak River will be completed next month before the rainy season, giving the once putrid drainage channel a new lease of life as an “urban green river corridor” complete with aquatic and plant life.

The channel – previously known as the Kai Tak nullah serving East Kowloon – will have a deepened riverbed and a floodwater processing capacity one to 1.5 times higher than previous levels, Director of Drainage Services Edwin Tong Ka-hung said on Tuesday.

A 1.1km (0.7-mile) stretch of nullah in the Wong Tai Sin section has been fitted with boulders along its banks, new colourful draping plants such as the great bougainvillea, rock planters – some covering flow detectors – and submerged mangrove plants. Rivers walls have also been strengthened.

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Tong said the new environment would attract wildlife such as the little egret.

The rejuvenated waterway will attract wildlife. Photo: SCMP
The rejuvenated waterway will attract wildlife. Photo: SCMP
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However, residents will not be able to enjoy a stroll by the river as floodwater can reach a height of one metre in less than eight minutes.

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