Hongkongers braved the chilly conditions to explore the 1.1-kilometre section of the East Coast boardwalk from Fortress Hill to North Point, which opened on Sunday.

North Point resident Adrienne Garvey told RTHK that her family is looking forward to using the promenade.

"The kids play area here is fantastic… the kids are loving and exploring it, and I am looking forward to running along here, all the way down to Kennedy Town [in future]. I can have a nice long running route to train on," she said.

"Hopefully we'll be here every week, if it's the kids with their scooters and running and playing in the park, I think this is a really nice place. It is under the shade as well, so in the summer it will be so good.”

Her son Max also said he loves the play area.

"The waterfront looks quite nice, and I think it's very fun because it has a playground. Also we like running down the bumps. It's the first day we are here, so we are just going to maybe go and see the whole bridge," he said.

Another resident, surnamed Kwok, said the trail is perfect for running.

“I often run, and it is impossible to run along the harbour before. So I came this morning to take a look to prepare for future runs… It is very comfortable and faces the sea," he said.

Pet owner Carina Chan also told RTHK that the boardwalk is great for walking her dog.

“We go to East Coast Park every day via Java Road. We had to cross the road each time, but now with the boardwalk... it is more convenient and safe," she said.

The harbourfront walkway - built under the Island Eastern Corridor - spans 2.2 kilometres in total.

Its eastern section, which will connect North Point to Quarry Bay, is set to open in phases in the second half of this year.

The walkway is part of a bigger, 13-kilometre harbourfront promenade project that will eventually connect Kennedy Town with Shau Kei Wan.