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Hong Kong transport
Hong KongTransport

Exclusive | Competition for Hong Kong’s MTR? 3 firms expected to vie with city’s rail giant for cross-border link to Qianhai

  • Project estimated to cost HK$20 billion will be put to competitive public bidding, source says
  • Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link will connect Hung Shui Kiu in Yuen Long with Qianhai

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Construction in Qianhai, which Beijing aims to expand eightfold. Photo: Xinhua
Cannix Yau
At least three companies besides the MTR Corporation are expected to compete for a public tender for a proposed rail line connecting Hung Shui Kiu in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long to the Qianhai special economic zone in Shenzhen, the Post has learned.
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One insider said the construction and operation of the rail link would be open to competition via a tender rather than simply giving the project to the city’s sole rail operator, the MTR Corporation.

“There have been calls for the government to introduce competition in the rail market to improve the city’s rail service and break the MTR Corp’s monopoly. This will stop the rail operator from getting complacent,” the source said.

“The government has basically decided to tender out the cross-boundary project to a single operator. They are now in discussion with their Shenzhen counterparts about the implementation details and the operation model.

“Of course, the MTR Corp is welcome to bid for the project, which will be granted to the best candidate.”

Hung Shui Kiu in northern Hong Kong’s Yuen Long. The rail link is expected to be a joint effort by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities, with each bearing the cost of construction on their own side. Photo: Winson Wong
Hung Shui Kiu in northern Hong Kong’s Yuen Long. The rail link is expected to be a joint effort by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities, with each bearing the cost of construction on their own side. Photo: Winson Wong
The project, known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, will connect Hung Shui Kiu in Yuen Long with Qianhai, which Beijing plans to expand eightfold – from 14.9 sq km (3,706 acres) to 120.6 sq km – in the coming years.
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