The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, welcomed the passage of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill by the Legislative Council today (June 14), signifying a big step towards the target of the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) in September this year.

     "The passage of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill marks the basic completion of the 'Three-step Process' of the co-location arrangement at the XRL West Kowloon Station. It provides a sound legal basis for the co-location arrangement, fully unleashing the transport, economic and social benefits of the XRL. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the legislators who supported the passage of the bill, and to the Central Government and different sectors of the community for supporting the implementation of the co-location arrangement.

     "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the MTR Corporation Limited are pressing ahead at full speed with the preparatory work with a view to commissioning the Hong Kong Section of the XRL in September this year to connect with the 25 000-kilometre national high-speed rail network, enabling members of the public to enjoy the convenience of the XRL," Mrs Lam said.

     After the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the XRL, people will be able to take direct trains to the four short-haul stations, namely Futian, Shenzhen North, Humen and Guangzhou South, realising the "one-hour living circle" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area. It will also connect to 14 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Guilin by direct long-haul trains, bringing Hong Kong people greater convenience for business, visiting relatives, study and travel.

     The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance will be gazetted on June 22 and come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Gazette.

Ends/Thursday, June 14, 2018
Issued at HKT 22:48

NNNN