BenefitsThe SCL will connect Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, providing passengers with a fast, reliable and convenient rail service. The new rail link will also offer an alternative route to relieve congestion on the East Rail Line, Kwun Tong Line and Tsuen Wan Line, giving passengers more options to reach their destinations.

Once the SCL is in service, Diamond Hill Station will become the rail hub for East Kowloon, where passengers can travel directly to the New Territories, Kai Tak Development Area, Kowloon City and Hung Hom.

AlignmentThe Wong Tai Sin Section of the SCL threads through the Lion Rock in tunnels to reach Wong Tai Sin, passing through Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground, Wong Tai Sin Road, Lung Cheung Road, Diamond Hill Station and Prince Edward Road East before reaching Kai Tak Station in the Kai Tak Development Area. The entire section will run underground.

In designing the SCL alignment, the Corporation endeavours to make use of the space of existing roads to reduce the need for land resumption and minimise the impact on local residents. Given the fact that the SCL will pass through many densely populated districts, it is inevitable that underground stratum resumption will be required at certain locations. The tunnel section will be located deep in the rock stratum, which will be sufficient enough to support building foundations. This will ensure construction of the SCL will not pose any adverse impact on the structural safety of the buildings along the alignment. In response to the public concerns to reduce the extent of underground stratum resumption in the district, the alignment of the Wong Tai Sin Section has been slightly amended.

June 2012

Wong Tai Sin Section Newsletter

The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project was first gazetted under the “Railways Ordinance” on 26 November 2010, followed with the first and second amendment schemes gazetted on 15 July and 11 November 2011 respectively. The Legislative Council’s Finance Committee approved funding for the SCL project in May 2012. Following the funding approval, the construction of the project commences. The Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section is expected to be completed in 2018 followed by the Hung Hom to Admiralty Section in 2020.

Rail construction commences

Diamond Hill StationFollowing the relocation of stabling sidings at the former Tai Hom Village, the entrance of the Diamond Hill Station extension needs to be re-arranged. The originally proposed two entrances serving the former Tai Hom Village and a 24-hour operational subway will now be combined, providing local residents with convenient access to and from Choi Hung Road and Lung Poon Street.

Stabling SidingsIn response to the public views and concerns on the proposed stabling sidings at Diamond Hill, the Government and the Corporation have examined the proposal of stabling sidings in details in order to accommodate the train deployment requirement for the SCL without compromising the impacts to the public.

To optimise the use of land resources and with better utilisation of the existing freight facilities, the former freight yard located below the podium of Hung Hom Station will be used as the SCL stabling sidings.

Works Site and Reprovision of FacilitiesThe tunnels between Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground and Diamond Hill Station will be constructed using the Tunnel Boring Machine instead of the open cut method. Access shafts and works site are propsed to be set up at Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground because the shafts will have to be built at both ends of the proposed railway tunnels to allow the boring machine to be lowered into and retrieved from the tunnels.

During the public consultation process, local residents expressed their views on the reprovision of the facilities at Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground upon the completion of the SCL works. After thorough discussion with the community, it is proposed to reprovision an indoor games hall at the existing tennis courts. Since there are diverse views on the detailed reprovision arrangements on the indoor games hall and the overall reprovision plan for the Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground, the Government and the Corporation will continue to maintain close communications with local stakeholders to gauge their views.

Entrance of the expanded Diamond Hill Station

Tsz Wan Shan Pedestrian Facilities Improvement WorksTsz Wan Shan pedestrian improvement works is a part of the SCL scheme. The Government and the Corporation have organised various consultation activities to gauge public views on the design of the facilities. Having taken into account their opinions, modifications on the alignment of the proposed footbridge at Wan Wah Street have been made to minimise the visual impact to the nearby residents.

It is anticipated that the construction of Tsz Wan Shan pedestrian facilities will commence in the 3rd quarter of 2012, for completion in phases between 2014 and 2016.

Choi HongStation

Diamond HillStation

Wong Tai SinStation

Lok FuStation

SCL-Tai Wai toHung Hom Section

Lion RockTsz Wan Shan

Proposed temporary reprovisioning of a

5-a-side football pitch and children's playground

Choi HongStation

Diamond HillStation

Wong Tai SinStation

Lok FuStation

San Po Kong

Ma Chai HangRecreation Ground

Wong Tai Sin Road

Lung Cheung Road

Chuk Yuen Road

Po K

on

g V

illag

e R

oad

Kwun Tong Line

Pre-construction Condition SurveyAn independent professional surveyor will be commissioned by the Corporation to carry out pre-construction condition survey on the current conditions of buildings along the SCL alignment before starting the works. During the visit, surveyors will conduct a visual inspection of all common and privately owned areas of the premises and take photos for record purposes.

