Hong Kong authorities are exploring opening a passageway through a gas facility and have said they will not rule out reclamation works near a private pier as a last resort to help improve access to the East Kowloon harbourfront.

In a written reply to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, the Development Bureau said it would soon commence a study on improving the East Kowloon harbourfront’s connectivity.

But it noted that the plan could be disrupted by the presence of a gas facility in To Kwa Wan and Green Island Cement Pier in Hung Hom.

The bureau said the hurdle posed by the privately owned pier, which cuts off the promenade, was “more complex and required more time to tackle” as the site was owned by multiple parties, with the relevant leases giving them access to the sea.

It added that it would start by considering non-reclamation options, such as exploring feasible “win-win” solutions with owners so the site could be used for harbourfront development purposes.

“However, should the non-reclamation options be proven not feasible in the end, we will study the possibility of a boardwalk with small-scale reclamation,” the bureau said.