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Following is a question by the Hon Christine Loh and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport, Mr Kevin Ho, in the Legislative Council today (April 5):
Question : With reference to the on-going studies to construct Route 7 to connect Aberdeen with Kennedy Town and the Government's stated transport policy of using railways as the first choice to meet passenger traffic demand wherever practicable, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective costs incurred so far on the feasibility, engineering and environmental studies conducted specifically on Route 7;
(b) of the estimated volume and proportion of traffic for Route 7 attributable to goods vehicles and private vehicles respectively;
(c) whether it has assessed if the construction of Route 7 is consistent with Government policy of discouraging the use of private cars on roads;
(d) whether it has conducted any feasibility studies on constructing the Mass Transit Railway South Island line ("the railway") as an alternative to Route 7; if so, of the respective costs of the feasibility, engineering and environmental studies to be conducted on the railway option; if not, the reasons for that;
(e) whether the reduction in volume of traffic attributable to private cars on existing roads in the Southern District, estimated to be brought about by the railway upon completion, will adequately accommodate the growth in freight traffic in the district;
(f) whether it has compared the direct costs to the Government of Route 7 and the railway; if so, of the details of the costs;
(g) of the criteria it uses to evaluate the highway and railway options, and the respective weights given to each criterion; and
(h) whether, before deciding on adopting either of the two options, it will consider the overall economic impact of each option on the Southern District, including the market value of properties there; and of the economic factors that it will take into account in making the decision?
Reply:
Madam President,
Route 7 - Section between Kennedy Town and Aberdeen
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The proposed Route 7 - section between Kennedy Town and Aberdeen (Route 7) is planned to relieve traffic congestion at the major corridors in the southern and western parts of the Hong Kong Island including Aberdeen Tunnel, Wong Chuk Hang Road, Pok Fu Lam Road and Victoria Road. It will cater for the traffic demand arising from existing and future developments in the Pok Fu Lam area and the Southern District. It will also form part of the strategic trunk road system linking the southern part of Hong Kong Island to the new Airport at Chek Lap Kok and the North Western New Territories via Western Harbour Crossing, Route 3 and Route 9.
According to our latest traffic impact assessment, the estimated total daily traffic flow on Route 7 in 2016 would be about 52,400 vehicles, of which 9,500 (18%) would be goods vehicles and 31,100 (59%) would be private vehicles excluding taxis.
The proposed Route 7 is now at the preliminary design stage. About $17.6 million has been allocated to ground investigation works and $16 million on investigation assignments such as environmental, traffic and engineering design studies. Subject to further investigation, the capital cost of Route 7 is estimated to be about $9.6 billion.
South Hong Kong Island Line
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The South Hong Kong Island Line (SIL) was considered in the First Railway Development Study in the early 90s'. It was proposed to be a railway linking the Southern District with Admiralty. The 1994 Railway Development Strategy pointed out that the recommended priority for the SIL was low because the forecast traffic demand could not support comfortably the railway at current rail fare level. The implementation of the South Hong Kong Island Line would be dependent on the population growth in the area.
We are now carrying out the Second Railway Development Study (RDS-2) to formulate the framework for the next phase of railway development for Hong Kong in the next 15 years. The Study costs about $31 million at 1997 prices. Under RDS-2, the SIL is one of the potential new railway lines being studied. Subject to further investigation, the order of cost estimate of the SIL is about $10 billion.
The RDS-2 will assess the need and viability of SIL in the context of meeting the transport demands of the area, having regard to the existing and planned road network, the economic benefits of the railway in relieving the road network, the environmental implications and integration with land use planning. We will also need to consider the priority of the SIL vis-a-vis other railway projects under study including the East Kowloon Line and the Ma On Shan railway extension to Kowloon.
RDS-2 is expected to be completed sometime in mid 2000. By then, we should have a clearer picture about the way forward regarding the SIL.
Evaluation of Highway and Railway Options
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In comparing highway and railway options, the Government will take into account relevant factors including engineering feasibility, transport performance, planning and land use, environmental impacts, financial viability (particularly for railways due to the need to recoup operating and maintenance costs and to allow for a reasonable profit margin), economic benefits, etc.
While it is our objective to expand the rail network to make it become the backbone of Hong Kong's transport system, we still need to develop and improve the road network to relieve existing bottlenecks and to cope with future transport demand. Roads cannot be replaced by railways in all cases. The two transport modes are complementary to each other and roads are essential for supporting other public transport services, commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles, and for serving areas where provision of railways is not feasible. The Government will strive to provide the most suitable means of transport to cater for the traffic demand of the public.
End/Wednesday, April 5, 2000
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