Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
Amendments to Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link gazetted
***********************************************************

     The Government published in the Gazette today (September 26) under section 7 of the Railways Ordinance proposed amendments to the Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) scheme.

     A government spokesman explained that the proposed amendments represent improvements to the scheme from engineering, operation and other design considerations. They do not affect any private rights or interests materially. The amendments include the rationalisation of the design of ancillary facilities, including ventilation shafts, emergency escape and access staircases, of the XRL terminus. An adjoining road of the XRL terminus is proposed to be re-designed with a view to improving pedestrian accessibility for the benefit of railway passengers. It is also proposed to change the alignment of a flyover, near the XRL terminus, under the scheme.  Under the scheme authorised in 2009, a section of the flyover on the northern side of the XRL terminus (the Original Flyover), whose foundation was in conflict with the XRL tunnels, was demolished to facilitate the passing through of tunnel-boring machine. In order to maintain the traffic flow, a new flyover as temporary replacement (the Replacement Flyover) was built for that purpose.  The original plan was to demolish the Replacement Flyover and to reinstate the Original Flyover after the completion of the relevant construction works of the XRL. However, with the gazettal of the Central Kowloon Route project in November 2013, it was proposed under the project to re-design the road system in the vicinity of the XRL terminus. In particular, the alignments of roads and flyovers at the very same position of the Replacement Flyover will be affected and all roads and flyovers at that position shall be demolished in any case, be it the Original Flyover or Replacement Flyover. As such, the reinstatement of the Original Flyover would be superfluous. It is therefore proposed that the XRL scheme be amended to the effect that the Original Flyover will be permanently closed, i.e. not to re-instate the Original Flyover, and the Replacement Flyover will remain there as it is now.

     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 November 25, 2014. The Government and the MTR Corporation Limited will continue to engage the local community closely on the XRL project.

     The amendments 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 to Scheme and the Amendment 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 to Scheme and the Amendment Plans are viewable on the websites of the Transport and Housing Bureau (www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm) and Highways Department (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/railway_projects/index.html)

     Further enquiries regarding the amendments to the scheme can be addressed to the Highways Department on telephone number 2762 3465 or to the Transport and Housing Bureau on telephone number 3509 7257 during office hours.

Ends/Friday, September 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:14

NNNN

Print this page