The MTR Tung Chung Line extension project diverging into an east and west section has been approved by the Chief Executive and the Executive Council on Tuesday.
The construction work will commence this year and is expected to be completed in 2029, according to a government statement.
The project is comprised of the Tung Chung East section and the Tung Chung West section.
The former includes the construction of an above-ground Tung Chung East station at the reclamation area between the existing Sunny Bay Station and Tung Chung Station and the 1.2 km-long railway track re-alignment for the existing Tung Chung Line.
As for the Tung Chung West section, it is a 1.3 km-long westward extension from the existing railway tunnels of Tung Chung Station.
A new underground Tung Chung West station will be built west of Yat Tung Estate and will become the new terminal station of the line.
“The Tung Chung New Town development is one of the important medium-to-long-term sources of land supply in Hong Kong to meet housing, economic and social needs.” a government spokesperson said.
“The MTR line extension will offer direct railway access to the New Town to support the long-term, sustainable growth in population and employment opportunities in that area,” he added.
“The journey times from Tung Chung West station and Tung Chung East station to Tsim Sha Tsui or Central by railway are expected to be reduced by about 12 minutes and 21 minutes, respectively.”
According to the spokesperson, the original proposal and the amended one were gazetted in December 2021 and June last year, respectively. The government then studied the objections voiced by residents with MTR and met with them to explain the scheme and address their concerns.
The government has submitted the objections to the Executive Council for consideration as well, the spokesperson said.
The project is comprised of the Tung Chung East section and the Tung Chung West section.
The former includes the construction of an above-ground Tung Chung East station at the reclamation area between the existing Sunny Bay Station and Tung Chung Station and the 1.2 km-long railway track re-alignment for the existing Tung Chung Line.
As for the Tung Chung West section, it is a 1.3 km-long westward extension from the existing railway tunnels of Tung Chung Station.
A new underground Tung Chung West station will be built west of Yat Tung Estate and will become the new terminal station of the line.
“The Tung Chung New Town development is one of the important medium-to-long-term sources of land supply in Hong Kong to meet housing, economic and social needs.” a government spokesperson said.
“The MTR line extension will offer direct railway access to the New Town to support the long-term, sustainable growth in population and employment opportunities in that area,” he added.
“The journey times from Tung Chung West station and Tung Chung East station to Tsim Sha Tsui or Central by railway are expected to be reduced by about 12 minutes and 21 minutes, respectively.”
According to the spokesperson, the original proposal and the amended one were gazetted in December 2021 and June last year, respectively. The government then studied the objections voiced by residents with MTR and met with them to explain the scheme and address their concerns.
The government has submitted the objections to the Executive Council for consideration as well, the spokesperson said.