Ordinary Gweilo

The government has given the go-ahead for the so-called "Sha Tin to Central Link".

When this was first announced it was going to be a new railway line from Tai Wai (in Sha Tin district), via Hung Hom, to Central.  You might not realize this from newspaper reports, but it has become two separate extensions to existing lines – the Ma On Shan line will be extended south to Hung Hom, and East Rail will be extended south to Admiralty (but not Central, or at least not yet). 

This certainly seems more sensible – a direct line from Lo Wu to Central makes more sense than asking passengers to change at Tai Wai or Hung Hom, whilst the East Kowloon stations become part of the Ma On Shan line. 

In addition, there is a proposal for the Kwun Tong line to be extended to Whampoa via Ho Man Tin (where there will be an intersection with the Ma On Shan line extension). 

The other interesting thing about this is that the government has decided to fund the construction directly rather than the normal roundabout method of allowing the MTR to raise money by property development.  Of course it’s easier for the goverment to do that when they have a huge surplus, but it’s good to see someone making sensible decisions.