Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Kowloon station, an adjacent MTR station in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong West Kowloon[1][2]

香港西九龍
Hong Kong West Kowloon Station view 201810.jpg
West Kowloon station (2018)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese香港西九龍站
Simplified Chinese香港西九龙站
Jyutpinghoeng1 gong2 sai1 gau2 lung4 zaam6
General information
LocationTsim Sha Tsui, West Kowloon
Hong Kong
Owned byKowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Operated byMTR Corporation
Line(s)Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL
Platforms15[3]
Connections
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
ArchitectAedas
Other information
StatusTemporarily closed
Station code
  • MTR code: WEK
  • Immigration Department: XRL
  • TMIS code: 65896
  • Telegraph code: XJA
  • Pinyin code: XGL
History
Opened23 September 2018; 2 years ago (2018-09-23)
Closed30 January 2020; 19 months ago (2020-01-30) (temporary, due to COVID-19 pandemic)
Services
Preceding station China Railway High-speed Following station
Futian
towards Guangzhou South
 Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL Terminus
External video
Government promotional animation
video icon XRL (Hong Kong Section): Co-location clearance, one-stop convenience
Entrance of the Mainland Port Area
Police station in the Mainland Port Area
The Government announced the implementation of co-location arrangement on 25 July 2017
View of the construction site
View of the construction site
View of the construction site
Temporary roadworks along D1A (South)
Temporary roadworks along D1A (North)
Entry stamp issued at juxtaposed controls at Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station
Exit stamp issued at juxtaposed controls at Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station in a Chinese passport

West Kowloon station[4] (abbreviated WEK), also known as Hong Kong West Kowloon[1] and West Kowloon, is the terminus and only station of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (HSR). The station connects to the mainland China section through a dedicated tunnel and includes a Mainland Port Area where the laws of mainland China are enforced. It was constructed by MTR Corporation.[5]

The terminal railway station is located in Jordan, West Kowloon, north of the proposed West Kowloon Cultural District between the Airport Express and Tung Chung line's Kowloon station and the Tuen Ma line's Austin station. The footprint of the new station extends into the basement of the West Kowloon Cultural District.[6]

The original scheduled opening date of 2012 was delayed until 2015 following the shake-up of high-speed rail construction across China after the 2011 Wenzhou train collision. While construction of the station was still planned for completion in 2015, major flooding occurred in the railway tunnels under construction on 30 March 2014. This resulted in great damage to the tunnel boring machines. Internal MTR reports suggested causes were incomplete tender drawings, site surveys and planning before construction began.[7] The station was formally opened on 4 September 2018 and high speed trains started to run to destinations in Mainland China from 23 September 2018.[8]

RTHK reported that the final cost of the construction was 30% more than the initial estimate.[9]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that West Kowloon station will be closed from 12 AM on 30 January 2020, until further notice.[10]

Mainland Port Area[]

The Mainland Port Area is an area inside West Kowloon station that serves as a border control point between mainland China and Hong Kong.[11][12][13] The area has been effectively ceded to Mainland China for a token HK$1,000 a year in rent.[14][15] Since September 2018, Mainland Chinese immigration and police personnel operate exclusively within the area, and the laws of Mainland China, rather than Hong Kong, are enforced.[16][17]

This arrangement was controversial both before and after its implementation. Pro-democracy advocates were concerned about the erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms and autonomy under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, and the Hong Kong Bar Association stated that the arrangement caused "the integrity of the Basic Law" to be "irreparably breached" and would "severely undermine" confidence in the rule of law in Hong Kong.[18][19][20] Notably, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which applies in Hong Kong, does not apply in the Mainland Port Area, leading to human rights concerns.[21][22]

Area definition[]

The area delineated and coloured orange on Plan No. 1 and Annex 1 to Plan No. 1 in Schedule 2 of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance is declared as the Mainland Port Area. It comprises the designated areas on B2 and B3 levels, the platform areas on B4 level as well as the connecting passageways.[23][24] A train compartment of a passenger train in operation on the Hong Kong Section of the Express Rail Link is to be regarded as part of the Mainland Port Area. This arrangement will facilitate mainland border control preclearance in Hong Kong. Reports in the British press suggested this area amounts to a cession of 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of the station for a token annual rent of HK$ 1 000 (reported as being equivalent to £99).[25]

