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Following is a question by the Hon Regina Ip and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 12):
Question:
According to the latest "South Island Line (East) Preliminary Design Stage - Revised Proposal" made by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the section of the railway from the toll plaza of the Aberdeen Tunnel to Lei Tung via Wong Chuk Hang will be built on viaduct. Many members of the public are dissatisfied with the proposal, as the viaduct railway will generate noise, do damage to the environment and natural landscape, affect the long-term planning of the district in terms of conservation, tourism, commerce and trade, etc. and thus violate the principle of sustainable development. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as MTRCL had indicated that the tunnel option for that section would delay the whole project by three years, whether the Government has looked into the reasons for that and the ways to prevent such delay; whether it is technically feasible to adopt the tunnel option for that section; if so, whether it knows why MTRCL still proposes the viaduct option for that section;
(b) whether it has assessed the adverse impact of the viaduct option on the environment of that district and its long-term planning; and
(c) in what aspects the viaduct option will better complement the overall planning of the development of Southern District than the tunnel option; how the Government ensures that the above railway project will not hinder the sustainable development of the Southern District?
Reply:
President,
The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) is undertaking the preliminary design of the 7-km South Island Line (East)((SIL)(East)), which will be a medium capacity railway line running between Admiralty and South Horizons with three intermediate stations at Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang and Lei Tung Estate. The MTRCL has proposed that the section between the toll plaza of the Aberdeen Tunnel and Ap Lei Chau should run on a viaduct.
The Government and the MTRCL have been consulting the local communities extensively on the SIL (East) project, including its alignment and form of construction. We hope to gazette the railway scheme for further consultation in mid-2009. Our target is to commence the construction works for the SIL (East) in 2011 for its commissioning in 2015.
My reply to the questions is as follows:
(a) The SIL (East) will serve a number of areas in the Southern District, the topography and geographical features of which would need to be taken into account in the design of the railway. In the light of the public's concerns about the proposed viaduct section, we have asked the MTRCL to investigate whether such a section could be constructed in a tunnel. After reviewing the study report submitted by the MTRCL, we agree with the MTRCL that such an option will have the following difficulties and drawbacks:
(i) If a tunnel is to be built in place of the viaduct, the level of the proposed Wong Chuk Hang depot will have to be lowered by about 14 metres accordingly to accommodate an acceptable gradient of the railway track at the depot approach area. This will require the construction of the retaining structures along the boundaries of the depot site at Police School Road and Nam Long Shan Road; and the excavation of one million cubic metres of hard rocks inside the whole of the depot site. These works are time consuming and will lead to about three to four years' delay to the commissioning of the SIL (East).
(ii) In order to construct the tunnel section across the Aberdeen Channel, part of the Channel will be required to be closed to facilitate the construction of cofferdams (i.e. deposition of earthy materials in the sea to form a waterproof dam), followed by dewatering of the works site, and subsequent construction of the tunnel units. During the construction period, about two-thirds of the Aberdeen Channel along the tunnel alignment will have to be closed for three years, leaving only a 35-metre fairway for marine traffic. This will adversely affect the operation of the nearby Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter where the mooring space will correspondingly be reduced. The dispersal of the contaminated materials due to dredging of the marine deposit within the Typhoon Shelter during the construction will have impact on the water quality there. The disposal of the marine mud will add to the burden of the mud pit capacity problem.
(iii) The construction of the ventilation building and the floodgate for the tunnel section crossing the Aberdeen Channel will require the clearance of some shipyards on the north shore of the Channel.
(iv) Approximate 16,000 square meters of land inside the Hong Kong Police College will be required temporarily for cut-and-cover tunnel construction for at least 3 years; and a major part of the Tactical Training Complex Building there will have to be demolished, which will affect the operation of the Police College.
(v) The proposed aboveground Ocean Park Station and the Wong Chuk Hang Station are designed with convenient pedestrian links with the nearby areas. To locate these two stations underground, the level distance between the station platform and road surface is comparatively larger, and the travelling time taken will be longer. This would reduce the attractiveness of rail.
(b) We are well aware of the concerns about the visual and noise impacts of the proposed viaduct section. The SIL (East) is a designated project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. The MTRCL has engaged an independent consultant to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment and identify appropriate mitigation measures, which will have to comply with the Ordinance. Besides, the MTRCL will spare no effort in finding an aesthetically acceptable viaduct structural form in harmony with the Wong Chuk Hang surroundings. Reference will be made to overseas examples where appropriate. In the assessment of the revised proposal, the Government will consult the Advisory Committee on Appearance of Bridges and Associated Structures and the District Council so as to arrive at a design that could accommodate the views of the different parties concerned.
(c) We attach great importance to ensuring that the SIL (East) will facilitate the overall long-term planning for the Southern District. The provision of fast, efficient and environmentally friendly railway service will be key to the sustainable development of the district, which we hope will help improve the quality of life for the local community in the years to come. The Ocean Park and the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter are well known tourist attractions. Wong Chuk Hang is being planned for commercial and residential development. We have considered different designs and methods of construction of the railway line. We have looked at the programme implications of the various options, the benefits and impacts to the district, as well as relevant planning and environmental considerations. On balance, we are of the view that the viaduct design is a practicable option. In the further design stage, we will study various mitigation measures, improve the viaduct design and continue with consulting the District Council so that the railway line will complement the further development of the district.
We will continue to stay in close touch with the relevant District Council, local concern groups and the public in developing the railway scheme. We expect that another round of public consultation will be conducted after the railway scheme is gazetted under the Railways Ordinance in mid-2009.
Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:40
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