***********************************************************

The Government will seek funding approval of the Public Works Sub-committee of Finance Committee for the detailed design of the Shenzhen Western Corridor (SWC) and the Deep Bay Link (DBL) on January 9, 2002.

"We see the SWC as a top priority project to cater for the growing economic activities between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The SWC would relieve the congestion at the existing three land boundary crossings and would facilitate the further expansion of trade between Hong Kong and Southern China.

"It will help enhance the status of the local economy as a business cum trade hub in the region. This can be expected to bring about substantial economic benefits to Hong Kong. It is expected that the net benefit of SWC would be $175 billion over a 20-year planning horizon from 2000 to 2020," a Government spokesman said today (January 3).

The Government is now pressing full steam ahead with the project. The preliminary design and site investigation are underway. To meet the target completion date of 2005/2006, the detailed design has to commence as soon as possible.

The total capacity of the three existing boundary crossings at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok are expected to be saturated in 2005/2006. There is little chance to further expand these three crossings because the cross-boundary traffic has already resulted in severe traffic congestion in Shenzhen City Centre. The Hong Kong and the Mainland sides have agreed that the SWC is required to cater for the increase in cross-boundary traffic

"During the initial operation of SWC/DBL, Route 3 Country Park Section (Route 3) and Tuen Mun Road would be able to cope with the increase in cross-boundary traffic generated by SWC/DBL. But we are planning to advance the schedule of Route 10 in response to concerns expressed by Legislative Council and the District Councils so as to provide a further safeguard against congestion on Tuen Mun Road. While there is general support for the SWC/DBL, views on Route 10 are more diverse. We will continue discussion with Legislative Council and other interested parties on how to take forward Route 10 but we see no reason for this to hold up the detailed design of SWC/DBL", the spokesman added.

SWC will connect Dong Jiao Tou at Shekou and Ngau Hom Shek at Northwest New Territories. The DBL will be constructed to connect Ngau Hom Shek with the existing Yuen Long Highway at Lam Tei. The total cost of SWC and DBL is about $10 billion.

End/Thursday, January 3, 2002

NNNN