Advantages of this option:
( 1) Transportation Arrangement
(i) Good transportation Connectivity at HKBCF
Connection with Airport Terminal, Tung Chung/Urban & Tuen Mun/Northwest New Territories is available. In addition, passengers can conveniently travel between HKBCF and Tung Chung via short transportation connection for the MTR Tung Chung Line.
(ii) Multimodal transport hub
● By Air ︰HKBCF is close to the Airport, and Automated People Mover can connect directly to passenger lounge. Also, connection for the future Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airport Rail Link can be provisioned.
● By Land ︰Apart from connecting with Tuen Mun and Urban Area, it can also reach existing Airport Terminal, AWE, Hotels, MTR Airport Express and the nearby Tung Chung Line.
● By Sea ︰Enhance the opportunity to develop the Skypier.
(iii) Public transport in Tung Chung
HKBCF, Airport Terminal and TM-CLKL are close to each other thus providing an opportunity to combine different public transport routes. The public transport routes from urban or Tuen Mun to Tung Chung/Airport can merge with other routes at HKBCF or form a transportation loop between HKBCF, Airport and Tung Chung. Due to the increase in traffic demand, it is beneficial to operational cost-effectiveness and increasing the frequency of transport routes in Tung Chung.
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( 2) Economic Efficiency
(i) HKBCF being close to Airport
● Convenient for business visitors from Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge (HZMB) to AWE, hotels etc thus enhancing their business opportunities.
● Transit passengers can reach Airport lounge via Automated People Mover without the need of immigration and thus time is saved. As such, the competitiveness of HKIA can be enhanced.
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(ii) HKBCF being close to Tung Chung
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( 3)HKBCF Future Operation
(i) Sharing of facilities with Airport Terminal
HKBCF, east of Chek Lap Kok, being close to Airport Terminal, Police Forces at the two locations can support each other and the capability can be strengthened in case of emergency happenings.
(ii) Flexibility of traffic during emergency
There are three routes leading from HKBCF. Vehicles can be diverted to other routes in case of incident in one route. Traffic at HKBCF is therefore more flexible during emergency.
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( 4) Environmental Consideration
● Smaller impact on Chinese White Dolphins
● Since Chinese White Dolphins are less active at Chek Lap Kok East, cumulative impact on the dolphins would be smaller if HKBCF is located there.
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Major Concerns from Tung Chung Residents
( 1) Environmental and Visual Impacts for Tung Chung
● Environmental impact for Tung Chung (noise, air quality, light etc) is one of our major considerations.
● Noise & Air quality︰Distance between HKBCF and Tung Chung is about 2km. It is anticipated that the buffer distance is sufficient to reduce the air and noise impact.
● Light︰HKBCF is further away from Tung Chung than the existing airport facilities such as Cathay City, Dragonair Tower etc. Light coming from HKBCF would have even smaller impact for Tung Chung than that from the airport facilities. Also, HKBCF will be designed to reduce the light impact for Tung Chung.
● The environmental impact assessment of the proposed works is being carried out in accordance with EIAO which includes detailed assessment of noise, air and light impact to ensure compliance to the regulation. EIA Report will be available for Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) and public inspection for comments.
● We will report to the public when more data is available.
● In response to comments from Tung Chung residents, a section of the HKLR viaduct near Tung Chung seafront would be replaced by tunnel so as to reduce the environmental and visual impacts.
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● For the view of the future HKBCF, please refer to the photomontages below which are taken from Seaview Crescent, Coastal Skyline and Caribbean Coast respectively.。
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( 2) Transportation Concern
● HKBCF being a hub connecting with TM-CLKL, Tung Chung Town and Airport, local residents worry about traffic congestion in Tung Chung in case of traffic accidents or other incidents at HKBCF.
● Under normal circumstance, traffic within HKBCF will not cause congestion to the traffic network connecting Tuen Mun, North Lantau and Airport which is outside HKBCF.
● For NECLK option, there are three routes leading from HKBCF. Vehicles can be diverted to other routes in case of incident in one route. Traffic at HKBCF is therefore more flexible during emergency. In contrast, if HKBCF is located at the West, only one route is available. The capability in dealing with emergency is inferior when compared to the NECLK option. This is in fact one of the advantages for NECLK option.
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( 3) Security Concern
● If HKBCF is located at the east, a long distance of HKLR, passing through Sha Lo Wan and San Shek Wan, etc, is a bonded road. Local residents worry that illegal activities would be encouraged at HKLR.
● Relevant government departments advised that the risk of illegal activities within the non-clearance section of HKLR is relatively low. The reasons are:
a) HKLR being an expressway, it is difficult for the offenders to stop the car for illegal activities.
b) CCTV monitoring system will be installed on HKLR that illegal activities can be detected. Therefore, the offenders can be intercepted immediately.
c) Since the HKLR is free of slip roads and the major section is a viaduct, it is difficult for offenders to escape.
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