LegCo approves HK$6.81b funding request for Trunk Road T4 project

The Legislative Council finance committee has on Friday approved the HK$6.81 billion funding request for the Trunk Road T4 project in Sha Tin after the estimated cost was cut from HK$7.16 billion. 

The proposal was passed on Friday evening with 61 votes in favor, three against and 12 abstentions. 

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung stressed that a large number of development projects will be completed in New Territories East in the future and the population there will continue to grow. 

The T4 project therefore plays an important and functional role to the city’s overall traffic, he added. 

Director of Civil Engineering and Development Michael Fong Hok-shing also said he understands that society and lawmakers attach great importance to the cost and continued that authorities will use traditional and cheaper materials on the premise that the functionality of the project will not be affected. 

Fong also said that authorities will reduce the areas of public facilities and green zones and lower the expenditures on salaries and contingency fees in accordance with the size of the construction work. 

Still, he reassured that safety will remain the top priority for the T4 project regardless of what materials have been chosen. 

Lam pointed out that this proposal is the ultimate version after years of consultation and thorough considerations as well as in-depth discussions with the Shatin District Council. 

The very first version in October 2006, proposing to build the Trunk Road T4 in the form of viaduct, was banned after receiving a large number of objections. 

The Transport and Logistics Bureau earlier expected the project to be completed within six years and said not only can it immediately alleviate the congestion on Tai Po Road (Shatin section) but also effectively address the current traffic issues in Shatin, Fo Tan, Shek Mun and Ma On Shan. 

The bureau also stressed the urgency of constructing T4 and said delaying the project would only disappoint the residents.