Prior to the visits, the concerned property owners will receive an appointment letter issued by the Corporation, inviting them to take part in the survey.

Support from the community is of vital importance to the success of this exercise. For the benefit of individuals and the public, the Corporation appeals to owners and residents to allow inspectors to enter their properties for conducting the survey.

Underground Stratum Resumption and Temporary Occupation of LandIn designing the railway alignment, every effort has been made to reduce the need for resumption of land to minimise the impact on local residents. The Government may resume underground stratum and create rights of temporary occupation of land according to the "Railways Ordinance" (Cap. 519) to construct the railway. The proposed resumption and temporary occupation sites are shown in the gazetted railway scheme. The dates of notification regarding the resumption and temporary occupation are subject to the construction programme of the project.

Construction MethodsThe tunnel section between Hin Keng and Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground will be constructed using the drill and blast method while the tunnel beneath Chuk Yuen Road will be mined.

The tunnels between Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground and Diamond Hill Station will be excavated using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). Access shafts will have to be built at both

ends of the proposed tunnels for lowering the TBM into and retrieved from the tunnels when the excavation is completed.

Due to the relocation of the stabling sidings, the proposed tunnel between Diamond Hill Stabling Sidings and the vacant site near Rhythm Garden is also cancelled.

Wong Tai Sin Section

Legends

Temporary works area

Drill and blast tunnel

Mining tunnel

Machine bored tunnel

Extension ofDiamond Hill Station

Proposed ventilation building

Proposed emergency access

Historical StructuresThe working areas at the former Tai Hom Village will be reduced due to the relocation of the proposed stabling sidings. The stone house will not be affected by the SCL works. The Corporation has worked closely with the Antiquities and Monuments Office regarding the temporary relocation of the old Pillbox and the former Royal Air Force Hangar, and will devise a detailed conservation management plan for these two historical structures.

Community Liaison GroupsTo ensure a smooth implementation of the SCL project, Community Liaison Groups (CLGs) will be formed before construction starts and representatives of residents, institutions and schools along the SCL alignment will be invited to join the groups. CLG meetings will be held regularly where engineers from the Corporation and contractors will brief on the progress of the construction and exchange views with members.

Temporary Traffic Management SchemeFor the construction of the Wong Tai Sin Section of the SCL, temporary traffic management schemes will be implemented at the following roads:

the westbound lanes of Lung Cheung Road between Po Kong Village Road and Entrance B of the existing Diamond Hill Station;

Wong Tai Sin Road; and

Ma Chai Hang Road and Chuk Yuen Road.

The Corporation has appointed independent consultants to carefully assess the project’s potential traffic impact in the areas. Site Liaison Group (SLG), which includes representatives of the Corporation and relevant government departments, will be formed to coordinate the on site construction activities and approve temporary traffic measures to minimise the traffic impacts within the construction zones.

Environmental ProtectionThe Corporation will ensure the design, construction and operation of the SCL comply with the relevant statutory requirements on environmental protection. It will also implement all necessary measures to minimise the environment impact.

The Corporation attaches great importance to tree conservation throughout the SCL project. The construction of the Wong Tai Sin Section will not affect any trees listed on the Register of Old and Valuable Trees. Following the relocation of the stabling sidings at the former Tai Hom Village, the number of affected trees within the site is greatly reduced.

Community EngagementAs railway infrastructure projects are to serve the public, public engagement is crucial for the implementation of the project. The Corporation proactively organises various activities to enhance the community’s understanding on the project on one hand and gathers public views to minimise construction impacts on the other.

Wong Tai Sin Section

School TalksThe SCL is a strategic rail link that traverses several districts of Hong Kong. To enhance teenagers’ knowledge of the new railway, MTR engineers share the latest information with them and answer questions on the SCL and railway construction through talks held at various schools in Wong Tai Sin district. Various community activities, including roving exhibitions and residents’ meetings are also organised to introduce the railway scheme to local communities.