Statutory work for major rail links sped up

he government will accelerate statutory procedures such as environmental impact assessments for two major cross-border railway projects – the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link and the Northern Link, says Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan.

“Regarding national standards, we expect that within this year, national railway construction standards can be adopted and applied in a timely manner to the first and second phases of the Northern Link, as well as to the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Railway,” Chan said as she briefed at the Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development yesterday.

During the session, lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming raised concerns over manpower shortages, noting that while the government is actively promoting Hong Kong as an aviation hub, human resources in related sectors remain insufficient.

Lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming pointed out that while the government has many plans to promote Hong Kong as an aviation hub, there is a shortage of relevant human resources.

In response, Chan assured that the government is closely monitoring the employment situation and will proceed carefully in matters related to airport manpower and the importation of foreign labor.

She added that the administration is actively collaborating with the Airport Authority to conduct internal manpower surveys.

Chan also revealed that the government will table subsidiary legislation in mid-October to introduce tax incentives for vessels using methanol as fuel.

A site in Tsing Yi South has been designated for fuel storage facilities, and the government has already invited expressions of interest, receiving five inquiries to date.