Kai Tak, E Kowloon mass transit systems will 'definitely get done'

Eunice Lam

John Lee promised that the three proposed smart and green mass transit systems in Kai Tak and East Kowloon will "definitely get done" amid lawmakers' skepticism.

The three mass transit systems will be built in East Kowloon, Kai Tak and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen new development areas.

In the CE question and answer session a day after unveiling his second policy blueprint in the Legislative Council, Lee said the government will invite suppliers and operators to submit expressions of interest for the East Kowloon and Kai Tak projects next year to finalize details, including tender conditions.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker Frankie Ngan Man-yu asked: "Citizens are all curious about when the East Kowloon and Kai Tak mass transit will be completed and start service, as we are concerned if we need to wait way longer for authorities to conduct assessments."

To that Lee said the timetable for tender conditions will depend on the projects' progress.

"I believe the East Kowloon and Kai Tak mass transit will kick start first, especially Kai Tak as we had acknowledged the great demands from residents there," he said.

"Even though there have been some changes in the [Kai Tak] project, we are now committed to doing it, as long as it is written in the Policy Address."

The Kai Tak mass transit will connect the old airport area to MTR Kai Tak Station, including the cruise terminal and the Kai Tak Sports Park.

Meanwhile, residents at Lei Muk Shue Estate welcomed Lee's proposal of building three new MTR stations on the Central Rail Link, linking Northeast Tsuen Wan, Northeast Kwai Chung and Tsuen King Circuit to the Tsuen Wan Line.

The three stations are expected to benefit residents in the Upper Kwai Chung area, who currently rely on buses to commute to MTR stations.

A resident, Lam, said the bus is irregular, which has affected their daily lives.

"The bus sometimes departs early and sometimes late, so it's inconvenient for my kid to go to school," she said, adding residents sometimes have to wait for up to 30 minutes for the bus.

Another resident said there are not many bus routes and that it takes longer for them to travel to urban areas.

"It will be great if there can be MTR services as it will not be affected by traffic jams or bad weather," a man, Cheung, said.

The locations of the new stations have yet to be decided, but Legco transport panel chairman Ben Chan Han-pan suggested they should be built in the vicinity of Cheung Shan, Lei Muk Shue and Shek Wai Kok estates uphill.

"Setting the stations there not only can facilitate residents of the three public housing estates, but can also benefit from future developments in the district," Chan said.

As the Tsuen Wan No 2 freshwater service reservoir will be relocated, he said "the reservoir could be reserved land for the redevelopment plan of the three estates."

He suggested that authorities can build the Tsuen King Circuit station near Tsuen Wan depot and build property above the station to alleviate the financial burden brought by the Central Rail Link project.