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The Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, today (September 18) announced that the Chief Executive in Council had endorsed Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation's (KCRC) proposal to adopt the tunnel option for the construction of the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line project.
The tunnel option involves replacing the viaduct section of the proposed Spur Line in Long Valley with a bored tunnel. The 4.3 kilometres tunnel will run from the north of Sheung Shui station to Chau Tau. The remaining part of the Spur Line of three kilometres will continue on viaduct along the gazetted alignment to the Lok Ma Chau boundary crossing terminal.
Following the Appeal Board's dismissal of KCRC's appeal against the Director of Environmental Protection's decision not to approve the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and not to issue an Environmental Permit for the original alignment, the Transport Bureau and the other Government departments involved and KCRC have been working on the best way forward. It has been concluded that the bored tunnel represents a more practical way forward compared to the viaduct as it will be more certain in its environmental acceptability and hence the new EIA process can be completed earlier.
Mr Ng said, "We are committed to building the Spur Line project in an environmentally friendly manner the soonest possible to meet the growing cross-boundary passenger traffic demand and to ease the congestion at Lo Wu. The tunnel option avoids disturbance to the Long Valley and minimises impact on the local community."
"The bored tunnelling method is a proven construction method in Hong Kong as this was used for the successful construction of West Rail tunnels. KCRC will undertake detailed technical study to ensure construction safety and engineering reliability. It will also undertake a detailed EIA study and comply with the statutory EIA process."
"The Bureaux and departments concerned will also work with KCRC to ensure that the Spur Line can be completed before mid 2007," the Secretary for Transport said.
The 7.4 kilometre Spur Line will cost about $10 billion in 2001 prices using the tunnel option, against the original cost estimate of $8 billion. KCRC will fund the project. It will not need any capital injection from the Government and the Spur Line will still be financially viable.
End/Tuesday, September 18, 2001
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