New rail links to power north vision

Five new railways will drive the development of the northern New Territories into the Northern Metropolis, including a new stop between Lo Wu and Sheung Shui.

It will also include the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Railway linking the Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen areas to Qianhai in Shenzhen, Carrie Lam said.

"This is a cross-border railway and there will be a new border control point," Lam said. "I hope the co-location arrangement can be used at the new border. We have reserved a few hectares at the new Hung Shui Kiu station to turn it into a cross-border station."

Sources said the routing and station locations are yet to be decided and that the government is hoping to implement the same co-location arrangement as the West Kowloon Express Rail Terminus.

The planned Northern Link will be extended north to connect to the new Huanggang Port in Shenzhen via the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, Lam said.

"There is also a spare area at the new Huanggang Port in Shenzhen that can be connected to the railway," she said.

Lam said the link will extend eastward from the Kwu Tung station to connect with Lo Wu, Man Kam To and Heung Yuen Wai, and further south to Fan Ling via Ta Kwu Ling and Queen's Hill.

Authorities will explore the extension of the East Rail Line to Luohu, Shenzhen, and the provision of a co-location arrangement at the boundary control point on the Shenzhen side, Lam said.

"The terminal of the East Rail Line is Lo Wu station, which is also a border checkpoint," Lam said. "We have talked to [MTR Corp] and Shenzhen authorities to extend the line across the Shenzhen River to a station in Shenzhen's Luohu district and travelers can pass the border there under the co-location arrangement."

After the Lo Wu border is moved to Shenzhen, there will be extra space to build a new non-boundary crossing station between the Lo Wu and Sheung Shui stations, as sources said there might be housing development near the station.

The new station will be able to unleash the development potential around Lo Wu, Man Kam To and Sheung Shui North, Lam said.

"The development potential of Man Kam To will be included in existing studies in the northern New Territories, but it is actually very common to expand the scope of studies, and it will not delay the development timeline and construction progress," sources said.

The feasibility of constructing an automated people-mover system from Tsim Bei Tsui to Pak Nai to promote the development of the area and Lau Fau Shan will also be examined.

Sources from the government said it has yet to start a study. It would be similar to the automated people-mover system at Hong Kong International Airport.

"In my Lantau Tomorrow Vision proposal put forward in the 2018 policy address, the transport infrastructure-led concept won wide acceptance," Lam said. "The consolidation of the Northern Metropolis and its expansion in terms of development capacity will also be driven by a transportation system with railways as its backbone."

The initial routes of the five new railways have been designed, she said, "but I have to stress that the routes are just our initial thoughts and they will still need to be explored and studied by MTRC."

MTRC welcomed the five projects proposed, saying it will provide its full support.

"The local and cross-boundary rail projects as well as relevant land development plans presented in the policy address will help make it more convenient for people to travel around, which will be instrumental to the territory's urban development while enabling Hong Kong to tap the enormous opportunities offered by the development of the Greater Bay Area," said MTRC chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen.

"We welcome the plans and will work with the government to support relevant studies. In doing so, we will be contributing to the long-term development of Hong Kong, leveraging our expertise in railway development and operations."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com