The Hill Road flyover in Shek Tong Sui was completed in 1981. True to the architectural principles of the Swiss architect, Le Corbusier, the flyover lifts the traffic off the road and into the air, freeing the former up for the pedestrians, which include the numerous schoolchildren in this neighbourhood. The columns are masterpieces of conception and implementation, both modernist and classical, their tapering columns splaying organically into capitals, their grooved surfaces bearing the imprint of the timber boards into which the concrete was cast. The simplicity of design, in which each architectural form meets its engineering function, creates the extraordinary elegance of the flyover’s curves as it snakes its way through the surrounding tower blocks. The varying heights of the columns and irregular curves of the precast road frame both the buildings and the sky beyond, breaking up the repetitive verticals and carving out new shapes, which change as one descends the steep slope of Hill Road below.
• • • • •
I’ve seen the men who make these marvels.
They sit on corners smoking, their hands enlarged
And their bodies shrivelled by hard labour.
Unlike the architects now in favour,
They don’t model designer spectacles
Or win prizes for seeming sustainable;
But it’s they who are China’s true poets
And by the look in their eyes they know it.
— Hong Kong, February 2024/2025
A Communist in Hong Kong 
Thank you for your excellent descriptions of the Hill Road Flyover in Hong Kong. I have just made a video recently and included your descriptions in the video, it is not for commercial purpose and would not generate any income. It is just my interests of recording the buildings and constructions in Hong Kong. I have specified in the front page the source of the description (which is from your link). If you would like me to withdraw those description by leaving a comment in youtube, I will do so immediately.
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That’s fine, Ming, and I’m glad you found some use for my poem. Thank you for the link. In return, could you send me the link to your video? Best wishes, from a fellow admirer of Hong Kong’s engineers and builders.
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Hello Simon
While I have not seen your poem ,I am pleased to note that the scheme was found interesting. This was a scheme which I came up with around 1974/75 because a predessor scheme which I think was referred to as Water Steet flyover was not pursued due to property resumption cost and disruption to the central district.
The Hill road flyover did involve some resumption of balconies and I was concerned about the environmental effects on nearby properties.I had hoped that affected owners would be equitably compensated
Naz Abbabil
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Hello Naz, thank you for writing to me. As my poem (which you can read above) relates, I’m a great admirer of your flyover, and it’s a pleasure to hear from its engineer. Best wishes, Simon.
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