No major cost-cutting changes expected for Trunk Road T4, Hong Kong official says after HK$7.16 billion funding request withdrawal

Director of Civil Engineering and Development Michael Fong also says authorities planning to resubmit more detailed proposal to Legco soon

‘At the moment, we are still thoroughly looking into the possibility, but initially speaking, there isn’t much chance for major changes,’ he adds

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An illustration of the connection points for the Shing Sun Tunnel Road and Tsing Sha Highway to Trunk Road T4. Photo: Legco

Published: 1:40pm, 3 Apr 2024Updated: 8:19pm, 3 Apr 2024

The design of a multibillion-dollar trunk road project is unlikely to undergo major changes to cut costs, a Hong Kong official has said, as authorities plan to resubmit a more detailed proposal to the city’s legislature.

Director of Civil Engineering and Development Michael Fong Hok-shing gave the public updates on the project’s progress on Wednesday and said authorities had been examining different options for Trunk Road T4, designed to connect Ma On Shan to Tsing Sha Highway and Shing Mun Tunnel Road.

“Recently we have been considering different options, whether we can take out some enhancement facilities or improvement works to lower the cost,” Fong told a radio programme. “At the moment we are still thoroughly looking into the possibility, but initially speaking, there isn’t much chance for major changes.”

Authorities withdrew a HK$7.16 billion (US$915 million) funding request for the proposed trunk road in Sha Tin last month, just a day before it was to be discussed in the Legislative Council on the grounds that lawmakers needed more information.

Legislators raised concerns over the significant rise in costs, more than six times the original HK$1.1 billion estimate in 2006, the project’s initial start year.

Fong said a variety of factors had contributed to the cost increases, including inflation over the years and changes to the original designs for the routes.

The latest proposal would involve the construction of two dual-lane trunk roads spanning 2.3km (1.4 miles), the widening of existing roads and the construction of elevated foot and cycling paths.