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The Government published in the Gazette today (April 30) under sections 7 and 8 of the Railways Ordinance proposed amendments and made corrections to the Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) scheme.
The XRL scheme gazetted in November 2008 involves a terminus in West Kowloon and a dedicated underground railway tunnel from West Kowloon to the boundary at Huanggang where the railway would meet its Mainland section. It will provide fast, convenient and reliable services to and from Hong Kong and Guangzhou via Shenzhen, and further link Hong Kong to the National High Speed Rail Network. Connected with the Beijing-Guangzhou Passenger Line and the Hangzhou-Fuzhou-Shenzhen Passenger Line, the project will integrate Hong Kong into the Mainland's rapidly growing express rail network. Furthermore, through connection with the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Rapid Transit System, it will greatly increase accessibility between Hong Kong and the PRD region.
The rail project will also create 5,500 jobs during construction and another 10,000 during its operation.
A government spokesman explained that the proposed amendments represent improvements to the scheme from land, engineering, operation and other design considerations. The corrections are mainly verification of the areas, designation and class of the lands. They do not affect any private rights or interests materially.
"The proposed alignment is considered to be the most feasible option to meet the technical requirements with the least impact on the local community as a whole after thorough deliberation has been made. The Amendments to Scheme will further improve the railway scheme, mitigating the impacts of the scheme on certain areas along the alignment and addressing concerns expressed by members of the public as far as practicable," he added.
Under the Railways Ordinance, members of the public have the right to lodge objections to the amendments to the XRL scheme gazetted today from now until 29 June 2009 and claim compensation under the provisions of the Ordinance. Members of the public affected by the corrections would be separately notified of the changes.
"The Government values public opinions on the XRL project. Various consultations on the XRL alignment and its facilities were organised since the gazettal of XRL scheme in November 2008. The Government and the MTRCL consulted the relevant District Councils, the Heung Yee Kuk and the relevant Rural Committees and met the affected residents. The Government will consult the public on the Amendments to Scheme," the spokesman said.
The Government and the MTRCL will continue to engage the local community closely on the XRL project. Subject to the authorization of the XRL scheme by the Chief Executive in Council, the MTRCL will start the construction works in end 2009 for completion in 2015/2016.
The amendments and corrections to the scheme and the relevant plans are available for public inspection at the District Offices of Central and Western, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong and Islands (Tung Chung Sub-office) and the District Lands Offices of Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, Kowloon West and Islands during office hours.
A copy of the Amendments and Corrections to Scheme and the Amendment and Correction Plans may be purchased from the Railway Development Office of the Highways Department. Enquiries on purchasing details can be made to the Highways Department at telephone number 2762 3976. The electronic version of the Amendments and Corrections to Scheme and the Amendment and Correction Plans are viewable on the Highways Department's website (www.hyd.gov.hk/eng/major/road/rail/index.htm).
Further enquiries regarding the amendments and corrections to the scheme can be addressed to the Highways Department at telephone number 2762 3564 or to the Transport and Housing Bureau at telephone number 2189 2132 during office hours.
Ends/Thursday, April 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:04
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