The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is committed to enhancing pedestrian connectivity and walkability between Kennedy Town and Pokfulam area through the development of Pokfield Campus. In accordance with the planning application for Pokfield Campus, which was approved by the Town Planning Board (TPB) in June 2022, HKU will widen the footpath & signal crossing at the junction of Smithfield and Pokfield Road, and improve pedestrian links through the new campus.
This initiative has been progressing steadily since its inclusion in the project's plan. Recently, the preliminary proposal for these enhancements has received in-principle support from the relevant government departments, marking a significant new milestone for the project.
This webpage aims to update the community on the background, latest progress, and the preliminary design of these enhancements. HKU sincerely invite the public to provide feedback as we work together to bring this community-benefiting vision to life.
1) Widening Footpath & Signal Crossing at Smithfield / Pokfield Road Junction
2) Establishing an Escalator Link to Connect Community with New Campus
3) Relocation and Reprovisioning of the Pokfield Road Sitting-out Area
An approximate 60-meter height difference currently exists between Pokfulam Road and Pokfield Road. Parts of this route feature steep slopes and narrow footpaths, which might pose inconveniences for local residents.
Through the construction of Pokfield Campus, the University aims to simultaneously improve pedestrian walkability for the community between Kennedy Town MTR Station and Pok Fu Lam Road.
A community engagement initiative in April 2022, which included an online survey and workshop, revealed a clear consensus: nearly 95% of respondents recognised the pressing need for improved pedestrian connectivity in the community. Acting on this feedback, HKU has integrated the community expectation directly into the planning of Pokfield Campus development.
This commitment was formally advanced in June of the same year, when HKU presented the Pokfield Campus planning application—including proposal to enhance pedestrian connectivity of Kennedy Town to the TPB. The application received official acceptance from the TPB and relevant government departments, paving the way for tangible improvements. These enhancements include widening the footpath & signal crossing at the junction of Smithfield/Pokfield Road and enhancing pedestrian links through the new campus.
To advance this important community development, the HKU project team's planning and design efforts have been continuous. The University has maintained proactive engagement with district stakeholders to explore and refine various solutions. This includes formal meetings with the Central and Western District Council (CWDC) and a series of community briefing sessions, all aimed at gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the community’s expectation.
HKU’s proposal involves creating a pedestrian route with enhanced connectivity, designed specifically to master the challenging topography between Pokfield Road and Pok Fu Lam Road.
This will be achieved through a series of new facilities, including escalators, elevators, and landscaped pathways. The planned route will originate at Smithfield in Kennedy Town, ascend through the HKU Pokfield Campus, and ultimately connect to both Pokfield Road and Pok Fu Lam Road.
The fundamental objective of this route is to bridge the area's significant level difference, providing the public with a more convenient and direct passage for travelling between Pokfield Road and Pok Fu Lam Road.
HKU is submitting a land lease modification application to the Lands Department to secure development rights for the road traffic improvement works and other pedestrian connectivity enhancement works. This initiative has already received in-principle support from the relevant government departments.
Upon finalisation of the statutory procedures and permit approvals, the project team will advance to the detailed design and construction planning stage. HKU is committed to delivering these community benefits as early as possible.
To further enhance pedestrian safety and walking environment for the community, the team has conducted a comprehensive review of the existing layout at the junction of Smithfield and Pokfield Road.
Present Condition: For pedestrians, the footpaths along Pokfield Road are inadequate in width, measuring only 1.25m and 1.84m respectively. This might creates pedestrian bottlenecks during peak hours and compromises overall walkability.
From a driver's perspective, the sightline for vehicles turning left from Smithfield into Pokfield Road can be limited by existing buildings. Improving visibility here would further enhance safety for pedestrians using the crossing.
Solution: In response, and based on a technical assessment by consultants, HKU proposes to shift the junction southward. This will allow the footpaths to be widened to a more ideal width of at least three meters, which we believe will effectively enhance pedestrian safety. HKU are pleased that this proposal has received a positive response and in-principle agreement from relevant government departments.
A key challenge to enhancing pedestrian connectivity in the district is the steep 60-meter level difference between Pok Fu Lam Road and Pokfield Road. To address this, HKU's Pokfield Campus development presents a new, publicly accessible pedestrian pathway. This pathway will feature a network of escalators, staircases, and on-campus elevators, creating a more convenient route for both the public and university members traveling between Kennedy Town and Pokfulam area.