Except for reserved matters, the Mainland Port Area is to be regarded as an area lying outside Hong Kong but lying within Mainland China for the purposes of the application of the laws of Mainland China, and of the laws of Hong Kong, in the Mainland Port Area; and the delineation of jurisdiction over the Mainland Port Area. It does not affect the boundary of the administrative division of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.[26]

Although the West Kowloon HSR station is listed on a page titled Checkpoints in SZ by the Shenzhen Gov't Online, it is unclear whether this qualifies as a Port of Exit for the Shenzhen SEZ Visa on Arrival.

Implementation process[]

The joint meeting on 8 August 2017 of the Panel on Transport, the Panel on Security and the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services of the Legislative Council passed the motion supporting the implementation of the "co-location arrangement" at the West Kowloon station.[27]

The meeting on 15 November 2017 of the Legislative Council passed the motion on taking forward the follow-up tasks of the co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon station.[28]

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement with the People's Government of Guangdong Province on 18 November 2017.[24]

On 27 December 2017, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress approved the Co-operation Arrangement and stated that it is consistent with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.[29]

The Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill passed by the Legislative Council on the meeting on 14 June 2018. The Ordinance gazetted on 22 June 2018 and come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Transport and Housing by notice published in the Hong Kong Government Gazette.[30]

After a ceremony to "mark the commissioning of the Mainland Port Area" was held jointly by Frank Chan, Secretary for Transport and Housing, and "a leading Communist party official from Guangdong province",[25] democracy activists noted that it constituted an erosion of the SAR's autonomy, with Tanya Chan reported as telling local radio that "the unlawful and unconstitutional joint checkpoint has been implemented forcefully — it has caused an irreparable damage to our legal system and rule of law."[25] Chief Executive Carrie Lam, however denied that there was any attempt to cover up the event, despite the ceremony being closed to press and being held without advance notice to news media or to members of the Legislative Council.[25]

In the Court of First Instance of the High Court, Judge Anderson Chow refused the applications for leave to apply for judicial review by his decision dated 27 September 2017[31] and 18 April 2018.[32] He refused the applications for interim relief by his decision dated 14 August 2018.[33] He granted the applications for leave to apply for judicial review but dismissed the substantive applications for judicial review by his judgment dated 13 December 2018.[34]

Mainland police operations[]

Since the Mainland Port Area began operations, there have been several reported cases of travelers being detained or arrested by mainland officials in Hong Kong.[35][36][37] In one case, a Hong Kong resident working for the British consulate was detained upon returning to Hong Kong and sent back to mainland China by mainland police officers.[38][39] Amid the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, Chinese border officers have also begun to routinely search the phones of travelers for evidence of involvement in the protests.[40]

Structure[]

Construction of the West Kowloon station project was divided into two parts, XRL810A (northern part) and XRL810B (southern part)[41] (XRL meaning eXpress Rail Link). The northern construction area was awarded to Leighton Contractors & Gammon Construction responsible for joint operations.[42] The southern part of the project was awarded to a consortium of Laing O'Rourke, HCCG (Xinchang) & Paul Y jointly responsible for the construction.

West Kowloon station features 9 long distance platforms and 6 short haul regional platforms for a total of 15 platforms.[43][44]

The long platforms are located on the east of the station and adequate for docking 16-car train. There will be total 9 track, 4 island platform and 1 side platform in the final stage of operation. 6 track, 3 island platform and 1 side platform will be opened in the initial stage. Every platform is equipped with 2 elevator, 2 escalators connecting the Arrival Level on B2 and 2 escalators connecting the departure level on B3.[45][46]

