Chief Executive Carrie Lam today officiated at a ceremony to mark the commissioning of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link Northern Connection.

Mrs Lam rode a bus through the Northern Connection and was briefed on the project and traffic arrangements.

Once the Northern Connection opens, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link will be fully commissioned, cutting the journey time between Tuen Mun South and the airport by 20 minutes.

She said: “The commissioning of the Northern Connection will provide better and more reliable transport infrastructure to Lantau, the aviation and land transport double gateway connecting Hong Kong to other parts of the world and Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as an international and regional hub.”

The full opening has created an opportunity for the quota-free scheme for Hong Kong private cars travelling to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Mrs Lam added.

“The scheme will assist Hong Kong residents to drive to Guangdong Province for business, visiting families or sightseeing on a short-term basis.”

She also thanked the project team, government departments and organisations for their devotion to this large-scale transport infrastructure.

The toll-free Northern Connection will open at 8am on December 27, and the tolls of the Lantau Link will be waived from midnight of the same day.