Many of the 20,000 runners who took part in Sunday’s Hong Kong Streetathon said they enjoyed the new route, especially a trunk road in Yau Ma Tei which is yet to open officially.

The full and half marathons started on the Island Eastern Corridor and passed through the Eastern Harbour Tunnel before heading into Kowloon.

One of the highlights was the newly built section of the Central Kowloon Bypass in Yau Ma Tei, which is not yet open to traffic.

Some runners said the route was challenging, with some inclines and declines, but they were fortunate that the weather wasn’t too hot.

Samuel Fletcher finished the half marathon first at 7.11am, saying that the course offered beautiful scenery.

"I'm very happy that I joined it...This morning was beautiful. So we started before the sun rose, running through the Eastern Tunnel in the dark. And then at one point we were coming as the sun was rising over the harbour... The beautiful cityscape was just unmatched," he said.

At the starting ceremony, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said the race coincides with the upcoming opening of the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass, giving runners a chance to experience Hong Kong’s outstanding infrastructure on a brand-new trunk road and enjoy a fresh, one-of-a-kind racing experience.