Railway Scheme for Hong Kong Section of Northern Link Spur Line Gazetted

Railway scheme for Hong Kong Section of Northern Link Spur Line gazetted

The Government published in the Gazette today (June 26) the railway scheme for the Hong Kong Section of the Northern Link (NOL) Spur Line in accordance with the Railways Ordinance (Cap. 519).

Earlier, the Government and the MTR Corporation Limited executed the Part 1 Project Agreement of the NOL Project (comprising the NOL Main Line and Spur Line) to commence more ready and time-critical works of the NOL Main Line, and also required the MTRCL to carry out the detailed planning and design of the NOL Spur Line simultaneously. The NOL Spur Line comprises an underground railway of about 6 kilometres in length starting from San Tin Station on the Main Line, comprising the Hong Kong section of about 5km in length and the Shenzhen section of about 1km in length. The NOL Spur Line will establish three new railway stations, with two new stations at Chau Tau of the San Tin Technopole and the Loop for the Hong Kong section, as well as one new station at the new Huanggang Port for the Shenzhen section.

The MTR Corporation Limited, Photo source: reference image

A Government spokesman said, "The NOL Project is an important transport infrastructure driving the development of the Northern Metropolis and facilitating Hong Kong's better integration into national development, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline that calls for accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis and promoting the co-ordinated development of rail transport. The NOL Main Line will become the public transportation backbone for various new development areas in the Northern Metropolis and unleash the development potential of the Northern Metropolis. It will also connect the existing Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line, forming a railway loop linking the New Territories and the Kowloon urban area and substantially enhancing the coverage and resilience of the railway network. As the cross-boundary bifurcation of the NOL Project, the NOL Spur Line will connect to the new Huanggang Port, linking the metro networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen and facilitating the flow of people between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as well as serving the San Tin Technopole and the Loop. Offering both local commuting functions within Hong Kong and cross-boundary railway services, the NOL Spur Line will promote 'hard connectivity' of infrastructure in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Upon commissioning of the NOL Main Line and Spur Line, the travelling times between Kam Sheung Road and Kwu Tung, and between San Tin and the new Huanggang Port, are estimated to be only about 12 and 11 minutes respectively."

The Government and the MTR Corporation Limited have collected public views on the Hong Kong Section of the NOL Spur Line earlier, including consulting the North District Council and the Yuen Long District Council, exchanging views with representatives from relevant rural committees and stakeholders, and organising various public engagement activities. After authorisation of the railway scheme, the construction works for the proposed Hong Kong Section of the NOL Spur Line will commence as soon as practicable, with the aim of commissioning the NOL Spur Line together with the NOL Main Line by 2034 or earlier.

Under the Ordinance, members of the public may object to the railway scheme in relation to the Hong Kong Section of the NOL Spur Line from today until August 25, 2026. Additionally, any person who has a compensatable interest may serve a claim according to the provisions of the Ordinance.

The railway scheme and relevant plans have been uploaded to the Highways Department (HyD) website (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/our_projects/railway_projects/index.html). They are also available for public inspection during office hours at the Central & Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; the North Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; the Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; the District Lands Office, North; and the District Lands Office, Yuen Long. A copy of the scheme and the plans may also be purchased from the HyD, which can be contacted at 2762 3976 for details.

The Northern Metropolis, Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs combats unfair trade practices by postnatal care centre

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 25) arrested a female director and salesperson of a postnatal care centre suspected of having applied false trade descriptions in the course ofselling postnatal services, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

Customs earlier received information from members of the public alleging that a postnatal care centre, when selling postnatal services, had falsely claimed to have partnerships with multiple private hospitals, offering appointment-free medical consultation services, and claimed to have collaborated with a well-known restaurant to provide postnatal meals. Upon using the services, customers found that there were material differences from what the centre had promised and services delivered. Customs subsequently launched an investigation and verified with the relevant hospitals and the restaurant, all of which confirmed that they had no partnership with the postnatal care centre.

After investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 40-year-old local female director and salesperson of the centre.

An investigation is ongoing and the arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable businesses.

Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs, Photo source: reference image