December 13, 2023
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong SAR government on Tuesday released the long-awaited development blueprint of the city’s major transport infrastructure, undertaking to build two new railway lines and one major road in the Northern Metropolis and enhance six rail lines and roads across the city, with the aim of meeting Hong Kong’s long-term transport and logistics demand up to 2046 and beyond.
The new infrastructure in Northern Metropolis will include the Northern Link Eastern Extension, the Northeast New Territories Line and the Northern Metropolis Highway.
The Northern Link will be extended to Ping Che station via Lo Wu South and Man Kam To areas, connecting new development areas and different boundary control points
The Northern Link will be extended to Ping Che station via Lo Wu South and Man Kam To areas, connecting new development areas and different boundary control points.
The Northeast New Territories Line, a north-south railway from Heung Yuen Wai to Fanling Station of the East Rail line, will also be built.
The Northern Metropolis Highway will be extended eastwards from Fanling North to connect the Sha Tau Kok Road Interchange, enhancing east-west connectivity in the New Territories North.
The plan aims to promote the development of new towns in the eastern part of the Northern Metropolis. After the new infrastructure projects are completed, the Northern Metropolis is expected to connect six boundary control points in total, four more than at present.
The blueprint also revealed the enhanced Three Railways and Three Major Roads proposals, which include the provision of three intermediate stations at Northeast Tsuen Wan, Northeast Kwai Chung and Tsuen King Circuit on the Central Rail Link.
Central Railway Line and Tsuen Wan Line will be connected by extending the Tsuen Wan Line westward to Tsuen King Estate.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the plans, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said the blueprint aims to meet the mobility requirements of residents and tourists as well as the city’s development needs.
The government hopes to facilitate cross-boundary integration with the Chinese mainland, especially other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and to keep pace with the rest of the world.
The blueprint responds to “infrastructure‑led” and “capacity‑creating” planning principles of the government, Lam said, and by driving the development of transport infrastructure, Hong Kong will strive to build a livable, competitive and sustainable city.