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South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Major rail links in Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis to be completed 2 years early
Hong Kong's railway operator and the government signed an agreement on the design and construction of the major rail link in the Northern Metropolis on Tuesday, fast-tracking its completion by at least two years to 2034. The agreement, which gives momentum to the Northern Metropolis project, involves HK$39.05 billion in financing from land premiums for the construction of three stations along the Northern Link main line, the design of the spur line, tunnels and other railway facilities. It is the first of a two-part deal. 'The Northern Link project 'embodies significant strategic value', a government spokesman said. 'With a strong determination to break new ground, the government has resolutely decided to make three major breakthroughs to enhance the speed and efficiency of the project.' But the government did not reveal when the second part of the agreement, which would cover facilities such as other stations under the main and spur lines, would be signed exactly. The agreement comes after Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong urged local authorities to speed up work on the Northern Metropolis by removing barriers during his visit to the city last month. The railway project will complement the development of the Northern Metropolis, which aims to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land into a new engine for economic growth with a population of about 2.5 million and around 650,000 jobs.
RTHK
6 hours ago
- RTHK
Northern Link main and spur lines to debut together
Northern Link main and spur lines to debut together The government and the MTR Corporation sign an agreement on the Northern Link project. Photo: Information Services Department The government said the Northern Link Spur Line rail project will be completed sooner than expected. Officials said the Northern Link is a key transport infrastructure of Hong Kong's future development, as it would become 'the public transportation backbone' in the Northern Metropolis. In addition to the main line, the cross-boundary spur line will connect the metro networks of the SAR and Shenzhen, as well as the new Huanggang Port. A government spokesman said in a statement that authorities are taking 'a holistic planning and staged implementation strategy', by combining the main and spur lines as one project for planning, to achieve synergies and realise cost savings. "Adopting a result-oriented mindset, we would improve the construction efficiency through adopting railway-related mainland standards, practices and resources, substantially bringing forward the planning of the Northern Link Spur Line. The target is to commission the Northern Link Spur Line together with the Northern Link Main Line by 2034 or earlier, which is about two years earlier than what was originally envisaged," he said. The chief executive in council on Tuesday approved the financial arrangement for part one of the Northern Link, due for completion in 2034. The Transport and Logistics Bureau signed an agreement with the MTR Corporation, and the capital cost of the project is estimated at about HK$31.4 billion. The rail company was also granted 10 plots of land including sites at Kam Sheung Road Station, Fanling North, Kwu Tung North and San Tin, for residential and commercial development under the 'Rail-plus-Property' model. The government said a total of HK$39.05 billion would be deducted from the full market value land premium of the sites assessed on a 'with-railway' basis in future, to support the building of the Northern Link. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on social media that the government will work with the rail firm to lower the cost of the project, while speeding up construction. The government said works "that are more ready and time-critical" will begin immediately. The MTR Corportaion is also required to carry out the detailed planning and design of the spur line, including statutory procedures relating to the environmental impact assessment and railway scheme gazettal, and strive for finish the procedures as early as possible.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
University of Hong Kong calls Pok Fu Lam site best option for its innovation hub
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has said that Pok Fu Lam is the best location for building its innovation hub compared with alternatives such as the Northern Metropolis, arguing the site could yield the fastest outcomes and see the first section open its doors as early as 2032. Advertisement The university's stance was shared in a report submitted on Tuesday to the Town Planning Board about a revised development plan for HKU's global innovation centre. An initial proposal had suggested that the centre be built on a government-owned green belt along Pok Fu Lam Road, but the move faced strong opposition from residents last year due to concerns about traffic, the environmental impact and a lack of consultation. The plan was later revised to preserve more than 75 per cent of the green belt, with most of the innovation hub to be built on a nearby residential plot, while maintaining a distance of more than 100 metres (328 feet) from Upper Baguio Villa. The revised plan involves a site area of 40,000 square metres and a gross floor area of 190,000 square metres, with both representing a 15 per cent reduction from the previous proposal. Advertisement
