HK$1.13 billion price tag for Hong Kong New Territories highway study questioned; lawmaker says city goes at ‘turtle speed’ on big road projects
- Legco hears evaluation study on east-west link in New Territories expected to take 38 months
- Lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok questions cost and says Hong Kong needs to ‘loosen restrictions and streamline the process’ to compete with rest of Greater Bay Area
Hong Kong lawmakers were shocked after they were told of a massive HK$1.13 billion (US$144.4 million) price tag and the time needed for an evaluation of a proposed highway to connect the east and west of the New Territories as part of the huge Northern Metropolis project.
The Legislative Council’s transport panel on Friday discussed the funding proposal for a three-year-plus study on the design and impact of construction of a road to speed traffic in the New Territories with the first part scheduled to be completed in the 2030s.
But lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok said he was concerned at the proposed cost of the 38-month study. He questioned why it would take “more than HK$1.1 billion for preliminary study and site investigation instead of completing the highway construction”.
“Many mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area can complete road projects within a few years,” Lo added. “We need to loosen restrictions and streamline the process … how can we compete with them at such a ‘turtle speed’?”
The Greater Bay Area refers to Beijing’s plan to turn Hong Kong and Macau, along with nine cities in Guangdong province, into an economic powerhouse.
The proposed Northern Metropolis Highway would be about 23km (14.3 miles) long and connect Tin Shui Wai, San Tin, Kwu Tung and the New Territories North New Town.
One of the four sections is scheduled to be completed between 2034 and 2038 and the rest would be commissioned from 2039 on.
The new highway would cut the present 32km driving distance between New Territories North New Town and Tin Shui Wai by 9km.
The road is expected to take about 40 per cent of the traffic volume between the east and west of the New Territories at peak hours and alleviate congestion on existing routes.
The highway is part of a government plan to develop 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land in the northern New Territories close to the border with mainland China’s Shenzhen.
The mega project will create 500,000 flats and 500,000 new jobs in total.
The biggest chunk of the HK$1.13 billion would be taken up by site investigation at HK$648.8 million. Consultation fees would amount to HK$329.3 million, with the remainder used for supervision and contingency purposes.
The study would identify the alignment, layout, preliminary design and the land needed for the highway.
It would also cover environmental and cultural heritage impact assessments, as well as listing needed mitigation measures.
Frankie Yick Chi-ming, a transport sector lawmaker, said he was concerned by the government’s practice of listing its expected expenditure on consultation fees while it invited tenders to carry out the study.
“Bidders can model their proposals around the figure,” he said. “Is this the most suitable way? Is this the best way to use public funds?”
David To Kam-biu, a principal project coordinator at the Highways Department major works project management office, said the highway would pass by a huge amount of undeveloped land, wetlands and rivers, which would require site studies on a huge scale and efforts to coordinate with other development projects.
“We need more time to do the site investigation,” To said.
The paper submitted to the legislature said the highway was a “mega and complex project” as it also had to connect with existing road networks, as well as crossing over existing and planned highways and railway lines.
The road would also pass through Lam Tsuen Country Park, wetland conservation areas and across the Shan Pui and Kam Tin Rivers, as well as traverse valleys and slopes.
Patrick Ng Wai-hong, a project manager in the major works project management office, explained that the government had consulted a variety of departments and did not have enough resources to carry out the study itself.
He said that it would take six months to review the proposal and another 15 months to carry out the environmental impact assessment.
He added that it would also need 11 months to gazette the project.
“In setting the 38-month time frame, we have tried to shorten the time needed by doing the traffic impact assessment, preliminary design and site investigation works at the same time,” Ng said.
