The Government will expedite completion of detailed planning and design, as well as statutory procedures, for Pak Shek Kok Station, a new stop on the MTR East Rail Line, with a view to commencing construction works as soon as possible.

Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung gave an update today in response to questions from lawmaker Chan Hak-kan in the Legislative Council. He added that the target date for commissioning the station is 2023 or earlier.

The Government confirmed in the 2022 Policy Address that the station will be built, then invited Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) to study its construction.

Mr Lam said that as the project involves building an additional station on the existing East Rail Line, construction works must be carried out without affecting the route’s safe operation. Therefore, some of the work can only be carried out overnight, when trains are not running. In addition, as the location of the proposed station is close to residential buildings, night works must comply with statutory environmental protection requirements.

In consideration of these constraints, MTRC is exploring the feasibility of packaging part of the works as “advanced works”, in an attempt to complete the project sooner.

Separately, Mr Lam said the first three buildings in batch one of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park (HKSITP) will be completed in phases from the end of next year onwards. To align with this schedule, the transport chief told lawmakers that road networks connecting the Lok Ma Chau Loop to nearby areas are scheduled for completion by the end of next year or in 2025.  

He added that in the long run, the proposed Northern Link Spur Line will be connected to the Main Line at San Tin and the new Huanggang Port in Shenzhen, with intermediate stations at Chau Tau and HKSITP in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is actively working with Mainland authorities and MTRC on plans for the Northern Link Spur Line, with the aim of commencing detailed planning and design in 2024, Mr Lam affirmed.