The short platforms are located on the west of the station in Spanish solution arrangement and adequate for docking 8-car train. There will be total 6 track, 5 island platform and 2 side platform in the final stage of operation. 4 track, 4 island platform and 1 side platform will be opened in the initial stage. 3 out of 5 platforms will be the boarding platform and each equipped with 1 elevator and 2 escalators connecting the departure level on B3. The two other platforms will be the alighting platform and each equipped with 1 elevator and 2 escalators connecting the arrival level on B2.[45][46]

In addition, as a cross-border railway station, West Kowloon station will also be set up with customs and immigration facilities for the passengers to go through the formalities prior to boarding the train and not requiring any stops at the Hong Kong border.[47][48][49]

Floor plan[]

Train G6582 at Platform 7 on the first day operation of Hong Kong West Kowloon station
← (Reserved) MTR HSR P1 Reserved platform for 16-car train (Not in service)
Island platform (Reserved platform, Not in service)
← (Reserved) MTR HSR P2 Reserved platform for 16-car train (Not in service)
← (Reserved) MTR HSR P3 Reserved platform for 16-car train (Not in service)
Island platform (Only one side is opened for operation, other side is reserved platform and closed)
← MTR HSR P4 Platform for 16-car train
← MTR HSR P5 Platform for 16-car train
Island platform
← MTR HSR P6 Platform for 16-car train
← MTR HSR P7 Platform for 16-car train
Island platform
← MTR HSR P8 Platform for 16-car train
← MTR HSR P9 Platform for 16-car train
Side platform
Side platform (For boarding only)
← MTR HSR P11 Boarding platform for 8-car train
MTR HSR P12 Alighting platform for 8-car train
Island platform (For alighting only)
← MTR HSR P13 Alighting platform for 8-car train
MTR HSR P14 Boarding platform for 8-car train
Island platform (For boarding only)
← MTR HSR P15 Boarding platform for 8-car train
MTR HSR P16 Alighting platform for 8-car train
Island platform (For alighting only)
← MTR HSR P17 Alighting platform for 8-car train
MTR HSR P18 Boarding platform for 8-car train
Island platform (For boarding only, Only one side is opened for operation, other side is reserved platform and closed)
← (Reserved) MTR HSR P19MTR HSR P20 Reserved platform for 8-car train (Not in service)
Island platform (Reserved platform, Not in service)
← (Reserved) MTR HSR P21MTR HSR P22 Reserved platform for 8-car train (Not in service)
Side platform (Reserved platform, Not in service)

Exits[]

A: Austin station Wheelchair user access

B: Wui Man Road Pick-up/Drop-off Wheelchair user access

C: Lin Cheung Road (closed) Wheelchair user access

D: Green Plaza Wheelchair user access

F: Green Plaza Wheelchair user access

G: Xiqu Centre Wheelchair user access

H: Green Plaza Wheelchair user access

J: Coach Pick-up/Drop-off Wheelchair user access

K1: Austin station Wheelchair user access

K2: West Kowloon Station Bus Terminus Wheelchair user access

K4: Sky Corridor Wheelchair user access

M: Elements Wheelchair user access

N: Austin station Wheelchair user access

Landscaping[]

West Kowloon station features an extensive green garden across the roof area of the station. It also sets up a large collection of cultural elements and entertainment spaces. Passengers can easily cross the ground floor between Kowloon station, Austin station and West Kowloon Cultural District, providing Hong Kong residents and visitors ample public open space and a comfortable green walking environment. Above the station, an area of approximately 8,900 square metres has been planted with a large number of plants and trees with traffic separated. All to create a pedestrian area, a green platform and wooded park that will integrate with the West Kowloon Cultural District harbourside parklands.

In addition, the West Kowloon station entrance lobby area features a green ecological leisure channel zone to tie in with the greenery on top of the building.

Train services[]

The West Kowloon station is served by both short-distance and long-haul train services. Short-distance services consist of a frequent service to mainland Chinese cities in neighbouring Guangdong province, including Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou, while long-distance services link Hong Kong to at least 16 major destinations in mainland China.[50] Six platforms will be designated for short haul trains, while nine will be designated for long haul trains.

