Hong Kong government eyes boosting greener transport

36 electric buses to be tested.

According to a release, new initiatives including rail projects, electric vehicles, and bicycle routes will add to the city’s transport network, Chief Executive CY Leung says.

Introducing the measures as part of his 2014 Policy Address, Mr Leung said funding would be provided for testing a new fleet of 36 electric buses, alongside bus route rationalisation and a trial scheme for expanding the use of electric taxis.

The Government will soon announce a new railway development blueprint for 2020 and beyond, to which he said the Government will consider adding a South Island Line (West). Railways will continue to provide the “backbone” of the city’s transport network, he said, to alleviate road congestion and roadside emissions.

The Government will also foster a “bicycle-friendly” environment in new towns and new development areas, he added. A pilot scheme has been launched in Tai Po to improve cycle tracks and parking spaces for bicycles, and a 60km cycling track between Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun is underway. The section between Ma On Shan and Sheung Shui will be completed in the first quarter of this year, and construction of other sections will follow.

A public consultation on the Elevated Rail-based Environmentally Friendly Linkage System to enhance linkages within Kowloon East is now in its second stage, with a detailed feasibility study to be carried out this year. Studies on making city areas more pedestrian-friendly are also underway, including the Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong business areas, while projects to enhance pedestrian access and barrier-free access for people with disabilities are being improved.