STORY: "Dress-up flyovers" in Hong Kong show characteristics of local districts, preserve memories
DATELINE: Oct. 9, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:31
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the making of thematic designs and flyovers
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): GIGI NG, Landscape architect of the Highways Department of the HKSAR government
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): JIMMY YUEN, Landscape architect of the Highways Department of the HKSAR government

STORYLINE:

Walking through the streets of Hong Kong, thematic designs that manifest the uniqueness of local districts come into view from time to time, making passers-by slow down.
   
In order to enhance the streetscape, improve the leisure environment of the community, and showcase the cultural characteristics of the city, since 2017, the Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has introduced thematic designs for the beautification of nearly 300 highway structures and subways.
   
Beautification works such as "Be Sunny and Positive, Kwai Tsing," "Memories in Blossom, Causeway Bay," "Lion Rock Flora, Kowloon Tong," "City Transformation, Tsim Sha Tsui" and so on, have created a lively and refreshing image.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): GIGI NG, Landscape architect of the Highways Department of the HKSAR government
"The wetland park around the flyover attracts various species of birds to feed. Inspired by the features of a variety of rare birds, we turned it into the designed elements which were painted on the walls and pillars of the flyover."

She said that one of the design difficulties in this beautification work was how to paint flat patterns on the uneven concrete pit-patterned walls.

For this reason, the landscape architects visited the site several times and coordinated with the artists of the project contractor, including fine-tuning the size and position of the image, in order to achieve the best visual effect.

When choosing the site of "Fly over the Walled City, Kowloon City," the landscape architects found that the Olympic Garden was quiet and safe, with three overhead flyovers across the park.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): JIMMY YUEN, Landscape architect of the Highways Department of the HKSAR government
"Talking about Hong Kong, especially Kowloon City, people normally think of two things. One is the dramatic scene of low flying aircraft above the crowded streets of Kowloon City. It is rare to find such stunning visual effects in other places. Another thing is Kowloon Walled City."

The beautification work "Fly over the Walled City, Kowloon City" makes use of a series of hand sketches to illustrate the unique building fabric of the walled city and dramatic scene of low flying aircraft above the crowded streets of Kowloon City.

Ng said they hope through the beautification, the public could feel that our environment has changed in a different way and they can slow down and appreciate the uniqueness of their own communities so as to understand their historical background.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)