以下是十月二十四日在立法會會議上盧偉國議員的提問和運輸及房屋局局長陳帆的答覆：

問題：

　　政府於二○一四年九月公布的《鐵路發展策略2014》（《策略》），建議在直至二○三一年的規劃期內完成七個新鐵路項目，但不包括屯門至荃灣沿海鐵路。政府至今仍未公布該七個鐵路項目的具體方案和落實時間表，以致市民望穿秋水，而建造鐵路的工程人員則擔心「手停口停」。就此，政府可否告知本會：

（一）鑑於現時多個地區（特別是東九龍和屯門區）的居民經常面對嚴重交通擠塞，政府會否加快落實《策略》所建議的鐵路項目，同時以「鐵路帶動發展」的思維，重新考慮興建屯門至荃灣沿海鐵路；如會，詳情為何；如否，原因為何；

（二）鑑於廣深港高速鐵路香港段已啟用，而沙田至中環綫亦會在未來數年完工，而為免建造鐵路工程人員面對「一時做死，一時餓死」的苦況，政府在制訂每個鐵路項目的落實時間表時，會否諮詢工程業界，以確保各項目有序地開展；如會，詳情為何；如否，原因為何；及

（三）鑑於早在一九九九年完成的《第三次整體運輸研究》已過時，與香港最新發展的需求脫節，政府會否盡快開展第四次整體運輸研究，以應付《粵港澳大灣區城市群發展規劃》的跨境交通網絡和配套設施的需求；如會，詳情為何；如否，原因為何？

答覆：

主席：

　　就盧偉國議員的提問，我現在綜合答覆如下：

　　運輸及房屋局（運房局）已按照《鐵路發展策略2014》初步建議的落實時間表，邀請香港鐵路有限公司（港鐵公司）就落實屯門南延線、北環線（及古洞站）、東九龍線、東涌西延線（及東涌東站）及北港島線提交建議書。港鐵公司分別於二○一六年十二月底、二○一七年三月底、二○一七年七月底、二○一八年一月底和二○一八年七月底向政府提交該五個鐵路項目的建議書。運房局、路政署及相關政策局／部門正就建議書內容進行評估，並要求港鐵公司進一步提供資料，補充有關建議的細節，以確保其建議切實可行，並能為社會帶來最大的裨益。

　　有鑑於房屋供應緊張、而鐵路發展有可能產生的潛在房屋供應，政府正檢視屯門南延線和北環線（及古洞站）的鐵路方案，並爭取儘快就方案諮詢公眾，並繼續進行東九龍線、東涌西延線（及東涌東站）和北港島線的詳細規劃工作，以及展開洪水橋站及南港島線（西段）的詳細規劃工作。

　　按照既定程序，在敲定任何新鐵路方案前，我們會就方案的具體走線、車站位置、推展方式、成本估算、融資模式，以至實際推展時間表諮詢公眾，包括立法會及當區區議會。工程業界亦可透過相關渠道表達意見。政府（包括發展局）會檢視工程業界的人手和協調政府工務工程的推展，使工務工程（包括基建項目）有序地推行。

　　另外，在制訂《鐵路發展策略2014》時，當時的顧問曾就興建鐵路貫通屯荃海岸線的可行性作出詳細評估。根據顧問的分析，屯荃海岸線的人口主要集中在東西兩端，其餘地段的發展密度較低，預計不會有新的客源基礎。同時，由於涉及一定的技術困難，單在屯荃海岸線興建鐵路的建造成本預算相當高。《鐵路發展策略2014》指出，以當時掌握的情況而言，屯荃鐵路的成本效益難以確立；長遠來說，若屯門與荃灣之間的沿海地區的規劃情況及人口有進一步變化，和運輸需求長遠有所增長，或該地區的發展規劃有其他新考慮，政府或會重新考慮這個鐵路方案。

