Hong Kong has been hosting a series of major sports events, and following the National Games and the recent Victoria Harbour Race, the "Kerry Hong Kong Streetathon 2025" kicked off early yesterday morning (Nov. 23). The event featured various races, including the full marathon, half marathon, 10km race, and the "Leaders' Run", attracting nearly 20,000 participants. Of these, 18,618 runners showed up, and 17,821 completed the race, including students with special learning needs, as well as visually impaired and disabled participants. This showcased the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's commitment to promoting sports for all and the streetathon's emphasis on inclusive long-distance running.
The half and full marathon events started near the East Coast Park, with the final stretch running through the newly constructed Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section), which will open next month. The race concluded at the Yau Ma Tei interchange, allowing participants to experience HK's large-scale infrastructure and innovation firsthand, creating an unforgettable historic moment.
In his speech at the start of the full marathon, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, noted that the streetathon has come a long way since its inaugural event in 2014. What began with just a 10km race and 5,000 participants has grown to include various distances and age groups, attracting nearly 20,000 runners this year. He also highlighted how the event coincided with the near-opening of the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section), offering runners a rare chance to experience this new infrastructure and enjoy a one-of-a-kind race route.
Full marathon champion re-runs finish line for photo opportunity
The full marathon race route passed through the Eastern Harbour Crossing, heading toward the Kwun Tong Bypass. This stretch, measuring 4.7 kilometers, was especially memorable as runners were able to "run before the cars" along the newly completed Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section). However, a small incident occurred when the event organizers failed to track the exact moment when the full marathon champion, Alex Yu, crossed the finish line. As a result, Yu had to re-cross the finish line several times for media and photographers. He commented on the challenging yet unique race course, praising the clear instructions and smooth organization, supported by vehicles accompanying the runners.
The half marathon started 40 minutes after the full marathon, with the start and finish lines being the same. The first to cross the finish line was Fletcher Samuel, a foreign runner who clocked in at around 7:10 am. Participating in the Streetathon for the first time, Samuel said he felt incredible, enjoying the stunning scenery along the route. He particularly loved the sunrise view while running through the Eastern Harbour Crossing and praised HK's November weather, calling it "the best place in the world."
Creative costumes add color to the race
The event also attracted many runners who participated in creative costumes, becoming a colorful sight along the race route. One runner, dressed as a sunflower, has participated in the event for several years in different costumes. This year, she chose to appear as a sunflower, hoping to bring energy and positivity to fellow runners and spectators. She described the uphill section at the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section) as a "devil's uphill," which really tested her stamina, but she continued to cheer on other runners along the way.
Other participants dressed as anime characters, and one of them said it was a refreshing experience to run on the new racecourse. Despite the exhausting uphill stretch inside the tunnel, the cool weather and enthusiastic volunteers offering water and encouragement helped keep spirits high.
To promote social inclusion, this year's race also welcomed visually impaired runners, who ran alongside guides. Special prizes were awarded to the top three winners in each category, regardless of gender or age. Mr. Mo, a guide runner, mentioned that although it was his first time running on the Central Kowloon Bypass, the road surface was comfortable, albeit the tunnel felt slightly stuffy. Visually impaired runner Mr. Leung noted that, having researched the course beforehand and prepared for the inclines, he successfully conserved his energy early on, allowing him to finish strong.
Many runners also participated with friends, and after finishing the race, they received commemorative medals. Excitement filled the air as participants collected their medals, while cheerleaders with pom-poms and live music performances added to the lively atmosphere.
Luggage pickup glitch causes delays
Despite the event's overall success, a technical issue with the luggage pickup system caused crowding and longer waiting times for approximately 2,000 runners after the full and half marathon events. The organizers apologized for the inconvenience, explaining that a new luggage scanning system—introduced to replace manual sorting—malfunctioned during operation. In response, contingency measures were quickly implemented, including announcements via official platforms and public address systems, as well as deploying additional staff and volunteers to manage luggage retrieval and crowd control. The situation gradually improved, and the organizers emphasized their commitment to reviewing the system, staffing, and contingency plans to improve future events.
Mable Chan encourages runners to experience new trunk roads cenery
Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mable Chan, attended two street running events yesterday. She first officiated the 10 km challenge in Tseung Kwan O, firing the starting pistol for the runners, and later joined the 2 km "Leaders' Run" on the Central Kowloon Bypass (Yau Ma Tei Section). Speaking at the start of the "Leaders' Run", she noted that since preparations for the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass are in full swing, the full and half marathon events offer runners a valuable opportunity to personally experience the progress of this major infrastructure project. She added that the government is still working hard on the construction of the Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel, and she hopes to collaborate again next year with the community organization RunOurCity to host similar events.
Chan stressed that the Central Kowloon Bypass is more than just a trunk road: it serves as an important east–west corridor across Kowloon, linking East Kowloon, Kai Tak, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay to Yau Ma Tei. West Kowloon, she added, is a hub for culture, tourism, and exhibitions. She hoped runners could appreciate several unique features of the engineering project, including the "skyward" elevated viaducts, the "undersea" tunnel sections, and the "underground" bored tunnels—each showcasing different tunnel structures.
Construction of the Central Kowloon Bypass began in 2017. Chan explained that navigating through densely populated areas such as Yau Ma Tei, Jordan, Kowloon Bay, and Kai Tak was no easy feat. The project team had to demolish the car park, relocate the Yau Ma Tei jade market, public library, and maternal and child health center. Around 2,400 underground blasting operations were carried out with innovative and cautious methods to minimize disruptions to nearby residents. The project also set several records for its complexity, passing beneath numerous public facilities and spanning seven MTR lines, underscoring its scale and innovation.
She said yesterday marked the opening of public engagement for the Central Kowloon Bypass, which took place in a positive and energetic atmosphere. She expressed hope for further efforts next year, as the government continues construction of the Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel—a crucial link in the Trunk Road T2 and Route 6. She also hopes to cooperate again with RunOurCity to host similar events next year.
Officials and engineering sector join the "Leaders' Run"
Many HKSAR government officials took part in the streetathon's "Leaders' Run". Nearly 100 participants joined the event, including Mable Chan, representatives from the Highways Department and the Civil Engineering and Development Department, as well as leaders from the engineering sector.
In addition to officials from various government departments, close to a hundred leaders from the engineering industry and professional bodies also participated, marking a symbolic moment where HK's infrastructure development and sportsmanship intersect.
The race route centred around the eastern exit of the Central Kowloon Bypass. Starting from the eastern tunnel portal, participating officials ran toward Kowloon Bay, passed the administrative building of the Central Kowloon Bypass, then turned back toward Yau Ma Tei, reaching the tunnel section near Ma Tau Kok before returning to the eastern portal for the finish—covering a total distance of 2 km.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Li Zhishan; English Intern Editor: Zara; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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