HKIUD Position Paper on the Proposed Environmentally Friendly Linkage System (EFLS)

HKIUD supports the establishment of a CBD2 at Kowloon East and the objective to provide enhanced connectivity in and between the area of Kowloon East including Kai Tak Development (KTD), Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong.

HKIUD, however, consider that there is a need for a comprehensive and holistic study on different types of solutions that might be desirable, as alternatives to the proposed EFLS. The reasons are set out below:

1. Restrictive spatial model of EFLS

In the urban context of Hong Kong, promotion of pedestrian activity at street level is important for urban design excellence. HKIUD supports the development of a mixed-use quarter at the old runway but considers that this should be coupled with street-level activity. A public transport system that operates above street level has an adverse impact on the natural lighting, ventilation, noise, street activities and the attractiveness of the street for pedestrians. The proposed sound screening roof structure, in particular, will be detrimental to the ability of residents and visitors to enjoy this new urban quarter.

HKIUD believes that KTD can be developed into a financially viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially beneficial new urban area, in contrast to the currently proposed development of the KTD as a car-based development where over-dimensioned roads dominate the open space and where pedestrians and bicyclists are pushed to the margin across inconvenient bridges. The proposed EFLS exacerbates this separation of functions and for this reason should be reconsidered.

2. The financial viability to build and operate the EFLS

Numerous oversea examples of monorail systems have proved to be non-profitable and not self-sustainable. The problem of access to the system (forced vertical movement to get to the platform deters use), the illogical station location and the route alignment are some of the factors that will determine the financial viability of the proposed EFLS. The proposed extended S-shape of the EFLS alignment appears inefficient and would discourage people from using it. There is no direct interchange with the new Shatin to Central link at the proposed Kai Tak station, which is baffling as this is surely the most important connection.

The proposed infrastructure requires a substantial upfront investment and lengthy project implementation and construction, which does not seem to constitute good value for public money. 



3. Alternative modes of environmental friendly transport system

There are other transport/people moving systems available that have a less adverse spatial impact and require less upfront investment and operational costs such as trams, electrical buses or travelators. The EFLS study findings dismiss ‘Road-based Green Public Transport’ for a variety of reasons. However, HKIUD considers that the sustainability, flexibility, vibrancies, humanity and the variety of choice of road-based transport system outweighs the perceived lack of tourism appeal or the perceived lack to enhance the visionary image of Kowloon East.

Trams are historically a unique part of the transport system in Hong Kong and are worth studying as an alternative that would provide a convenient way of travel in the Kowloon East area. A direct link could be designed from Kwun Tong station over a bridge to the KTD and onto the crucial Kai Tak station. Such a direct tram link can be supplemented with road-based transport as described above to connect the KTD with other areas of the new CBD2 and other areas of Kowloon.  

HKIUD

July, 2012