The Government is exploring the feasibility of building an elevated trackless rapid transit system to meet the needs of people living in Kwun Tong's uphill areas, Acting Secretary for Transport & Logistics Liu Chun-san said today.

In response to questions from lawmaker Tang Ka-piu in the Legislative Council, Mr Liu said a technical feasibility study on the elevated trackless rapid transit system is underway. Upon the completion of the study in the first half of 2023, the Government will also promulgate the project's way forward, including the preliminary timetable and implementation arrangements.

The Government originally proposed, in the Railway Development Strategy 2014, building the East Kowloon Line which is an underground heavy rail system. However, owing to the hilly topography along the corridor and the need to construct deep underground stations, it is expected that the project will encounter significant technical difficulties. In addition, it will take longer for people to travel between the ground level and the station platforms.

Hence, such an underground heavy rail system will not be an effective option, Mr Liu noted.

As an alternative, the proposed elevated trackless rapid transit system has a higher climbing capability than a traditional heavy rail system and is suitable for operation in hilly areas with a higher gradient.

The trackless transit system’s preliminary alignment is approximately four kilometres in length, connecting Po Tat via Sau Mau Ping, Shun On, Shun Lee and Choi Wan with MTR Choi Hung Station. The journey time from Po Tat to Choi Hung East is estimated to be some 10 minutes.

Operating on a dedicated elevated corridor, the system will be completely separated from pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Also, it will not be affected by the traffic at Clear Water Bay Road, New Clear Water Bay Road and Choi Hung Interchange.

Moreover, the proposed rapid transit system's Choi Hung East terminal station will be located on top of the existing public light bus terminus at Clear Water Bay Road, and a pedestrian passage linking MTR Choi Hung Station will be provided to allow passengers to interchange to the MTR Kwun Tong Line.

Separately, since the construction of deep tunnels, rails and overhead cables etc is not required and the electrical and mechanical supporting system is relatively simple, constructing the elevated trackless rapid transit system will be more cost effective and less time-consuming, Mr Liu added.