Revised proposals for the HK$33bn Sha Tin – Hong Kong Central Link have been put forward by MTR Corp and KCRC under which the Kwun Tong line, currently operated by MTR, is to be extended to Whampoa.
KCRC was chosen to build and operate the 17·1 km line in 2002 and produced a first draft of proposals in 2004. However, a paper submitted to the Hong Kong Legislative Council by the Transport & Housing Bureau in July suggests that the original plans to serve Whampoa and Tsz Wan Shan using peoplemovers connecting with MTR's Kwun Tong line at Yau Ma Tei and Diamond Hill respectively have been dropped.
Whampoa is to be served by an extension to the Kwun Tong line from Yau Ma Tei, with an intermediate station at Ho Man Tin. The paper suggests that alternative options should be explored for the route to Tsz Wan Shen based on current transport provision.
Other changes affect the proposed stations along the line, with the Causeway Bay North station likely to be abandoned due to the traffic congestion its construction would cause, while the planned site of Central South station may also be altered for 'unspecified reasons'.
