Editorial | 2046 Hong Kong transport must be right and on time
- Blueprint has to ensure city will get its roads and railways in place within 23 years to match development plans
The year 2046 may seem too far away for the government to come up with any accurate forecasts or planning. However, it is definitely not when it involves transport development.
With less than a quarter of a century to go, the city must ensure it has got the roads and railways strategically in place to go with its ambitious development plans.
Announcing its long-awaited transport infrastructure development blueprint, the government highlighted the need to meet the demand of local commuters as well as cross-border integration up to 2046 and beyond.
The blueprint outlines initial plans for several railways and highways to enhance connectivity between north and south, while easing bottlenecks in some congested districts. But it also puts to one side the North Island line, which was proposed to ease the burden on existing Hong Kong Island lines, and replaces the planned railway extension for Hong Kong Island West by other unspecified options that require further deliberation.
Officials said the changes were based on technical difficulties, cost-effectiveness, changing population forecasts, and different commuting patterns in light of the Lantau artificial islands project. Many residents are understandably dismayed that some proposals have been shelved or delayed.
