Govt approves 25.6 billion funding for Kwu Tung Station and Tuen Mun South Extension projects

The government approved the financial arrangements for the Kwu Tung Station (KTU) and Tuen Mun South Extension (TME) construction projects of MTR Corporation on Tuesday. The projects are expected to be completed by 2027 and 2030 respectively.

Both of the projects are implemented under the ownership approach, said the government spokesman. MTR Corp will be responsible for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the projects, after the government has checked and verified the project financial estimates provided by the rail giant. 

The estimated costs for the KTU project are about HK$9.8 billion in total, including the costs for the detailed planning and design and some advance works of the Northern Link Main Line. 

The cost estimate for the TME project is about HK$15.8 billion.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau has signed the KTU and the TME project agreements with the MTR Corp. 

The Executive Council also approved granting the MTR Corp the property development rights of Kwu Tung North Areas 20, 22 and 25 adjoining the KTU, with an area of about 4.7 hectares, for high and medium residential developments.

As for the TME project, the ExCo approved granting the property development rights of Tuen Mun Area 16 with an area of about 6 hectares, for integrated development for commercial and residential uses, to the rail giant.

As Phase 1 of the Northern Link, the KTU is an intermediate station between the Sheung Shui Station and Lok Ma Chau Station of the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and will connect to the Northern Link Main Line (Phase 2 of the Northern Link). 

The KTU will serve the transport needs of the Kwu Tung North New Development Area, and significantly reduce the travelling time between the New Development Area and Sheung Shui. The Area is expected to accommodate a planned population of approximately 131,600.

As for the TME project, it will extend the Tuen Ma Line from Tuen Mun Station southwards by about 2.4 kilometres and provide two new stations - the Tuen Mun South Station near Tuen Mun Ferry Pier and an intermediate station at Tuen Mun Area 16. 

The area near Tuen Mun Station has approximately 60,000 residents, while there are about 49,000 residents living around the proposed A16 Station.