According to HKU's preliminary proposal, the route begins at Smithfield (adjacent to the Caritas Mok Cheung Sui Kun Community Centre) which takes only three-minute walk from Exit A1 of Kennedy Town MTR Station. From there, the public can take a new system of escalators and elevators to traverse the terrain's level difference, arriving at the southern entrance of Pokfield Campus (Level LG05).
From Level LG05, pedestrians can travel through the landscaped pathways on campus, offering not just a walkway but also tranquil spaces for rest. These pathways will guide pedestrians to two campus exits—one leading to Pokfield Road and the other to Pok Fu Lam Road—significantly enhancing pedestrian connectivity throughout the district.
To implement the aforementioned construction works (to widen footpath & signal crossing and building the new escalator system), the existing Pokfield Road Sitting-out Area will have to be relocated.
HKU proposes to relocate the existing sitting-out area to an adjacent site along Smithfield, situated to the south of Kennedy Town Telephone Exchange.
The reprovided sitting-out area will aim to provide a similar range of amenities and is planned to connect with the new pedestrian pathways.
HKU is now gathering public opinion regarding the implementation sequence for the Sitting-out Area relocation works. HKU has developed two schemes, namely "Simultaneous Demolition and Relocation Scheme" and "Relocation first, then Demolish Scheme" for community feedback. The two approaches differ in terms of the overall project completion time and the service continuity of the recreational facility.
HKU values community feedback and hereby invites the public and community stakeholders to provide their valuable opinions and suggestions on these schemes via the online feedback form below.
(Expedited Completion for Earlier Public Use)
Under this scheme, the existing sitting-out area is scheduled for closure and demolition commencing in Q4 2026. Concurrently, the reprovisioning works for the new sitting-out area will begin immediately, with its completion and public opening anticipated in Q4 2027.
The construction sequence of this scheme is better aligned with the works schedule for the other two key enhancements: the widening of footpath & signal crossing and construction of escalator system. Full completion of connectivity-related works is therefore estimated for Q3 2028, coinciding with the completion of the new campus's Phase 3 Academic Complex. Crucially, it is anticipated that this approach could shorten overall construction period for the entire pedestrian connectivity system by approximately one year. This accelerated timeline will allow the community to enjoy the benefits of these multiple new facilities much sooner and enables a swifter restoration of normal pedestrian traffic at the crossing.
Based on the consultant's estimate, the sitting-out area will consequently be closed temporarily for public use approximately one year while works are carried out.
Scheme 2: Relocation first, then Demolish
This scheme ensures continuous public access by first constructing a new sitting-out area adjacent to the Kennedy Town Telephone Exchange, estimated to open in Q4 2027, before the existing facility is subsequently demolished starting in Q1 2028.
However, the critical disadvantage of this scheme is the substantial delay it imposes on the project's main improvements—the widened footpath & crossing and the new escalator system. These works cannot begin until the new sitting-out area is complete. This scheme will extend the overall timeline by approximately one year, pushing the full completion date to Q3 2029.
To facilitate the progression of the aforementioned proposals, HKU is keen to better understand the community's views on the schemes for the sitting-out area's relocation. The public and all community stakeholders are hereby invited to submit their valuable opinions and suggestions on or before 28 November, 2025 (Friday) .
Feedback may be submitted by completing the online form, which can be accessed via the link below or by scanning the QR code on the right. Alternatively, submissions may be sent via email to pcomplex@hku.hk.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far will the relocated sitting-out area be from the current site?HKU proposes to relocate the Pokfield Road Sitting-out Area slightly along Smithfield, moving it to the hillside adjacent to the Kennedy Town Telephone Exchange. The new site is approximately 35 meters from the existing one.
- Will the area of the relocated sitting-out area be reduced?
The relocated sitting-out area is planned to offer comparable facilities, and its design is expected to integrate with the new pedestrian pathways. The final area will be determined during the detailed design stage and can only be finalized following consultations with government departments and the consolidation of community feedback.
- How will HKU mitigate the impacts during the construction period?
A comprehensive construction management plan will be formulated during the detailed design stage. The contractor will be strictly required to adopt mitigation measures to minimise environmental impacts.
(Updated on 8 October, 2025)