Tourism Commission

Major Tourism Projects

Aberdeen Tourism Project

The map is not drawn in scale

Background

Aberdeen is a famous tourist attraction in Hong Kong. The Tourism Commission (TC) appointed a consultant in late 2006 to develop a conceptual design for the Aberdeen Tourism Project which aims to further bring out the unique features of 'traditional fishing harbour' and the local culture of Aberdeen and, by reinforcing the elements of diversified tourism, to enhance Aberdeen's attractiveness to both international visitors and local residents. The conceptual design was a preliminary study outlining the broad directions for consideration during detailed planning. As the conceptual design contains a lot of commercial elements, we need to further explore how best to implement the Project and the feasibility of private sector participation in the Project. Therefore, TC appointed a financial consultant to assess the commercial and financial viability of the conceptual design in early 2008. The study was completed at the end of March 2009.

We briefed the Southern District Council (SDC) and the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Economic Development on the progress of the Project and gauged their views on the way forward on 23 and 27 April 2009 respectively.

Last Development

We propose that the Government should fund the improvement works for the promenades on both sides of the Aberdeen Harbour and Ap Lei Chau Main Street to showcase the characteristics of a fishing village. Major items include:

(a)	to improve passenger boarding or disembarking facilities, redesign/construct hard and soft landscapes to highlight the theme of a fishing village and provide additional plantings, etc. so that visitors can enjoy the unique ambience of a fishing village in Aberdeen;
(b)	to erect additional signage and set up kiosk(s) for selling snacks and souvenirs, and provide visitors with various travel information, particularly on the traditional culture of Aberdeen and the customs of fishing villages;
(c)	to carry out landscape improvement works along the waterfront area of Ap Lei Chau, and set up display boards to promote the temples of traditional fishing villages (including Hung Shing Temple and Tin Hau Temple) and to facilitate visits to these temples; and
(d)	to enhance the streetscapes of Ap Lei Chau Main Street and other adjacent streets by providing architectural lighting and additional signage, beautifying the road surface and increasing the number of landscape displays. These beautification works will help attract the private sector to develop or enhance the area into a shopping and dining district for visitors.

Way Forward

We shall push ahead with the proposed improvement works supported by the SDC and the LegCo Panel on Economic Development. We shall endeavour to invite tender for the proposed improvement works in 2010/11.

In the meantime, we shall further explore different ways to enhance the attractiveness of the Project in the long run, which include :

(a)	to examine the feasibility from the planning, environment and transport perspectives of converting the works areas of South Island Line (East) (SIL(E)) and Harbour Area Treatment Scheme located under the Ap Lei Chau Bridge into a dining cum entertainment zone featuring seafood cuisine upon completion of the related works (expected to be around 2015);
(b)	to explore with concerned departments the feasibility of providing appropriate dining and tourism facilities at the Wholesale Fish Market without affecting its daily operation and the traffic in the vicinity;
(c)	to examine whether the "Class III Stationary Vessels" can be preserved and revitalised with a view to turning them into tourist attractions; and
(d)	to explore how the transport setting near Ap Lei Chau Main Street can be improved. For example, to examine how to improve the connection between the future Lei Tung Station of SIL(E) and Ap Lei Chau Main Street/waterfront area so as to facilitate visitors and local residents to visit the area.