CE Presides Over New Tuen Mun-Lantau Tunnel Drive

Chief Executive Carrie Lam officiated over the commissioning of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link Northern Connection on Saturday, the day before the link's scheduled opening for public use.

Lam and other officials, including Transport Secretary Frank Chan, rode an open-top bus and travelled through the tunnel from its entrance on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge artificial island to its Tuen Mun North Exit.

The CE said the North Connection is another step forward for a "quota-free scheme" to allow private cars to travel from Hong Kong to Guangdong province using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Currently, private cars have to get approval from mainland and Hong Kong authorities to drive through the bridge to the mainland.

"The scheme will assist Hong Kong residents to drive to Guangdong Province for business, visiting families or sightseeing on a short-term basis," said Lam.

She added that the new tunnel can reinforce the SAR's status as a transport hub by giving easier access to the airport and better connecting Hong Kong other parts of the mainland.

The 5.5-kilometre link is expected to cut traveling time between southern Tuen Mun and the airport by 20 minutes to just 10 minutes.

The tunnel will be toll-free and is believed to ease traffic on the Lantau Link and Tuen Mun Road.

Drivers will be able to use it to travel between the airport and northwestern New Territories without going through the North Lantau Highway and Ting Kau Bridge.

The government estimated that the new tunnel will serve 2,200 vehicles per hour during rush hours.

The Lantau Link will also waive its toll from midnight Sunday.

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