Architectural enthusiasts have often humorously suggested that Hong Kong’s true potential will shine once its construction is complete. This sentiment was likely shared by those who attended the preliminary events at the soon-to-be-opened Kai Tak Sports Park.

Valued at a whopping HK$30 billion (approximately US$3.85 billion), the sports park is a magnificent spectacle, boasting a 50,000-capacity stadium at its core. However, the one-kilometre journey from either the Kai Tak or Sung Wong Toi MTR station remains a chaotic and dust-filled trek, snaking around loud construction sites.

One can’t help but speculate about the reception awaiting international rugby enthusiasts when they visit for the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in late March, or music fans arriving to enjoy the Coldplay concert in April.

It’s worth remembering that the area of Kai Tak was freed up for redevelopment on July 7, 1998, when the old airport was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in a dramatic overnight operation. The subsequent 26 years prompt questions about the time spent in bureaucratic delays and hesitation, and what insights Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s “results-driven” government can glean from the struggle to convert Kai Tak into Hong Kong’s premier event center and secondary business hub.

Comparatively, the redevelopment of Kai Tak’s 320 hectares (791 acres) seems trivial against the grandeur and significance of the Northern Metropolis. This massive project spreads across Hong Kong’s border with Shenzhen and spans an impressive 30,000 hectares.