‘Using mainland Chinese standards for Hong Kong rail project can cut costs by 30%’
Highways Department also says cost of first phase of Northern Link is HK$31.4 billion and construction set to begin in 2027
The Highways Department said on Wednesday the estimated cost of the first phase of the Northern Link rail development was HK$31.4 billion (US$4 billion) and construction of the spur line using mainland standards was set to begin in 2027.
“The mainland railway standard is world-leading, and we have absolute confidence in its safety,” department director Tony Yau Kwok-ting said, adding Hong Kong should follow it.
The Northern Link was crucial for the Northern Metropolis, as its main line would allow residents from New Territories North to reach Hong Kong Island and Kowloon within 40 minutes, he said.
The Highways Department meanwhile said it aimed to reduce the Northern Link’s construction cost by 20 to 30 per cent.
The first part of a two-part deal covering the construction of the Northern Link was signed by the MTR Corporation and the government on Tuesday. It allows the rail giant to use HK$39.05 billion in financing taken from land premiums and opens the door for the company to work with mainland partners.