Hong Kong’s high-speed rail link to mainland set for trials next month, ahead of planned September opening
Chief Executive Carrie Lam called on the legislature to approve plans for controversial joint checkpoint at work completion ceremony on Friday
Hong Kong’s high-speed rail link to the mainland will proceed to a trial operation stage next month with the HK$84.4 billion (US$10.7 billion) project ready for opening in September pending final approval of a controversial joint checkpoint plan.
Speaking at a work completion ceremony at the West Kowloon terminal on Friday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor called on the Legislative Council to pass the joint checkpoint bill as soon as possible.
“Today’s an important milestone for the high-speed rail project as it is now 99 per cent complete … I tried it out myself and it only took eight minutes travelling from Shek Kong Stabling Sidings to here in West Kowloon,” she said.
“Now it’s only one step away from our target of opening the high-speed rail in September – local legislation of its joint checkpoint facility. I hope all lawmakers will adopt a pragmatic approach in scrutinising the bill so the co-location arrangement can be passed very soon,” she said.
Under the bill, the West Kowloon terminal for the line will house a facility for both local and mainland authorities to carry out immigration and customs procedures.
A designated area, including two office floors, waiting hall for departing passengers, station platforms and connecting passageways and escalators, as well as the compartments of the trains, will be subject to the jurisdiction and laws of mainland China.