bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Sammy Heung

A new East Kowloon railway line that is expected to be completed by 2033 should target more residents in nearby areas with affordable fares, a lawmaker and a district councillor have said, after Hong Kong authorities revealed further details about the project.
Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu from the Federation of Trade Unions said on Thursday that the planning of the new railway line was better than expected, but there was still room for improvement.
Transport authorities submitted a paper to the Kwun Tong District Council earlier this week with new details about the project’s timeline and the locations of nine stations. Further discussions are expected to take place on Monday next week.
In his 2023 policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the plan to introduce a smart and green mass transit system in the eastern part of Kowloon for tens of thousands of inhabitants to use.


Tang said that no stations had been planned for the long gap between Lam Tin North and Yau Tong East.
“There is nearly 1km of tunnel section [in the area], which passes through highly populated communities such as Kwong Tin Estate, Hong Nga Court and Hong Pak Court, and some newly built public estates,” he told a radio programme.
“We expect that when this project is finished, the supply of minibuses and buses will be affected. It means there will be fewer land transport services for communities that are not covered.”
Tang said the government should ensure that the area could be covered by the railway line.
“As the train has to pass through a tunnel, if we have to find a space in the tunnel and construct a station on the ground level, the construction can become very complicated,” he said.
“The government did not plan to have the Lam Tin North station, but they now do … We hope the rest of the residents can be covered too.”
According to the government’s latest plan, the new line will be 7km (4.3 miles) long, including a 1km tunnel and nine stations, between Choi Hung East and Yau Tong East.
The new Lam Tin North station has been added to the eight initially planned – Choi Hung East, Choi Wan, Shun Lee, Shun On, Sau Mau Ping, Po Tat, Ma Yau Tong and Yau Tong East.

The tunnel section between Ma Yau Tong and Yau Tong East will be adjusted, with part of the route being elevated to accommodate the construction of a station on the hillside next to Pik Wan Road in Lam Tin North.
Authorities aim to complete the statutory procedures and tendering process by 2026, and award the contract in 2027, in hopes of starting operation by 2033.
But Tang said the government paper did not disclose information about fares. Many residents were concerned about how concessionary fares would be integrated into those of the MTR Corporation if the tender was not awarded to the city’s rail giant in the future.
Kwun Tong district councillor Wilson Or Chong-shing said the latest plan had addressed public opinion, but suggested that there should be another stop between the stations of Lam Tin North and Yau Tong East.
“In Kwong Tak, there are 14 Home Ownership Scheme estates and also public housing. There will be five Subsidised Sale Flats Project housing blocks built in the future, which involve 10,000,” he said on the same radio show.
“It will be perfect if Kwong Tak station can be added.”
The Highways Department agreed that it would look into his suggestions and hoped the company that won the tender would consider them, Or said.
He stressed that fares should be set at an affordable level for the public, adding that the future operator should discuss with the MTR Corp on concessionary and section-based rates to ensure seamless integration.


Hong Kong needs route for taxis, ride-hailing firms to co-exist: lawmakers

Hong Kong leader rejects taxi licence buy-back amid ‘irreversible’ ride-hailing trend

Fairer fees at end of tunnel for Hong Kong motorists following shake-up

Hong Kong can support taxi sector by using levies to create fund: Uber executive

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong urged to widen coverage of new rail link with affordable fares

The new East Kowloon railway line is expected to be completed by 2033. Photo: May Tse

Chief Executive John Lee outlined plans for a smart and green mass transit system in the eastern part of Kowloon as part of his 2023 policy address. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong’s MTR Corp proposes 9.4% Airport Express fare increase

The Airport Express fares may increase 9.4 per cent under a proposal by the MTR Corp. Photo: Nora Tam

The MTR Corp submitted its fare adjustment proposal to the Legislative Council on Tuesday. Photo: Jelly Tse

Willing to pay extra for Hong Kong’s Airport Express? Are there cheaper options?

The MTR has proposed a 9.4 per cent fare increase for the Airport Express meaning journeys from Hong Kong station to the airport will cost HK$120. Photo: Jelly Tse

Taxis may be the most convenient option to get to and from the airport, but they are also the most costly. Photo: Sun Yeung

News

Hong Kong

Transport

The 7km East Kowloon link will include nine stations between Choi Hung East and Yau Tong East, according to latest plan


The 7km East Kowloon link will include nine stations between Choi Hung East and Yau Tong East, according to latest plan.
