The public consultation exercise for Strategic Studies on Railways & Major Roads beyond 2030 was launched today to collect people's views on formulating a Major Transport Infrastructure Development Blueprint for Hong Kong.

The studies seek to formulate a forward-looking blueprint up to and beyond 2046 with a view to achieving the goals of driving development, strengthening connection and improving efficiency.

The infrastructure-led and capacity-creating planning principles are adopted in the studies to ensure that the planning of strategic railway and major road infrastructure can drive development or even reserve capacity for new development areas, especially the Northern Metropolis, for Hong Kong's long-term development needs.

Based on the preliminary findings of the studies, the Government suggests to take forward three strategic railways and three major roads, which are the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu - Qianhai), the Central Rail Link, the Tseung Kwan O Line Southern Extension, the Northern Metropolis Highway, the Shatin Bypass and the Tseung Kwan O - Yau Tong Tunnel.

Noting that public participation is crucial to the studies, the Transport & Logistics Bureau said it will duly consider the views of the public and stakeholders on the preliminary findings and the proposed transport infrastructure projects.

It aims to formulate the blueprint in the fourth quarter of 2023 and implement the required transport infrastructure projects in a timely manner.

The consultation period will end on March 31 next year.

Details of the public consultation exercise can be found on the thematic website, while hard copies of the consultation document will be available at the Highways Department headquarters, the Transport Department headquarters and its four licensing offices, the Home Affairs Department's public enquiry service centres as well as public libraries from Monday.