INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Channel Bridge and the Cheung Ching Tunnel. The Kwai Chung Viaduct and the Tsing Yi section were opened to traffic on February 19, 1997, and May 22, 1997, respectively.
The double-deck Lantau Link consists of the Tsing Ma Bridge linking Tsing Yi to Ma Wan; a viaduct over Ma Wan; and the cable-stayed Kap Shui Mun Bridge linking Ma Wan to Lantau. The Tsing Ma Bridge, with a main span of almost 1.4 kilometres, is the world's longest suspension bridge carrying both road and rail traffic. The Lantau Link was opened to traffic on May 22, 1997, and has become a new landmark for Hong Kong. The North Lantau Expressway is a 12.5-kilometre highway along the northern coast of Lantau, joining the Lantau Link to Tung Chung new town and the new airport. It was opened to traffic on May 22, 1997.
Airport Railway
The AR consists of two services: the Tung Chung Line and Airport Express. They were brought into public service on June 22 and July 6, respectively. The two operate mainly on shared tracks but stop at different platforms. Airport Express is a dedicated, fast and reliable railway service linking Hong Kong Station in the heart of Central with Kowloon Station, Tsing Yi Station and the passenger terminal of Hong Kong International Airport. The Tung Chung Line offers a fast and convenient transport link for commuters to Tung Chung new town, Tsing Yi and West Kowloon. There are six stations on the line, namely Hong Kong, Kowloon, Olympic, Lai King, Tsing Yi and Tung Chung.
A unique feature of the Airport Express is the free In-Town Check-In service offered by airlines at Hong Kong and Kowloon Stations. Each station has convenient drop-off areas for taxis and private cars. Commuters may also connect directly with the MTR network or make use of the free Airport Express Hotel Shuttles. Each Airport Express Station is of state-of-the-art design. There are greeting areas, a free porter service, free trolleys, flight schedule indicators displaying the latest flight information and a friendly shopping environment for last minute purchases.
Formation of Land
In all, 1669 hectares of land have been created: 1 248 hectares for the new airport platform; 67 hectares for Phase I of Tung Chung new town on Lantau; 334 hectares for West Kowloon Reclamation; and 20 hectares for Central Reclamation Phase I.
Tung Chung new town is planned to house 320 000 people by 2011. It will ultimately occupy two valleys at Tung Chung and Tai Ho, plus a coastal strip of reclamation in between. Besides providing support services for the new airport, it will accommodate commercial and industrial developments and serve as an impressive gateway to Hong Kong for visitors. All infrastructure, community-support facilities, public rental housing and home ownership scheme blocks for the Phase I of Tung Chung New Town Development planned to support a population of 20 000 were essentially complete and about 14 000 have moved in. The North Lantau Refuse Transfer Station began to accept waste on June 1. The West Kowloon Reclamation will provide housing for more than 150 000 people, commercial space and vital road and rail arteries linking Kowloon with the new airport and north-west New Territories. The reclamation and infrastructure were substantially complete in 1997. Phase I of the Central Reclamation provides land for the AR Hong Kong Station and
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