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Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link opens (with photos/videos)
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     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui, jointly hosted the opening ceremony for the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) today (September 22).

     The ceremony commenced at 10am. Following the performance by the Hong Kong String Orchestra and renowned Chinese violinist Yao Jue, Mrs Lam addressed the audience first. She said, "Upon commissioning, the Hong Kong Section of the XRL would link up the three rapidly-developing leading cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. In addition to enhancing the high speed passenger transport network in the Bay Area and promoting the economic, social and cultural exchanges in the area, it would also link Hong Kong with the Capital Economic Circle and Yangtze River Delta Region through the Beijing-Guangzhou Passenger Line and the Hangzhou-Fuzhou-Shenzhen Passenger Line, thereby strengthening the synergy effect among the regions and creating more development opportunities."

     Mrs Lam also said that in addition to the efforts made by relevant policy bureaux and departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government as well as the project and operations teams of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the staunch support by the Central Authorities and the co-operation of relevant departments have been indispensable in enabling the smooth commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL. The Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government also made an all-out effort to ensure the delivery of best results under the co-location arrangement. She expressed gratitude to the China Railway Corporation for providing the best arrangements on train scheduling, ticketing and finance to the HKSAR. In addition, Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for providing a firm legal basis for the co-location arrangement, as well as to the Legislative Council for enacting the local legislation for the co-location arrangement in a timely manner. She thanked all the guests who have contributed to the project on behalf of the HKSAR Government.

     Thereafter, Mr Ma; the General Manager of the China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu; and the Non-executive Chairman of the MTRCL, Professor Frederick Ma, spoke successively in celebration of the opening of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL. After a simple launching ceremony and a plaque unveiling ceremony, all guests boarded the first train bound for Guangzhounan Station after going through clearance procedures under the co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station. They returned to Hong Kong after making a brief stop at Guangzhounan station.

     Other officiating guests included Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Mr Tung Chee Hwa; Vice-Chairman of the the National Committee of the CPPCC, Mr C Y Leung; the Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Zhimin; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Xie Feng; the Commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Mr Tan Benhong; the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Wang Weizhong; and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan.

     The construction of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL commenced in 2010. It has a total length of 26 kilometres and connects with the Mainland Section of the XRL as well as the 25 000 km-long national high speed rail network. Its service will commence tomorrow morning (September 23).
 
Ends/Saturday, September 22, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:18
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Today's Press Releases  

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The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, delivers a speech at the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22).
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows (from left) the Non-executive Chairman of the MTR Corporation, Professor Frederick Ma; the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Wang Weizhong; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Xie Feng; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Zhimin; Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Mr C Y Leung; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; Mrs Lam; Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Mr Tung Chee Hwa; the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming; the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu; the Commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Mr Tan Benhong; and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, officiating at the opening ceremony.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (sixth right) and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (sixth left), unveiling a plaque. Witnessing the unveiling are the Non-executive Chairman of the MTR Corporation, Professor Frederick Ma (first left); the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Wang Weizhong (second left); the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Xie Feng (third left); the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Zhimin (fourth left); Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Mr C Y Leung (fifth left); Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Mr Tung Chee Hwa (fifth right); the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming (fourth right); the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu (third right); the Commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Mr Tan Benhong (second right); and the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan (first right).
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows (from second left) Mrs Lam; the Non-executive Chairman of the MTR Corporation, Professor Frederick Ma; and the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu; receiving a briefing by the representative of China Railway Corporation on the development of high-speed rail in the Mainland.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, leaves Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (WKS) for Guangzhounan Station on the Vibrant Express train after attending the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the WKS today (September 22).
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (first row, second right); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (first row, second left); Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung (first row, first left); and other guests receiving a briefing by an immigration officer on the operation of the Hong Kong Port Area.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (second right); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (third right); Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung (centre); the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu (first right); and other guests receiving a briefing by a customs officer on the facilities at the Hong Kong Port Area.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for “Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong” High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (fifth left); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (fourth left); the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (first left); the Non-executive Chairman of the MTR Corporation, Professor Frederick Ma (second left); the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Xie Feng (third left); the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Zhimin (fourth right); Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung (third right); the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan (first right); and other guests entering the Mainland Port Area.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (third right); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (second right); and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung (first right), receiving a briefing on the operation of the Mainland Port Area.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (WKS) today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (second right); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (third right); (from left) the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Wang Zhimin; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Xie Feng; the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming; and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung; next to the Vibrant Express train before leaving the WKS for Guangzhounan Station.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) held at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (WKS) today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (first row, first left); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (first row, second left); (from second row, left) the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Wang Zhimin; Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr C Y Leung; the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming; and other guests leaving WKS for Guangzhounan Station on the Vibrant Express train after attending the ceremony.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam (first left), arrives at Guangzhounan Station after travelling on the Vibrant Express train today (September 22).
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui; and other guests arrived at Guangzhounan Station after travelling on the Vibrant Express train today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (second right), Mr Ma (second left) and other guests being received by the Mayor of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Wen Guohui (first left) at the station.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, arrived at Guangzhounan Station after traveling on the Vibrant Express train today (September 22). Photo shows Mrs Lam (first right); the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui (second right); the General Manager of China Railway Corporation, Mr Lu Dongfu (third right); and other guests receiving a briefing on railway development in the Pearl River Delta region.

Audio / Video

CE attends Opening Ceremony for "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong" High Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section)
CE tours facilities at Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and leaves for Guangzhounan Station on Vibrant Express train
CE arrives at Guangzhounan Station by Vibrant Express train