'Mainland Skytrains A Cheaper Route For Kai Tak'

A group of lawmakers say they have come up with a way to revive an abandoned plan to build an elevated rail link in Kowloon East, saying the use of mainland technology could shave billions off the price tag.

In 2020, the government dropped the idea of constructing a monorail system to link the Kai Tak Development Area with Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong, citing cost concerns.

The original estimate for such a system was put at HK$12 billion.

But legislators, including engineer Gary Zhang, said on Tuesday that a transit link could be built to support commercial and residential developments in the area for around HK$7 billion.

The key, they said, is to use mainland-made "skytrains".

"It's even easier than building a pedestrian footbridge," Zhang told RTHK's Leung Pak-hei.

"Basically, we just need to build a bridge pier, then we put on the pre-fabricated track, then it's done."

The trains, which the lawmakers said could cost up to another HK$1 billion, would run on their own batteries so no power cables would be needed.

"It occupies very minimal land space and it's also cost-effective. It's perfect for those medium- to low-capacity mass transport systems," Zhang added.

The legislators said they would like to see the skytrains running from Kai Tak MTR Station to Yau Tong, passing by places including the cruise terminal and the future sports park.