　　行政長官剛於《施政報告》中提出「明日大嶼願景」，當中所提出的鐵路走廊有部分與屯荃鐵路的走線（屯門至青龍頭） 相若。運房局計劃根據發展局和規劃署正進行的《香港2030+：跨越2030年的規劃遠景與策略》（《香港2030+》）研究所設定的整體土地規劃，推展《跨越2030年的鐵路及主要幹道策略性研究》。我們將會根據最新的規劃資料，包括跨境運輸數據，檢視本港二○三一年至二○四一年間鐵路和主要幹道等運輸基建的供求，並研究新界西北在二○三○年以後的重鐵運量。我們會將「明日大嶼願景」的相關規劃研究及策略性運輸走廊的建議納入研究，以及就《香港2030+》研究中建議在較遠期落成的策略增長區（例如新界北）所需要的運輸基建進行研究，檢視擬議鐵路及主要道路基建的布局，以確保大型運輸基建的規劃能配合香港整體長遠土地發展的需要；同時亦會檢視相關的運輸基建對現有運輸網絡的影響，擬訂相應的對策。上述研究已於二○一七年六月獲立法會交通事務委員會支持，由於《香港2030+》研究尚待完成，我們會適時就鐵路及主要幹道的策略性研究尋求撥款批准，以推展有關研究。

　　政府在一九九九年十月完成第三次整體運輸研究，該研究主要包含三大範疇：（一）運輸基建的規劃；（二）各種公共交通工具的角色、定位和相互間的協調；以及（三）其他交通專題性的項目。是項研究制定了大方向，其中包括（一）更妥善融合運輸與城市規劃；（二）更充分運用鐵路，讓鐵路成為客運系統的骨幹；（三）更完善的公共交通服務和設施；（四）更廣泛運用新科技來管理交通；以及（五）更環保的運輸措施。這些大方向至今仍然適用。

　　完成第三次整體運輸研究後，政府一直有就整體運輸研究所涉及的各個範疇進行不同的研究。在運輸基建的規劃方面，政府分別在二○○○年及二○一四年公布了《鐵路發展策略2000》和《鐵路發展策略2014》；政府內部亦有定期檢視全港策略性道路項目的規劃，適時推展包括中環灣仔繞道及東區走廊連接路、中九龍幹線、將軍澳——藍田隧道、跨灣連接路等主要道路項目，並即將展開《跨越2030年的鐵路及主要幹道策略性研究》。公共交通服務方面，政府近期於二○一七年六月公布了《公共交通策略研究》。而在運輸專題性研究方面，政府會繼續推行措施以紓緩道路交通擠塞，包括進行研究以全面審視各類別車輛使用政府收費隧道及青馬、青沙管制區的收費階梯和水平，並會採取一系列短期及中長期措施，因應各區的情況增加泊車位供應以紓緩泊車位不足情況，以及積極籌備在中環及其鄰近地區推行電子道路收費先導計劃等。

　　以上針對不同運輸課題的研究基本上達至整體運輸研究的效用，而且相比以往透過進行一次性的整體運輸研究以涵蓋上述三大範疇，運房局認為適時推展個別範疇及課題研究的安排，一方面留有彈性，有效回應本地發展而不斷變化的交通需求；另一方面無需經過龐大研究的漫長籌備和整合過程，能分階段投放資源，靈活有序地完成各項研究工作，讓各項研究結果可早日出台，是更適切的做法。

Following is a question by Dr Hon Lo Wai-kwok and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, in the Legislative Council of October 24:

Question:

     The Railway Development Strategy 2014 (the Strategy) published by the Government in September 2014 has recommended that seven new railway projects be completed within the planning period of up to 2031, but such projects do not include a coastal railway between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan. So far, the Government has not yet announced the detailed proposals and the implementation timetables for the seven railway projects, resulting in the public waiting eagerly and railway construction personnel worrying about their subsistence as they will be jobless. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that at present residents of a number of districts (particularly Kowloon East and Tuen Mun) often face serious traffic congestion, whether the Government will expedite the implementation of the railway projects recommended by the Strategy and at the same time consider afresh, adopting the thinking of "letting railway provide impetus for development", the construction of the coastal railway between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

(2) given that the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link has been commissioned and the Shatin to Central Link will be completed in the coming few years, and in order to avoid railway construction personnel suffering from the plight of "overworking to death at one time and starving to death at another time", whether the Government will consult the construction industry when it draws up the implementation timetable for each railway project so as to ensure that the various projects will commence in an orderly manner; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as the Third Comprehensive Transport Study, which was completed as early as in 1999, has become outdated and irrelevant to the needs of Hong Kong's latest development, whether the Government will expeditiously embark on the fourth comprehensive transport study, so as to meet the needs for cross-boundary transport networks and support facilities arising from the Development Plan for a City Cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     My consolidated reply to Dr Hon Lo Wai-kwok's question is as follows:

     Having regard to the indicative implementation window recommended in the Railway Development Strategy 2014 (RDS-2014), the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) had invited the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) to submit proposals for the implementation of the Tuen Mun South Extension, Northern Link (and Kwu Tung Station), East Kowloon Line, Tung Chung West Extension (and Tung Chung East Station) and North Island Line. MTRCL submitted proposals for these five railway projects to the Government in end December 2016, end March 2017, end July 2017, end January 2018 and end July 2018 respectively. The THB, the Highways Department and relevant bureaux/departments are evaluating the proposals and have requested the MTRCL to provide additional information and supplement details. In carrying out the evaluation, our main focus is to ensure that the proposals are practically feasible and can bring maximum benefits to the society.

