Transport 253
Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner over the next two decades.
Hong Kong's railway development has progressed rapidly during the past few years. Over $170 billion has been invested in six railway projects prescribed in RDS 2000. They are:
• the Kowloon Southern Link (commissioned in August 2009);
⚫ the West Island Line (commenced construction in 2009);
• the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) (commenced construction in 2010);
⚫ the Kwun Tong Line Extension (commenced construction in 2011);
⚫ the South Island Line (East) (commenced construction in 2011); and
the Sha Tin-to-Central Link (the advance works commenced construction in
2011).
Construction of the West Island Line and the Hong Kong section of the XRL continued, while the Kwun Tong Line Extension, the South Island Line (East) and the advance works of the Sha Tin-to-Central Link commenced construction in May 2011. The main works of the Sha Tin-to-Central Link is in the design stage.
Since the completion of the RDS 2000 in 2000, there have been major changes to the planning parameters of various areas of Hong Kong. There have also been sharp increases in cross-boundary passenger and vehicular traffic due to closer integration of the economies and people in the Mainland and Hong Kong. It is therefore necessary to review and update the blueprint of railway development to take account of the changing needs of society and the latest planning parameters.
A consultancy study on the Review and Update of the Railway Development Strategy 2000 commenced in March 2011 for completion in 2013. It comprises a comprehensive review of railway projects recommended in the RDS 2000 that have not yet been implemented, and studies on other proposals made by the Government or the public. The study findings will help in the planning of these railway projects.
Transport Infrastructure
Road Network
Hong Kong has 2 086 kilometres of roads and 1 316 road structures, 16 road tunnels (including the three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels) and five major cable supported bridges.
Tunnels
The Government owns 11 road tunnels: the Cross-Harbour, Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Kai Tak, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing, Tai Wai, Sha Tin Height, Eagle's Nest and Nam Wan tunnels.