Short-haul services

  • 2 trains per hour to Futian
  • 4 trains per hour to Shenzhen North
  • 1 train per hour to Humen
  • 2 trains per hour to Guangzhou South
Preceding station China Railway High-speed Following station
Futian
Terminus
 Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL
Short-haul service
 Terminus
Shenzhen North
Terminus
Guangzhou South
Terminus

Long-haul services

Preceding station China Railway High-speed Following station
Futian
towards Beijing West
 Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway
Long-haul service
 Terminus

According to a 2008 study, it is expected that by 2030, train services will increase in frequency.[51][52]

Road network[]

Related developments by the Hong Kong government in West Kowloon, expect to improve the efficiency of road and pedestrian access routes, as well as to resolve a problematic traffic intersection in West Kowloon. These road developments hope to meet the transport needs of the entire area of the new development area of West Kowloon Cultural District and West Kowloon station after completion.

Transportation Study identified the following specific road improvement measures:

  • Build a connection from Austin Road West (near Canton Road) to Lin Cheung Road (Jordan Road north) via an underground carriageway, so that pedestrians will have unimpeded access and egress between West Kowloon Cultural District, West Kowloon station and Kowloon station
  • Conduct Austin Road and Canton Road junction improvement works, including considering the widening of the Canton Road carriageway and expansion of existing underground pedestrian tunnel system
  • Other road improvement projects in West Kowloon will be directly connected to a newly developed area near the West Kowloon Highway, in order to reduce the load on the region's transportation network

Awards[]

In 2010, the West Kowloon station design won "Cityscape Awards for Architecture" in the Emerging Markets of Tourism, Travel & Transport Future Awards.[53] In the same year on 4 November, the West Kowloon station design won the "Best Future Project ─ Infrastructure" World Architecture Festival Awards.[54]

See also[]

  • Woodlands Train Checkpoint
  • Juxtaposed controls - co-location of immigration and customs on trains and ferries

