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Background
1. The Hong Kong Government has announced plans for the development of northern Lentao as an industrial area and the possible site of a new airport.
A new road link with the mainland is central to these plans and a consortium of British consul- tants with branch offices in Hong Kong the Engineering Consultants Group of Hong Kong led by Mott, Hay and Anderson was commissioned last year to report on the form of an island-hopping road linking Lantao with Kowloon via Ma Wan and Toing Ti. The report recommended a crossing comprising three bridges and associated highways and costing HK 1 billion (1979 prices). Altematives suggested included a submerged tube tunnel or bored tunnel.
2. The Hong Kong Public Works Department (PHD) has now invited the consortium to submit further studies, including a possible rail link between Tuen Mun (on Lantao) and Chek Lap Kok and a possible road extension from the proposed terminal point on Lantao to Chep Lap Kok. They have also been asked to produce a preliminary study for a causeway between Ma Wan and Lantao as an altemative to the cantilever bridge recommended in their original report. The consortium is due to report in mid 1930.
3. The time-table for the project has slipped somewhat partly because of Government spending restrictions on major capital projects. However, our information is that it will definitely go ahead, The British Trade Commission are keeping a close eye on developments.
Overseas Unit TCC Division
February 1980
TH