CWDC Paper No. 1/2015

Central & Western District Council Progress Report of the West Island Line (WIL) Project

1. Introduction

This paper provides the latest updates on the West Island Line (WIL) project.

2. Background

The construction of WIL began in July 2009 and MTR Island Line service extended to Western District on 28 December 2014, serving passengers at the HKU and stations. Station is expected to open at the end of the first quarter in 2015.

3. Island Line Extension to Western District

HKU and Kennedy Town stations were in service on 28 December 2014. Due to the difficult ground conditions, the required number of entrances of were not completed in time to open in December 2014. Hence, the station is expected to open at the end of the first quarter in 2015 while the Ki Ling Lane entrance is expected to open in the fourth quarter this year.

3.1 Sai Ying Pun Station Pre-opening Special Discount Promotion

To encourage commuters living and working in the vicinity of Sai Ying Pun Station to use the new rail service from Station or HKU Station, a special HK$2 “Sai Ying Pun Station Pre-opening Special Discount” has been offered to Adult Octopus users (HK$1 discount for concession Octopus) from 28 December 2014 until the opening of Sai Ying Pun Station. The discount can be obtained at self-service machines located inside four 7-Eleven convenience stores in the Sai Ying Pun area including : 1) Shop E, Tai Hing Building, 125 West, Sai Ying Pun

1 2) Shop A, Kaiser Centre, 18 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun 3) 55 , Sai Ying Pun and 4) 240 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun

3.2 Interchange Discount Scheme between MTR and GMB/Citybus

For the convenience of the passengers using the new railway service, the Corporation joined hands with the GMB and franchised bus operators to launch the “Interchange Discount Scheme” for six months. During the promotion period, Adult Octopus users interchanging between MTR and six designated GMB routes including 23, 23M, 54M, 58, 58A, 58M and one Citybus route, 43 M, at can enjoy a 50-cent fare discount.

3.3 Other Fare Promotions

Moreover, the “MTR City Saver Ticket”, “10% Same-Day Second-Trip Discount” as well as the 25% discount off the normal fare for journeys of the "Monthly Pass Extra" are valid for the three new stations. The Early Bird Discount promotion also offers 25% discount off to passengers who travel from the three new stations to the designated 29 stations.

4. Project Progress

4.1 Sai Ying Pun Station

E&M and Building Services works at the station are substantially completed. At station concourse, installation of the Passenger Information Display Systems, ticket machines, entry/exit gates and Customer Service Centre are completed and testing are being undertaken. Different tests on various systems such as fire services equipment, computer, CCTV and public announcement system are being carried out. Escalators are installed and relevant tests are underway.

Architectural, Builder's Work & Finishing (ABWF) works for the station entrance at Sai Woo Lane and associated passenger adits are substantially complete. Lift and escalators have been

2 installed while the installation of other E&M facilities is in progress. Ground levelling works and re-provisioning works of Sai Woo Lane Playground are being carried out.

In addition, structural works of the Bonham Road station entrance are completed and E&M installation works and relevant testing are in progress. Ground levelling and road reinstatment works of the entrance are being carried out.

Major structural works of station entrance at and Second Street are substantially completed and the architectural fit-out, E&M installation and building services works are ongoing. Provision of public utilities is underway.

Structural works of Sai Ying Pun Station entrance at Ki Ling Lane work site continue. The drilling works and installation of freezing tubes continue for the remaining 20-metre passenger adit.

4.2 Re-provisioning of Kennedy Town Swimming Pool (Phase II)

Re-provisioning of Kennedy Town Swimming Pool (Phase II) at Shing Sai Road commenced in September 2014 and foundation works are underway.

4.3 West Island Line Re-provisioned Recreational Facilities Arrangement

To facilitate the construction of WIL, some recreational areas in Western District are temporarily occupied as work sites. Upon the completion of WIL, the Corporation will reinstate the recreational facilities and area, and the concerned areas will be handed over to the relevant government departments in phases (The details are set out in Appendix III). The Forbes Street Temporary Playground and Smithfield Sitting-out Area have been handed over to the Leisure and Culture Service Department while the GMB Boarding / Alighting Area outside Kennedy Town Station has been handed over to the Transport Department.

