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■沙中線站出入口電腦模擬圖。
Expedite the Shatin to Central Link project to foster development in various districts
規劃12年、全長17公里的港鐵沙中線項目在6月22日終於動工。沙中線是一條策略性鐵路，可連接現有多條鐵路。沙中線動工標誌著香港的鐵路網絡更臻成熟，有助香港應對未來經濟和城市發展的需要。不過，沙中線過去因政治爭拗延誤了不少時間，令成本大幅上漲，當局有必要加快工程追回進度，並且盡可能壓縮建造成本。同時，對於沙中線沿線各站配套也需及早部署，並藉沙中線動工的契機，推動東九龍等區域的發展，將鐵路的效益發揮至最大。
鐵路是土地發展的契機，當局應盡早掌握沙中線帶來的機遇，做好沿線基礎規劃配套。現時當局已計劃發展單軌列車系統，將沙中線的啟德站與九龍東連結起來，以配合「起動東九龍」計劃。當局必須及早開展工程，務求與沙中線同步完工，以帶動九龍東的發展。同時，目前有不少發展商在土瓜灣一帶全力展開收購舊樓行動，沙中線沿線10個車站的上蓋是寶貴的土地資源，在住屋、商業和社區發展等方面與未來的經濟和人口規劃密不可分，沿線房屋商住和其他規劃用途亦需及早考慮，把握發展契機，地盡其用。
Construction of the 17-km long Shatin to Central Link of MTRC, which has been planned for 12 years, finally started on 22 June. The Shatin to Central Link is a strategic line and it will connect a number of existing railways. The commencement of its construction work signifies that the railway network in Hong Kong is moving towards a higher degree of maturity and that it will be able to further facilitate the future economic and urban development of the city. The Shatin to Central Link had suffered a lengthy delay due to political disputes and that had led to a substantial rise in the cost of construction. Now, the authorities need to speed up the construction work to make up for the lost time and also lower the cost as much as possible. Besides, auxiliary services for stations along the rail link should be planned as well at an earliest stage. The authorities should take this opportunities brought by the construction of the Shatin to Central Link to foster the development of various districts such as Kowloon East so that benefits of the railway network can be fully exploited.
Railway construction offers the best opportunities for land development. The authorities should promptly make use of the opportunity brought about by the Shatin to Central Link and plan well the infrastructure development along the railway line. At present, as part of the Energizing Kowloon East project, the authorities have planned to develop a monorail system to connect the Kai Tak station of the Shatin to Central Link with Kowloon East. The construction of this system should commence as early as possible so that its completion can time with the completion of the Shatin to Central Link for kick-starting the development of Kowloon East. In the meantime, many developers have been acting vigorously to acquire old buildings in areas around To Kwa Wan. The above-station development on the ten stations along the Shatin to Central Link will provide valuable land resources. The development of housing, commercial and community amenities on these stations will be an inseparable part of the economic and population planning for the future. Residential, commercial and other usage planning along the rail link should therefore be considered in advance so as to seize the opportunity of development and fully utilize the land so provided.
■Translation by 東明 tungming23@gmail.com
逢周五見報
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