     Due to the tight housing supply and the potential housing supply that may be brought about by railway development, the Government is reviewing the proposals for the Tuen Mun South Extension and Northern Link (and Kwu Tung Station) and will strive to undertake public consultation on these proposals as soon as possible. We will also carry on with the detailed planning for the East Kowloon Line, Tung Chung West Extension (and Tung Chung East Station) and North Island Line, and will embark on detailed planning for Hung Shui Kiu Station and the South Island Line (West).

     In line with established procedures, prior to the finalisation of any new railway scheme, we will consult the public, including the Legislative Council and the relevant District Councils, on the detailed alignment, locations of stations, mode of implementation, cost estimate, mode of financing and actual implementation timetable of the scheme. The construction industry may also express their views through relevant channels. The Government (including the Development Bureau) reviews manpower of the construction industry and co-ordinates implementation of public works of the Government, so as to implement the public works (including infrastructure projects) in an orderly manner.   

     Besides, when formulating the RDS-2014, our consultant at that time evaluated in detail the feasibility of constructing a railway along the coastline between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan. According to the consultant's analysis, the local population is mainly concentrated at the eastern and western ends of the coastline between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan; while the development density of the remaining areas is relatively low and no basis for new source of passengers is anticipated. Meanwhile, due to the technical difficulties involved, solely the construction cost of a railway along the coastline between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan is expected to be very high. The RDS-2014 states that the cost-effectiveness of Tuen Mun-Tsuen Wan Link can hardly be established, according to the information at that time; and in longer term, the Government would consider revisiting the railway proposal if there are further changes in the planning circumstances and population as well as an increase in transport demand in the coastal areas between Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan, or other relevant new considerations in the planning for development in the region.

     The Chief Executive just mentioned the "Lantau Tomorrow Vision" in the Policy Address.  A part of the proposed railway corridor as referred to in the "Lantau Tomorrow Vision" is similar to the alignment of Tuen Mun-Tsuen Wan Link (Tuen Mun to Tsing Lung Tau). The THB plans to take forward the "Strategic Studies on Railways and Major Roads beyond 2030" (RMR2030+ Studies) on the basis of the conceptual spatial requirements to be firmed up under the "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" ("Hong Kong 2030+ Study"), which is being conducted by the Development Bureau and the Planning Department. Based on the latest planning information, including cross-boundary transport data, RMR2030+ Studies will examine the demand and supply of the transport infrastructure, including railways and major roads, in Hong Kong between 2031 and 2041, and study the loading of the heavy rails in the Northwest New Territories beyond 2030. We will consider the planning studies and the recommended strategic transport corridors in relation to the "Lantau Tomorrow Vision", as well as look into the layout of the proposed railway and major road infrastructure with regard to the transport infrastructure required for the longer-term strategic growth areas of "Hong Kong 2030+ Study" (such as the New Territories North), to ensure that the planning of large scale transport infrastructure can meet the needs of the overall long-term land use developments of Hong Kong. RMR2030+ Studies will also examine the impact of the proposed transport infrastructure on the existing transport network and formulate corresponding strategies. The Panel on Transport expressed support for the above studies in June 2017. Since "Hong Kong 2030+ Study" has not yet been finalised, we will seek funding approval in due course for implementing RMR2030+ Studies. 
 
     The Government completed the third comprehensive transport study (CTS) in October 1999. The study comprised three main aspects: (i) planning of transport infrastructure; (ii) the roles, positioning, and co-ordination of each public transport mode; and (iii) other topical transport studies. The third CTS laid down a number of broad directions, including (1) better integration of transport and land use planning; (2) better use of railway as the backbone of the passenger transport system; (3) provision of better public transport services and facilities; (4) wider use of advanced technologies in traffic management; and (5) implementation of more environmentally-friendly transport measures. These broad directions remain applicable today.