Lawmakers roast inefficiency in construction of Pak Shek Kok Station

The construction of Pak Shek Kok Station of the MTR East Rail Line drew some criticism as lawmakers slammed that it took over a decade for a station to be built.

The government said last year it is to construct Pak Shek Kok Station, which is projected to be finished by 2033.

Gary Chan Hak-kan, Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), asked the government whether they would speed up the station's construction as it served an "important strategic location."

He stated that the station would not only serve local inhabitants but also connect Pak Shek Kok and the science and technology parks in Lok Ma Chau and Futian area. 

He raised concerns against the Transport and Logistics Bureau for planning to spend 11 years building one station when it could have constructed four stations on the Northern Link in the same period of time.

The construction of Pak Shek Kok Station is currently being planned, Transport Chief Lam Sai-hung replied in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

He added that the Pak Shek Kok Station project has to meet with the operation of the East Rail Line; as a result, some work can only be carried out when the East Rail is closed at night. 

To boost efficiency and minimize the building duration, the MTR Corporation is researching and testing alternatives such as prefabricated composite construction methods, Lam said.

Lam added that the Bureau will finish detailed planning, relevant design, and legal procedures for the works of Pak Shek Kok Station as soon as possible with an aim to complete the construction of the station in 2033 or earlier.

He also stressed that adding stations to an existing route differed from establishing a new route, as it took time for the overall planning of surrendering facilities to be coherent and appropriate.

Jesse Shang Hailong, a lawmaker who has worked at the Science Park for six years, agreed that the 11-year construction time for Pak Shek Kok Station is not ideal.

He advised the Bureau to use Fo Tan and Racecourse Stations as a reference to add a bypass stop.

Lam replied creating a bypass would require a considerable amount of land and there is the Science Park as well as the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the area, making the project unworkable.