The Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass opened to traffic at 10am on Sunday.

The toll-free route connects Yau Ma Tei with the Kai Tak - Kowloon Bay area.

At a ceremony marking the launch, transport minister Mable Chan said there are initially eight bus routes that will use the new link.

"From Yau Ma Tei to Kai Tak, we're talking about just a five-minute journey from around 30 before, because it's a highway without any traffic lights," she said.

"As [a bureau] overseeing public transport, we will keep looking into the people's needs. So lawmakers here with us, please let us know what you hear from the people."

Chan expressed hope the new project would serve as an opportunity to further improve the transport infrastructure in Kowloon.

She said the construction of the link embodied the Hong Kong spirit, noting the team had continued building during the Covid pandemic and overcame other challenges.

The minister went on to say that while it was heartbreaking for the SAR to experience the massive Tai Po inferno, the city needs to recover and there cannot be a halt for social and economic development, especially infrastructure.