Approved pedestrian links in Ngau Chi Wan to enhance district accessibility and walkability
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (May 14) that the Chief Executive (CE) in Council has approved an application to provide pedestrian links in Ngau Chi Wan (location plan at Annex), waiving the land premium payable, exempting the additional gross floor area of about 334 square metres and approving the proposed opening hours of the relevant public pedestrian links.
The Development Bureau (DEVB), Photo source: reference image
The abovementioned application is the ninth application approved by the CE in Council under the scheme of Facilitating Provision of Pedestrian Links by the Private Sector, endorsed in 2015. The scheme encourages developers through premium waivers to finance the design, construct and manage footbridges or subways linking to public transport facilities or public pedestrian linkage systems, bringing both tangible and intangible social value through creating a comfortable, all-weather walking environment to facilitate and encourage public travel, and increasing the footfalls for nearby businesses.
A DEVB spokesperson said that the application is proposed by the developer of the private composite residential-and-commercial development under construction at 35 Clear Water Bay Road. In addition to the requirement under lease to construct a pedestrian footbridge to connect the development to Choi Wan (I) Estate uphill, the applicant proposed to provide a more comprehensive pedestrian network in the Ngau Chi Wan area. These include providing a public pedestrian subway at B2/F of the integrated podium of the composite residential-and-commercial development to connect to the Choi Hung MTR Station, and via the development, will connect Choi Wan (I) Estate and nearby public facilities to Choi Hung MTR Station; and providing openings at B1/F and 7/F of the integrated podium to receive connections from the future Choi Hung East Station of the Smart and Green Mass Transit System in East Kowloon and Ping Ting Road East extension respectively.
The spokesperson added that the subject lot is situated at the heart of the Ngau Chi Wan area, where a number of large public housing estates are in the vicinity. The community was developed in earlier years, with relatively narrow pavements and slopes. At present, residents living uphill, including those in Choi Wan (I) Estate, have to walk along outdoor sloping roads or staircases, or take short-distance minibuses, to reach Choi Hung MTR Station, the nearby market and public facilities. This is particularly undesirable for elderly persons, people commuting with children, and mobility impaired persons.
The proposed pedestrian facilities, together with the facilities originally required under the lease, will significantly enhance the connectivity and create a more comfortable walking environment in the Ngau Chi Wan area. Specifically, it will enable the public to travel more conveniently between Choi Hung MTR Station, Choi Wan (I) Estate and the special school on Ping Ting Road East, public facilities in the vicinity of the development including medical, elderly care facilities and a wet market, as well as the future Choi Hung East Station of the East Kowloon Smart Green Mass Transit System. It is estimated that a total of about 100 000 residents and the working population from both new and existing developments in the area will benefit. The project is also expected to bring more pedestrian flows to nearby restaurants and businesses, thereby boosting the local economy.
The applicant will be required to shoulder the design, construction, management and maintenance responsibilities and related costs of the barrier-free pedestrian links, and be open for public in accordance with the approved scheme. For regulatory purposes, these requirements will be incorporated into the land documents. For this case, noting that some connection points (including Choi Hung MTR Station and the future Choi Hung East Station) do not operate round-the-clock, the CE in Council approved the opening hours of the relevant pedestrian links connecting the two stations to be aligned with the operating hours of the abovementioned railway facilities, while the remaining pedestrian facilities will continue to be open 24 hours for public use.
The proposed pedestrian links, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 21) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, covering 12 survey areas, as follows:
District |
Survey Area |
May 2026 |
First Phase Gravidtrap Index |
First Phase Density Index |
Eastern |
Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho |
9.1% |
1.4 |
Islands |
Tung Chung |
2.0% |
1.0 |
Kowloon City |
Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan |
6.7% |
1.5 |
Tai Po |
Tai Po East |
2.2% |
2.0 |
Tai Po West |
15.5% |
1.0 |
Tuen Mun |
Tuen Mun South |
9.1% |
1.4 |
District |
Survey Area |
May 2026 |
Area Gravidtrap Index |
Area Density Index |
Central and Western |
Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui |
16.8% |
1.3 |
Eastern |
Chai Wan |
15.4% |
1.0 |
North Point and Quarry Bay |
18.9% |
1.4 |
Southern |
Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau |
20.8% |
1.7 |
Sha Tin |
Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan |
18.3% |
1.4 |
Tsuen Wan |
Tsuen Wan Town |
6.9% |
2.3 |
The fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May includes First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas. Among which, six survey areas recorded gravidtrap indexes above 10 per cent, while Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District recorded a gravidtrap index above 20 per cent. Meanwhile, the gravidtrap indexes of six survey areas, namely Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui in Central and Western District; North Point and Quarry Bay in Eastern District; Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho in Eastern District; Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District; Tai Po East in Tai Po District; and Tuen Mun South in Tuen Mun District, have recorded a decrease as compared to the indexes recorded in the last survey period, reflecting the progress of relevant mosquito control work.
With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April or May every year. The actual timing and extent of the rise are affected by factors like weather conditions and rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall recorded in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. As a result, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year. With the increase in rainfall in May, the gravidtrap indexes are expected to rise further.
For survey areas which recorded indexes exceeding 10 per cent, in accordance with the mechanism implemented by the FEHD in response to the chikungunya fever (CF) situation (i.e. strengthening mosquito control work in areas with a gravidtrap index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, instead of 20 per cent or above under the original mechanism), the FEHD is collaborating with relevant departments and stakeholders to identify locations with high mosquito infestations and carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control measures. The FEHD has initiated two prosecutions against the relevant construction site contractors following the discovery of mosquito breeding at construction sites in Tai Po District and Southern District. Moreover, following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers in a park, a construction site, a private housing estate, a clinic and a private premises in Tai Po District, Central and Western District, as well as Southern District, the FEHD has issued five statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. The FEHD, the relevant departments and stakeholders are following up on the mosquito control work, and will also organise exhibitions, distribute leaflets and posters, and notify residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures. In addition, the FEHD will strengthen the monitoring of the gravidtrap index in the areas to review the effectiveness of the mosquito control work.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:
tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside the premises;
remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of CF transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
