Easy access: The new link promises convenient transport between the Northwest New Territories and urban Kowloon.

The Chief Executive in Council's authorisation of the Kowloon Southern Link under the Railways Ordinance has been gazetted, paving the way for the 3.8km-long rail line that will link the West Rail Nam Cheong Station with the East Rail East Tsim Sha Tsui Station.

Works will start in August for completion in 2009.

When finished, the new link will provide passengers along the West Rail catchment in the Northwest New Territories with direct access to urban Kowloon. They will also be able to use the new link to access the Northeast New Territories through the interchange with the East Rail at Hung Hom Station.

For passengers destined for the Tsim Sha Tsui area, there will be a new West Kowloon Station at the site now occupied by the Canton Road Government Offices from where passengers can reach the China Ferry Terminal on Canton Road on foot within minutes.

The link was recommended in the Government's Railway Development Strategy 2000, and its estimated cost is $8.3 billion.

The KCRC and the Government are aware of the inconvenience and disturbance that the link's construction may cause, and will all they can to minimise it.

The Kowloon Southern link will be entirely underground. Contractors will use a bored tunnelling method along Canton Road to minimise disturbance to the road surface. Where the cut-and-cover method must be used, special efforts will be made to minimise the resulting disturbance.

To maintain effective communication with the local community, the KCRC will establish community liaison groups with representatives of the affected residential buildings, shops and hotels.