Hard push to get the East Rail Line across the border

Shenzhen authorities have set their eyes on getting the East Rail Line to go across the border and implementing a colocation arrangement at Luohu port to facilitate a one-hour seamless connection with Hong Kong.

The arrangement will offer passengers taking the East Rail Line from Shenzhen's core area, Luohu, to Hong Kong's core areas in only 50 minutes, said Li Qian, deputy commander of the Luohu District Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Business Development Zone.

The Luohu district government earlier launched a development plan for four areas covering 126 hectares, including the B1 land near Luohu port.

Local authorities plan to build the area into a cross-border cooperation zone for strategic new industries and modern services.

"[We plan to] build a new Luohu port with a colocation arrangement so that people can travel from Shenzhen's core area Luohu to the core area on Hong Kong Island via the East Rail Line within 50 minutes," Li said.

"The industrial development of the two core areas can also achieve deep integration under the arrangement."

The Luohu government said it will also promote cross-border collaboration in three other areas, as Luohu's industrial structure is similar to that of Hong Kong.

"We will establish supply chain and cross-border e-commerce platforms in the area near Liantang port to connect to the Sandy Ridge innovation zone in Hong Kong, developing the strategic emerging industries," said Luohu district mayor Zuo Jinping.

Some people welcomed the proposal.

"It would take 20 minutes for me to cross the border during peak hours, and a colocation arrangement can speed up the process," a man, Tsang said.

But an elderly woman, Cheung, said she would not choose to cross the Luohu border even with the new arrangement.

"I usually travel to the mainland via the Liantang port as it only costs HK$2. We have to spend HK$25.70 to cross the border at Luohu port," she said.

Lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu supports the redevelopment of Luohu port, saying it will enhance the efficiency of port clearance and free the land in Hong Kong.

Luohu receives up to 240,000 travelers a day and the port can barely handle such a heavy demand, Zhang said, adding it is necessary to expand the port to enhance efficiency.

"Sometimes passengers are unable to get off the train at Lo Wu station as the platform is filled with people," he said.

Mainland authorities only need to find a suitable piece of land to build a new train station, and there will not be many changes to the current East Rail Line tracks, Zhang said.

In order to combat parallel trading, he said his party, New Prospect for Hong Kong, has suggested rebuilding the current Lo Wu station into a large cross-border shopping center and setting a 100,000 yuan (HK$107,992) duty-free limit for travelers.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com