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19.
(a) what will be the actual benefits arising from the KCR extension from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui as recommended in the Strategy, and whether the proposed extension will result in an increase of passenger flow at the already overloaded Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station;
(b) whether the Government will consider the feasibility of extending the MTR to Kowloon City in view of the proposed extension from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui; and
(c) whether, apart from the high priority projects of the three railway networks recommended in the Strategy, the Government will study the construction of other new railway networks in the near future?
Reply:
Mr President,
The proposed KCR extension from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui will be of distinct benefit to tens of thousands of commuters. Residents from Sha Tin and the other townships in Northeast New Territories whose destination is Tsim Sha Tsui will have direct rail access, via the KCR. They will no longer have to change to the MTR at Kowloon Tong Station, and then switch trains by crossing the platform at Mong Kok Station to reach Tsim Sha Tsui. In turn, this will reduce existing journey time considerably. Since commuters can stay on the KCR, this will also greatly relieve congestion along on the Nathan Road Corridor.
The Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui loop is also a fundamental component of the proposed intermediate capacity rail system between Ma On Shan and Tai Wai. Without this loop, all passengers bound for urban Kowloon and Hong Kong would have little choice but to change trains at Kowloon Tong. This would severely aggravate the congestion problem at this station.
Turning now to Tsim Sha Tsui station, it is, indeed, a very busy station during peak hours. The Hon LAU Chin-shek is quite right in pointing out that the proposed KCR loop will result in an increase in passenger flow since commuters would have to switch to the MTR at this station to cross the harbour to Hong Kong. This is obviously an area which requires attention and will be investigated in depth in the engineering feasibility study recently commissioned by Government. Both MTRC and KCRC will provide input for this study.