2024 Policy Address: Gov’t promotes major transport infrastructure development

The construction of Hung Shui Kiu Station and NOL Main Line will commence this year and next year, respectively.

The construction of the Hung Shui Kiu Station and Northern Link (NOL) Main Line is scheduled to begin this year and next year, with completion targeted for 2030 and 2034, respectively, said chief executive John Lee.

Delivering his 2024 Policy Address, Lee pointed out that cross-boundary railway projects are pressing ahead, including the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu-Qianhai) and the NOL Spur Line, to enhance the linkage between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Taking forward the three smart and green mass transit systems, the government has also invited suppliers and operators to submit expressions of interest for the East Kowloon and Kai Tak projects in August. Expressions of interest for the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen projects will be invited later this year.

Moreover, the government aims to complete the Kai Tak project three years ahead of the original target completion date.

To promote a green and low-carbon lifestyle, the government will expand the community recycling network by increasing public collection points from about 500 at present to 800.

I · PARK 1, the first waste-to-energy facility for treating municipal solid waste, is expected to begin operation next year. The construction of I · PARK 2 will also be taken forward, working towards the goal of zero landfills.

The government will continue to assess public views on and participation in waste reduction and report to the Legislative Council by mid-2025.

To enhance the city's waste-to-resource capabilities, the government will create a common legislative framework for the producer responsibility schemes applicable to various products, facilitating the future inclusion of such products as plastic beverage containers and beverage cartons.

In relation to the green industry, the Environment & Ecology Bureau is assisting two local companies in setting up production lines to upcycle local waste materials into high-value products, which are core materials for electricity-free cooling products and acoustic metamaterial products.

The government also plans to invest $100m for a new round of the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme to expedite green transformation, renovation, and the upgrading of local factories and Hong Kong-owned factories in the Guangdong Province.

Lee also outlined his plan to expand the charging network for electric vehicles.

Through the electric vehicle (EV) charging at the Home Subsidy Scheme and the gross floor area concession arrangement, about 200,000 EV-charging parking spaces are expected to be available by mid-2027. 

The government will earmark $300m for a new scheme, providing subsidies to the private sector for installing quick-charging facilities. They target having a total of 3,000 quick chargers installed by 2030.

Lee also added that two vacant petrol-filling station sites were granted for conversion into quick-charging stations earlier this year.

Expressions of interest from the industry will be invited next year to repurpose existing petrol-filling station sites as charging stations, with topside development for other purposes under the single-site, multiple-use model.