Shatin Section Newsletter

June 2012

Rail construction commences

The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project was first gazetted under the "Railways Ordinance" on 26 November 2010, followed with the first and second amendment schemes gazetted on 15 July and 11 November 2011 respectively. The Legislative Council’s Finance Committee approved funding for the SCL project in May 2012. Following the funding approval, the construction of the project commences. The to Hung Hom Section is expected to be completed in 2018 followed by the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section in 2020.

Benefits The SCL will connect Hong Kong Island, and the New Territories, providing passengers with a fast, reliable and convenient rail service. The new rail link will also offer an alternative route to relieve congestion on the , and , giving passengers more options to reach their destinations.

Once the SCL is in service, passengers from the Line or East Rail Line will be able to go directly to East and West Kowloon, and even New Territories West without interchanging at Kowloon Tong Station after passing through . The new rail link will greatly reduce travelling time. From Tai Wai, passengers will be able to get to Diamond Hill in 5 minutes while those travelling to Kai Tak, Ho Man Tin and Admiralty will reach their destinations in only 8, 13 and 17 minutes respectively. Tai Wai Station Tai Wai

Alignment Hin Keng

Hin Keng Station

The Shatin Section of the SCL will extend the existing SCL Tai Wai to Ma On Shan Line tracks from the south of Tai Wai Hung Hom Section Lion Rock Station, passing through the new station in Hin Keng To and the newly constructed tunnel at the Lion Rock, to East Rail Line Diamond Hill Station in Wong Tai Sin district. and Tunnels

Hin Keng Station will be an elevated structure located at the existing Animal Management Centre and Shatin Plant Quarantine Station as well as Hin Tin Playground. The affected Animal Management Centre and Shatin Hin Keng Station Plant Quarantine Station will be reprovisioned at the Che Kung Miu Road vacant government site at To Shek Street prior to the The existing New Territories South Animal Management construction of Hin Keng Station. Centre and Shatin Plant Quarantine Station

East Rail Line

Hin Keng Station Legends Elevated track Fully enclosed elevated Hin Tin Playground and at-grade track At-grade track built by cut Che Kung Miu Road and cover method Hin Wan House Proposed noise mitigation measures Proposed ventilation shaft Hin Kwai House Hin Keng Estate Works site Temporary works area Proposed temporary reprovisioning of refuse collection point Hin Fu House Parking space for the proposed refuse collection point Temporary reprovisioning of refuse Proposed greenery collection point in Hin Keng Estate

Contruction Methods

As part of the Shatin Section of the SCL will be on a viaduct, the project’s impact at ground level will be confined to piling and foundation works. The impact to the adjoining area is insignificant.

A section of the alignment near the tunnel portal will be constructed by using the cut and cover method. Slope stabilisation works will also be carried out. The tunnel construction through the Lion Rock will adopt the drill and blast method. Shatin Section

Modification Works on the Ma On Shan Line

To tie in with the future 8-car train operation configuration of "East West Corridor", reserves were made along the Ma On Shan Line in anticipation of the modification works to start in phases this year. These include extension of the station platforms and roofs, retrofitting of automatic platform gates as well as enhancement of electrical and mechanical facilities. The existing viaduct at Station will also be extended with new pilings Photomontage of the viaduct built at Sai Sha Road. The works will comply at Wu Kai Sha Station with the requirements in the Environmental Permit issued by the Environmental Protection Ma On Shan Line modification works include extension of station Department. Works will mainly be carried out platforms and roofs, retrofitting of during non-operational hours so the train services automatic platform gates as well of the Ma On Shan Line will not be affected. as enhancement of electrical and mechanical facilities. Temporary Works Areas

Temporary works areas in Shatin (including Ma On Shan) will be required to support the construction of the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section and modification works on the Ma On Shan Line. In view of concerns expressed by locals and nearby residents, the following areas are proposed as temporary works areas in the latest scheme:

part of the Hin Tin Playground; vacant government site near To Shek Street; and vacant government site at On Muk Street (near On Sum Street); vacant government site at Shui Chuen O. vacant government site near Sai Sha Road;

Legends Proposed temporary works areas Proposed permanent reprovisioning of recreational facilities Proposed temporary reprovisioning of recreational facilities Hin Keng Station Che Kung Miu Road To Shek Street The existing New Territories South Animal Management Centre and Shatin Plant Quarantine Station Pok Hong Estate

Sha Tin Road Reprovisioning of Animal Management Centre and On Sum Street Shatin Plant Quarantine Station On Muk Street

Ma On Shan Road

Shek Mun Station Shui Chuen O

Sai Sha Road On Ming Street Shatin Shatin Section

Temporary Traffic Underground Stratum Resumption Management Scheme and Temporary Occupation of Land

For the construction of the Shatin Section of the In designing the railway alignment, every effort has been made to SCL, temporary traffic management schemes reduce the need for resumption of land to minimise the impact on will be implemented at Che Kung Miu Road local residents. The Government may resume underground stratum and Sai Sha Road (near Wu Kai Sha Station). and create rights of temporary occupation of land according to the "Railways Ordinance" (Cap. 519) to construct the railway. The The Corporation has appointed independent proposed resumption and temporary occupation sites are shown in consultants to carefully assess the project’s the gazetted railway scheme. The dates of notification regarding the potential traffic impact in the areas. Site Liaison resumption and temporary occupation are subject to the construction Group (SLG), which includes representatives programme of the project. of the Corporation and relevant government departments, will be formed to coordinate the on site construction activities and approve temporary traffic measures to minimise the traffic impacts within the construction zones.

Community Engagement

As railway infrastructure projects are to serve the public, public engagement is crucial for the implementation of the project. The Corporation proactively organises various activities to enhance the community’s understanding on the project on one hand and gathers public views to minimise construction impacts on the other.

School Talks The SCL is a strategic rail link that traverses several districts of Hong Kong. To enhance teenagers’ knowledge of the new railway, engineers from the Corporation share the latest information with them and answer questions on the SCL and railway construction through talks held at various schools in Shatin and Ma On Shan areas. Various community activities, including roving exhibitions and residents’ meetings are also organised to introduce the railway scheme to local communities.

Community Liaison To ensure a smooth implementation of the SCL project, Community Liaison Group (CLG) and other communication channels will be formed before construction starts to keep the locals informed about the works progress and listen to their views.