Hong Kong turns on fund pipeline in push for bigger basics

Hong Kong will continue to spend billions of dollars on infrastructure projects beyond the 10 major projects that were pushed through in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008.

MTR Corporation is looking at three rail projects with an estimated budget totalling HK$28 billion, namely the North Island Line and the Kai Tak Environmentally Friendly Linkage System (EFLS), according to Legislative Council documents.

"MTR is not resting just on the 10 major infrastructure projects but looking forward to the next projects," said Vincent Connor, Hong Kong head of Pinsent Masons, an international law firm.

In addition, the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link, a 4.5-kilometre, three-lane highway with a 3.7-kilometre tunnel along the northern coast of Hong Kong island, is scheduled to open to traffic on 2017 and cost HK$28.1 billion, according to the Highways Department.

Then there is the second stage of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, with a total budget of HK$13 billion, according to the project's website.

This is the government's project to improve the quality of water in Victoria Harbour through sewage and waste water treatment, which will be fully commissioned in 2014.