HONG KONG, June 18 — A slate of candidates vying for seats in the New Territories Southeast constituency are pushing ambitious infrastructural solutions, including a new cross-harbor railway and increased ferry services, to tackle the persistent transportation woes afflicting residents of Tseung Kwan O (TKO). The proposals aim to mitigate chronic congestion and provide critical alternatives, particularly when the heavily relied-upon MTR Tseung Kwan O Line (TKO Line) suffers disruptions.
Five candidates have consistently voiced concerns over TKO’s over-reliance on a single rail link. A dominant theme among the campaign platforms is the urgent need for diversification of transport options connecting the densely populated district to core business areas like Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Calls Mount for Direct Rail Link to Eastern Hong Kong Island
The most significant proposal championed by multiple candidates involves constructing a new cross-harbor rail extension originating from the proposed Tseung Kwan O Area 137 reclamation zone and heading directly toward Hong Kong Island East.
Lee Ching-yee of the Federation of Trade Unions emphasized the vulnerability of the current system. “The TKO Line operates as a single-track artery,” Lee stated, noting that any failure, whether near LOHAS Park or Po Lam, can paralyze the entire corridor. “Only by extending the line across the harbor can we effectively reduce this systemic fragility and provide residents with a genuine alternative route.”
Echoing the necessity for redundancy, candidates addressed the weaknesses exposed during MTR signal failures. Ip Au-tung of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong pointed out that approximately 70% of TKO residents depend on the MTR, leading to immediate gridlock on arterial roads whenever the rail line stalls.
Extending the East Kowloon Green Transit System
To fortify internal transport within the district, Ip proposed extending the planned East Kowloon Green Smart Mobility System (East Kowloon Line). He suggested incorporating new stations at Po Lam and Tsui Lam, ensuring that residents could still commute within Tseung Kwan O even if the MTR link breaks down.
Alternatively, should cost or technical constraints impede the full extension, Cheung Mei-hung suggested a pragmatic compromise. Cheung proposed using the planned Ma Yau Tong station as a hub, erecting an escalator system to connect to prime residential areas such as Hong Sing Garden and Tsui Lam, which could then link to Po Lam.
Expediting MTR Signal Upgrades and Boosting Frequency
Candidates also pressed the MTR Corporation to accelerate scheduled maintenance. Christine Fong of the Professional Power group criticized the current timeline for the TKO Line’s signal system replacement, reportedly pegged for completion only by 2028. Fong urged the MTR to utilize its planned bond issuance to immediately fund refurbishment and rolling stock acquisition, allowing for heightened service frequency.
“Waiting times at LOHAS Park still hover around six minutes during peak hours,” Fong noted. She called on MTR to aim for a four-minute frequency throughout the day, significantly enhancing capacity and reducing crowding.
Developing New Ferry Services for Greater Connectivity
Beyond fixing rail issues, some proposals focused on leveraging Tseung Kwan O’s waterfront access. New People’s Party candidate Chan Chi-ho advocated for the construction of a formal public pier capable of sustaining regular ferry services.
Chan proposed launching sailings between Tseung Kwan O and key destinations like Central, Wan Chai, and Tsim Sha Tsui. While acknowledging that a recently launched street ferry service to Hong Kong Island East saw limited demand, Chan believes regular routes to high-demand business districts would significantly boost accessibility and offer tourism potential.
The diverse set of integrated transport options presented by the aspirants underscores the growing political pressure to solve Tseung Kwan O’s critical infrastructure bottlenecks, which many view as essential for the district’s sustainable growth. Infrastructure experts suggest that implementing a combination of these proposals—particularly a resilient rail alternative and robust marine transit—would be crucial to securing the area’s future mobility.
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