Over 4,600 Participants Drawn to Old District Docent Tours
Co-organised by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and The Salvation Army, “Touring Central with Locals 2026” under the “City Walk” Programme in Central and Sheung Wan was successfully concluded with an appreciation ceremony held today (2 September 2026) at Graham Hall in Central. Since 2023, the URA and The Salvation Army have organised around 160 docent tours across Central, Sheung Wan, and Wan Chai, attracting more than 4,600 participants in total. Over 150 “silver-age” docents have been trained, nine of whom have attained professional tour guide qualifications. The initiative fully embodies the URA’s “3B” urban renewal system—driving synergy among the enhanced Built environment, local Bonding, and Business environment to transform urban renewal outcomes into sustainable community assets, injecting vitality and creating long-term value for the community.
At the ceremony, certificates of appreciation were presented to volunteer docents in recognition of their dedication to preserving and promoting Central and Sheung Wan’s history and heritage through community stories. Among the attending guests were Ms Chan Siu-lai, Social Services Director of The Salvation Army; Mr Wilfred Au, Executive Director (Commercial) of the URA; Ms Enson Chow, Assistant District Officer (Central & Western); Ms Chris Cheung, General Manager – Leasing (Marketing), Asset Management of Chinachem Group; Ms Bella Chhoa, Chief Commercial Officer of Sino Group; and Mr Andrew Yeung, General Manager, Event & Product Development of Hong Kong Tourism Board. Central and Western District Council members and community partners were also present to celebrate the achievements in community participation, place making, and cultural heritage promotion.
The thematic routes begin at Central Market and weave through the URA’s urban renewal projects in the area, including H6 CONET, Staunton Street / Shing Wong Street Project, Pak Tsz Lane Revitalisation Project, and Peel Street / Graham Street Development Scheme. In form of “City Walk”, participants are able to experience the revitalised built environment—encompassing architecture, open spaces, and public facilities—realised under the URA’s “integrated approach”. Concurrently, the programme nurtures individuals aged 55 or above into cultural docents. Drawing on their personal memories and life experiences growing up in the district, the docents share authentic stories of Central and Sheung Wan’s cultural characters and community transformation, deepening local bonding among the public.
Ms Chan Siu-lai, Social Services Director of The Salvation Army, stated, “The elderly possess rich life experience, deep community knowledge, and extensive social networks, making them valuable ‘silver-age’ community capital. Through systematic training and hands-on opportunities, the ‘Touring Central with Locals’ programme empowers senior citizens to transform their personal stories and experiences into professional guiding skills—growing from active community participants into authentic local docents, and further developing into cultural and tourism talents. Over the past three years, we have witnessed ‘silver-age’ individuals rediscover their self-worth and potential, evolving from witnesses of local history into passionate advocates for cultural heritage. Looking ahead, The Salvation Army will continue to foster ‘silver-age’ talent development, encourage community participation, and promote cultural preservation—enabling the elderly to keep utilising their strengths and co-creating lasting value with the community.”
Mr Wilfred Au, Executive Director (Commercial) of the URA, remarked, “The work of the URA extends beyond redevelopment, rehabilitation, and preservation. We aim to present our districts in engaging and meaningful ways that celebrate local characters and pass neighbourhood stories from generation to generation. ‘Touring Central with Locals’ exemplifies how the URA applies the ‘3B’ system to transform renewal outcomes into shared community assets. By enhancing people’s sense of gain, it fosters mutual reinforcement between local culture, community bonding, economic vitality, and built environment improvements—realising our sustainable vision of ‘Renewing Our Own Community’ in the long run.”
To transform local narratives into cultural tourism resources, the URA and The Salvation Army have compiled oral histories shared by the docents into Verbal Recollection: Touring Central with Locals. In tandem with the “Old Town Central” walking guide, this publication is shared with the industry via the Hong Kong Tourism Board, with a view to stimulating cultural heritage tourism and energising local businesses.
The fruitful experience gained from the programme has already been expanded to Wan Chai and Kowloon City. Moving forward, the URA will continue collaborating with local partners to showcase the distinct characters of old districts and promote sustainable urban renewal.
