ENG-2002 — Page 298

TRANSPORT

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Railway Development and RDS-2000

Railways play a key role in the above strategy as they are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly mass carriers. The Government, therefore, accords high priority to railway development.

About $75 billion has been committed to five railways under construction for completion between 2003 and 2007 and, together with the newly opened MTR Tseung Kwan O Line, this railway development involves a total investment of nearly $100 billion. The five railways are the West Rail, the Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Rail Link, the KCR Tsim Sha Tsui Extension, the Penny's Bay Rail Link and the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. The MTR Tseung Kwan O Line, which comprises seven MTR stations between Po Lam and North Point, began operation on August 18.

To meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner for the next two decades, the Government has formulated the Railway Development Strategy 2000 (RDS-2000) based on the findings of the Second Railway Development Study. The RDS-2000 provides a blueprint for the next phase of railway development, and recommends six new projects costing $100 billion. These are the Shatin to Central Link, the Island Line Extensions, the Kowloon Southern Link, the Northern Link, the Regional Express Line and the Port Rail Line.

Transport Infrastructure

Existing Road Network

At the end of 2002, Hong Kong had 1924 kilometres of roads and 1044 road structures, three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels, nine road tunnels and three bridges built high above sea level. These facilities provide a comprehensive road network for Hong Kong.

Recent major projects completed include:

Tsing Ma Control Area (TMCA): the TMCA is a 21-kilometre expressway network comprising the Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, North-West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Lantau Link, Ting Kau Bridge, part of the North Lantau Highway as well as Ma Wan Road (opened in late 2002). It has a one-way toll collection arrangement. Vehicles travelling on the Lantau Link are charged twice the single journey toll when they return from Lantau Island or enter Ma Wan. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80 for different types of vehicles. The TMCA is operated and maintained by a private management contractor, and is equipped with an extensive traffic control and surveillance system. The system provides a high degree of automation to regulate traffic flows, to assist in dealing with incidents and to provide useful information to motorists.

Tsing Yi North Coastal Road: this is a 2.2-kilometre highway built to dual two-lane trunk road standard linking North-West Tsing Yi Interchange and Tam Kon Shan Interchange, and forming part of the Tsing Ma Control Area; it was completed in January and opened to the public in February.

Hiram's Highway Improvement Phase III: this is a realigned 0.7-kilometre single two-lane carriageway linking the Nam Wai and Ho Chung areas to enhance the safety of motorists and the flow of traffic in the two areas; it was substantially completed in July. The work also involves upgrading of local access roads.