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5 Temporary Traffic Management Schemes ( TTMS )

Construction works, underground utilities works and re-provisioning works are underway at Sai Ying Pun station entrances. Temporary Traffic Management Schemes are being implemented on Queen’s Road West, Des Voeux Road West, First Street, Second Street, High Street and Bonham Road.

Please refer to Appendix I for the major TTMS being implemented under the WIL project.

6 Community Liaison

6.1 Community Activities

The project team participated in the Bonham Road Government Primary School Open Day for the third consecutive year. On 22 November 2014, a booth with WIL exhibition, project video and games was set up to provide a better understanding of the project to students and parents.

Before the service commencement of the WIL, the Corporation arranged several visits for the local community including members from the Central and Western District Council and other 17 District Councils, Community Liaison Groups, relevant government departments and disabled groups to HKU and Kennedy Town stations to familiarise them with the new station facilities and train service.

6.2 Lift-only Entrances of WIL Stations

HKU Station and Sai Ying Pun Station are the first stations in the rail network to feature “Lift-only Entrances”, which connect the hillside and lower levels in Western District with passenger adits, escalators and moving walkways in the unpaid area, for the convenience of passengers and pedestrians alike. To introduce its unique features, the Corporation organised engineering forum, media briefing, visits for the members of Central and Western

4 District Council and Community Liaison Groups in November 2014.

6.3 Open Days at HKU Station and Kennedy Town Station

To help members of the local community familiarise with the new stations and facilities, Open Days of HKU Station and Kennedy Town Station were organised on 13 and 14 December 2014 respectively. The station staff introduced the station facilities including the multi-function ticket machines, entry/exit gates, station art, Customer Service Centre, platform, lift-only entrances and Station Control Room to the local community in the guided tours. The carnival at Kennedy Town Station enabled the local community to get familiar with the new railway services through various themed games.

6.4 Official Ceremony to Celebrate Extension of MTR Island Line Service to Western District and The First Train Service

To celebrate the extension of the MTR Island Line to Western District, an official ceremony was held on 27 December 2014. Hundreds of guests from government departments, Central & Western District Council, contractors, community organisations and media joined the ceremony. HKSAR Chief Executive Mr C Y Leung, Central & Western District Council Chairman Mr Yip Wing-shing, Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing Mr Yau Shing-mu, Transport Advisory Committee Chairman Mr Larry Kwok Lam-kwong and representatives of MTR Corporation officiated at the ceremony. Moreover, the Corporation provided a special train ride from Kennedy Town Station for some senior citizens and children to experience the new railway service.

Next day, Chairman of Central and Western District Council Mr Yip Wing-shing, District Officer (Central and Western) Miss Cheryl Chow, representative of MTR Corporation joined members of the Western District Community and a student representative from The University of in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of railway service and took the first train from Kennedy Town Station, signifying the Island Lind service being officially extended to Western District.

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Moreover, Acting CEO of MTR Corporation Mr Lincoln Leong officiated at a Poon Choi banquet which was held at Forbes Street Temporary Playground on 28 December 2014. The Corporation sponsored a thousand gift sets to share the excitement of service commencement of the West Island Line with the community.

6.5 Project Information

The latest newsletter is uploaded to the WIL website to keep the public informed of the project progress.

7. Public Opinion

During the period from October to December 2014, the Corporation received and followed up 196 enquiry cases via the MTR Projects Hotline, letters and referrals by government departments and District Councillors. These cases are mainly related to site management, noise, alignment, operation details/ progress. For details, please refer to Appendix II.

8. Conclusion

The Corporation is striving to proceed with the construction works of Sai Ying Pun Station and continues to maintain close communications with the Central and Western District Council and the community.

MTR Corporation January 2015

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