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "A worker walks past signage for platform 5 of the West Kowloon..." Getty Images. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  2. ^ File:HK 香港西九龍站 MTR West Kowloon Station January 2019 SSG 84.jpg
  3. ^ "Railway Facilities". MTR Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. ^ Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link Co-Location Arrangement (PDF) (Poster), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government – via www.thb.gov.hk
  5. ^ "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link". Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
  6. ^ MTR (2008), Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link Project Profile (PDF)
  7. ^ Thomas, Tris (16 April 2014). "Severely Damaged TBM to Delay Hong Kong XRL". Tunnellingjournal.com.
  8. ^ "Mainland Port Area of Cross-Border Express Rail Link Terminus Opens". Xinhua Net. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  9. ^ "High Speed Rail Link Project Delayed". RTHK. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  10. ^ "[Wǔhàn fèiyán. Duō tú] gāotiě xī jiǔlóng zhàn guānbì lí jìng zhákǒu língchén qǐ fēng zhàn" 【武漢肺炎．多圖】高鐵西九龍站關閉離境閘口凌晨起封站. Ming Pao (in Chinese). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Specified Control Points". Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department.
  12. ^ Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance Comes Into Operation (With Photos)" (Press release). www.info.gov.hk.
  13. ^ Cheung, Tony (27 December 2017). "Six Things to Know About Hong Kong's Controversial 'Co-location' Joint Checkpoint Scheme". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  14. ^ Haas, Benjamin (4 September 2018). "Hong Kong Cedes Part of Rail Station to China in Secretive Ceremony". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  15. ^ Lo, Clifford (3 September 2018). "800 Mainland Officers to Enforce National Law at High-speed Rail Terminus". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  16. ^ Shepherd, Christian; Wu, Venus (27 December 2017). "China Says Part of Hong Kong Rail Station to be Subject to Mainland Laws". Reuters. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  17. ^ Pomfret, James (4 September 2018). "Unscheduled Departure: China's Legal Reach Extends to Hong Kong Rail Station". Reuters. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Hong Kong Lawyers 'Appalled' by Move to Enforce China Law in Rail Station". Reuters. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  19. ^ Kuo, Lily (4 October 2018). "'This is Part of the Plan': Nnew Train Blurs Line Between China and Hong Kong". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  20. ^ Hong Kong Bar Association (28 December 2017), Statement of the Hong Kong Bar Association (PDF) – via www.hkba.org
  21. ^ Wang, Maya (19 June 2018). "China's Fast Train to Eroding Hong Kong's Autonomy". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  22. ^ Lam, Kwok-lap (22 June 2018). "Hong Kong's Controversial Joint Checkpoint Plan Prompts Spate of Judicial Reviews". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Cap. 632 Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Ordinance". Hong Kong e-Legislation. 4 September 2018.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "HKSAR and the Mainland signed the Co-operation Arrangement for the XRL co-location arrangement (with photos/video)". www.info.gov.hk.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Benjamin Haas (in Seoul) (4 September 2018). "Hong Kong cedes part of rail station to China in secretive ceremony". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill" (PDF).
  27. ^ Motion on "Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Arrangements of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link" passed at the joint meeting on 8 August 2017
  28. ^ Voting Results
  29. ^ "Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Approving the Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement" (PDF). Transport and Housing Bureau.
  30. ^ Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (14 June 2018). "CE Welcomes Passage of Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill" (Press release). www.info.gov.hk.
  31. ^ "Judgment". legalref.judiciary.hk.
  32. ^ "Decision of HCAL 630/2018 ([2018] HKCFI 800)".
  33. ^ "Decision of HCAL 1160 & 1165/2018 ([2018] HKCFI 1869)".
  34. ^ "Judgement of HCAL 1160, 1164, 1165, 1171 & 1178/2018 ([2018] HKCFI 2657)".
  35. ^ "Concern as mainland officials take away two at West Kowloon station". South China Morning Post. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  36. ^ Cheng, Kris (4 January 2019). "Man barred from entering Hong Kong at West Kowloon high-speed rail station". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  37. ^ "Greater transparency needed on detentions at rail joint checkpoint". South China Morning Post. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  38. ^ James Griffiths. "A shared train station symbolizes Hong Kong's fears about China". CNN. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  39. ^ Sudworth, John (20 November 2019). "Former UK consulate worker says China tortured him". Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  40. ^ Zhong, Raymond (15 August 2019). "Going From Hong Kong to Mainland China? Your Phone Is Subject to Search". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  41. ^ "港鐵 - 廣深港高速鐵路香港段". www.expressraillink.hk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  42. ^ "Leighton wins $1.2b Hong Kong rail deal". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  43. ^ 環境評估報告：廣深港高速鐵路香港段（環境評估報告NOL/ERL/300/C/XRL/ENS/M50/024號文件），2009年7月22日，香港環境保護署
  44. ^ Express Rail Link West Kowloon Terminus Hong Kong Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine 凱達環球
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b "Hong Kong West Kowloon Station layout" (PDF). MTR. September 2018.
  46. ^ Jump up to: a b "Co-operation Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Establishment of the Port at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link for Implementing Co-location Arrangement" (PDF). HKSAR Government. 18 November 2017.
  47. ^ 環境評估報告：廣深港高速鐵路香港段（環境評估報告NOL/ERL/300/C/XRL/ENS/M50/025A號文件），2009年7月22日，香港環境保護署
  48. ^ 環境評估報告：廣深港高速鐵路香港段（環境評估報告NOL/ERL/300/C/XRL/ENS/M50/026A號文件），2009年7月22日，香港環境保護署
  49. ^ 政府當局就西九龍總站介紹提供的文件 2009年11月17日，香港立法會
  50. ^ "Frequency and Capacity". MTR Corporation. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  51. ^ 大珠三角之鐵路發展 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine 第25頁，香港鐵路公司，2008年10月18日
  52. ^ 高鐵班次及載客量 Archived 5 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine 香港鐵路公司
  53. ^ Real Estate Investment, Development and Construction Exhibition - 2010 Winners Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Cityscape，2010年
  54. ^ West Kowloon Terminus Archived 5 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine World Buildings Directory

Further reading[]

Coordinates: 22°18′13″N 114°09′54″E / 22.30361°N 114.16500°E / 22.30361; 114.16500

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