XN000022-1995-04-19 — Page 24

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Infrastructure

Recognising the strategic location of the Northwest New Territories in the context of cross-border transportation links, the Government has firm plans to provide new road and rail systems which would facilitate the passage and access of passengers and freight between Hong Kong and China. These projects will also improve the transportation between the Northwest New Territories and the Metro area.

The dual 3 lane Route 3 (Country Park Section) is due to open in mid 1998. It will greatly reduce the journey time from the Northwest New Territories to the urban area and will improve transportation links between the border and the container port. In the meantime, we will relieve traffic congestion on the Tuen Mun Highway by constructing additional climbing lanes in the most congested uphill sections by July 1996. There are other plans to facilitate cross-border traffic, including for example improvements to the Lok Ma Chau border crossing point by adding 10 extra channels by early 1998, providing an extra lane in the Tolo Highway from Sha Tin to Tai Po for completion also by 2001, constructing Route 16 from Sha Tin to Cheung Sha Wan by 2001, and building a new link from the New Territories Circular Road to the Man Kam To border crossing.

Following the announcement of the Railway Development Strategy in December last year, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation has been invited to submit proposals for building a new Western Corridor Railway from the border to West Kowloon, with a spur line to Tuen Mun north. This new railway will allow the transportation of freight containers direct from the border into the container port, thus relieving the New Territories road system. It will also greatly enhance cross-border passenger travel and will provide a commuter service to carry Northwest New Territories residents to the urban area. Completion of the railway will enhance the land development potential in the area, and will relieve pressure on external road links.

To cope with the rapidly increasing volume of cargo traffic between the Pearl River Delta and the port of Hong Kong, shippers are also seeking alternative means to transport containers to and from China. They are increasingly looking to the Pearl River. This is reflected in the dramatic increase in containerisation of river cargoes in recent years. Tuen Mun in the Northwest New Territories provides an ideal location for a river trade terminal handling cargo to and from Pearl River Delta ports. By using Tuen Mun, river vessels will be able to avoid the busy Ma Wan Channel and will also operate away from the ocean-going vessels using Kwai Chung and the New Lantau Port. The Government will invite tenders for the building and operation of the river trade terminal later this year. The first phase of the terminal is expected to begin operation by late 1998.