The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, and the Executive Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Lu Ruifeng, convened the ninth meeting of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Task Force on Boundary District Development in Hong Kong today (December 10).
The Joint Task Force was briefed by its working groups on the progress of the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (BCP) project and the Lok Ma Chau Loop development, and discussed the way forward.
Regarding the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai BCP project, both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities were pleased with the progress of the project, including the vetting of the agreement between both sides to commission Shenzhen to design the BCP's cross-boundary bridge, which has reached its final stage, and both sides also came up with a preliminary proposal for the interface between the BCP's cross-boundary bridge and the Stage IV Shenzhen River Regulation Project in the construction process.
The Shenzhen authorities were pleased to learn that funding for the site formation works of the BCP and construction works of the connecting road was approved in July this year and tenders were invited. Detailed design of the BCP and ancillary facilities is expected to be commenced in the first quarter of 2013 while the site formation works of the BCP and construction works of the connecting road are expected to be commenced in early 2013.
The Shenzhen side has completed and approved the engineering feasibility study and the environmental impact assessment of the Liantang BCP (excluding the cross-boundary bridge). The expert assessment of the BCP's design tender proposals has also completed and three recommended proposals have been selected for final assessment. Site formation work is actively under way. It is expected that the design work of Shenzhen's control point and the cross-boundary bridge will be launched at the end of this year, and the preparation work for construction on the site will also be commenced concurrently. As scheduled, the construction works of the BCP will begin in the second half of 2013 for completion and commissioning no later than 2018.
With regard to the planning and engineering study for the Lok Ma Chau Loop, the Hong Kong side reported on the latest progress of the study. Both sides shared the public comments they collected from the Stage Two Public Engagement exercise. On the co-development of the Loop, both sides will continue with more in-depth discussions on the mode of development with a view to reaching a consensus to facilitate the development of the Loop.
Both Mr Chan and Mr Lu were pleased to note that the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai BCP project and the development of the Lok Ma Chau Loop had made substantial progress. They expect both sides to continue working closely to take forward the projects.
The meeting was held at Zero Carbon Building in Kowloon Bay. Representatives of both governments toured facilities there after the meeting.
Ends/Monday, December 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:42
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