Authorities in Hong Kong introduced on Monday new railway standards that would expedite and optimize the implementation of new railway projects.
Director of Highways Tony Yau Kwok-ting said the new Hong Kong Railway Standards introduces relevant domestic and international standards after detailed analyses and comparisons to ensure railway safety, quality, and performance-based outcomes.
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Yau said the new standards could facilitate the use of a broader selection of advanced construction technologies, materials, equipment, and railway systems for railway projects to "stay abreast of the times".
"This move helps to leverage and introduce the extensive experience and world-leading technologies in railway construction of our nation, as well as the recognized standards in other parts of the world, with a view to driving the new railway projects of Hong Kong with enhanced speed and efficiency, and striving for shorter construction times and lower costs," he said.
According to a government statement, the benefits of the Hong Kong Railway Standards include introducing the latest construction technologies and advanced operating systems, providing a clear basis to simplify approval processes, promoting better use of regional and local supply chains, and enhancing cost-effectiveness.
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The latest standards were formulated in collaboration with relevant government departments and railway experts, against the backdrop of opportunities brought by two cross-boundary railway projects - the Northern Link and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link.
Implementation emphasized
Authorities also announced the official establishment of the Railway Checking Unit (RCU) that aims to effectively implement the Hong Kong Railway Standards, with professionals including building surveyors, structural engineers, and civil engineers.
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The unit is designed to handle the approval of building plans for new railway projects, and a digital approval platform has been established to facilitate the convenient submission of documents and approvals, thereby enhancing administrative efficiency.
The RCU aims to substantially reduce the processing time for initial plan submissions from 60 days to 30 days, and for amendment plan submissions from 30 days to 21 days. The government said that key performance indicators have been set to ensure that at least 90 percent of approval decisions are made within these time frames.
