Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station

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]

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
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
LocationJordan, West Kowloon
Hong Kong
Owned byKowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
Operated byMTR Corporation
Line(s)Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong XRL
Platforms15[3]
Connections
  • Kowloon and Austin
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
ArchitectAedas
Other information
StatusTemporary closed
Station code
  • MTR code: WEK
  • Immigration Department: XRL
  • TMIS code: 65896
  • Telegraph code: XJA
  • Pinyin code: XGL
History
Opened23 September 2018
Closed30 January 2020 (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
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 July 25, 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)
China passport entry stamp with West Kowloon station name.
China passport exit stamp with station name.

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 West Rail 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 12AM 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][21] 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.[22][23]

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.[24][25] 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).[26]

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.[27]

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.[28]

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.[29]

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.[25]

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.[30]

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.[31]

After a ceremony to "mark the commissioning of the Mainland Port Area" was held jointly by Frank Chan, Secretary for Transport and Housing, and "and a leading Communist party official from Guangdong province",[26] 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."[26] 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.[26]

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[32] and 18 April 2018.[33] He refused the applications for interim relief by his decision dated 14 August 2018.[34] 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.[35]

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.[36][37][38] 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.[39][40] 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.[41]

Structure

Construction of the West Kowloon Station project was divided into two parts, XRL810A (northern part) and XRL810B (southern part)[42] (XRL meaning eXpress Rail Link). The northern construction area was awarded to Leighton Contractors & Gammon Construction responsible for joint operations.[43] 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.[44][45]

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.[46][47]

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.[46][47]

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.[48][49][50]

Floor plan
Train G6582 at Platform 7 on the first day operation of Hong Kong West Kowloon Station
← (Reserved) Reserved platform for 16-car train(Not in service)
Island platform(Reserved platform, Not in service)
← (Reserved) Reserved platform for 16-car train(Not in service)
← (Reserved) 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 )
← Platform for 16-car train
← Platform for 16-car train
Island platform
← Platform for 16-car train
← Platform for 16-car train
Island platform
← Platform for 16-car train
← Platform for 16-car train
Side platform
Side platform(For boarding only)
← Boarding platform for 8-car train
Alighting platform for 8-car train
Island platform(For alighting only)
← Alighting platform for 8-car train
Boarding platform for 8-car train
Island platform(For boarding only)
← Boarding platform for 8-car train
Alighting platform for 8-car train
Island platform(For alighting only)
← Alighting platform for 8-car train
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) Reserved platform for 8-car train(Not in service)
Island platform(Reserved platform, Not in service)
← (Reserved) Reserved platform for 8-car train(Not in service)
Side platform(Reserved platform, Not in service)

Exits

A: Austin Station

B: Wui Man Road Pick-up/Drop-off

C: Lin Cheung Road (closed)

D: Green Plaza

F: Green Plaza

G: Xiqu Centre

H: Green Plaza

J: Coach Pick-up/Drop-off

K1: Austin Station

K2: West Kowloon Station Bus Terminus

K4: Sky Corridor

M: Elements

N: Austin Station

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.[51] 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.[52][53]

MTR

West Kowloon Station is located between two MTR stations, Kowloon Station and Austin Station. It is intended to become a commuter hub. Passengers will be able to transfer stations through the ground pedestrian area, as well as a number of footbridges and subways. Walking from Kowloon Station to West Kowloon Station via the Elements Shopping Centre takes around 8–10 minutes, while a short passageway connects the station with Austin Station.

From the West Kowloon Station via the MTR to the various regions of Hong Kong:

  • Tsim Sha Tsui: 5 minutes
  • Hong Kong (Central): 10 minutes
  • Wan Chai: 10 minutes
  • Yuen Long: 25 minutes
  • Shatin: 25 minutes
  • Tung Chung: 25 minutes
  • Tai Koo: 30 minutes
  • Kwun Tong: 35 minutes

Public transport interchange

In addition, the station will include a public transport interchange and long-distance coach station. Walking from the West Kowloon Station to these facilities will take about one minute. Passengers can use different modes of transport to reach the bus station, minibus station and taxi stand.

Time needed to travel to/from West Kowloon Station using road transport:

The Transport Department proposed three express bus routes connecting the station to various places in Hong Kong:

  • W1: West Kowloon Station to Admiralty (West) (via Central)
  • W2: West Kowloon Station to Kwun Tong Station (via Lam Tin and Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre)
  • W3: West Kowloon Station to Sheung Shui (via Tai Po Yuen Chau Tsai, Sha Tin Station and Tsing Sha Highway Toll Plaza)
  • 36B: Lei Muk Shue - High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 42A: Tsing Yi (Cheung Hang)- High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 60X: Tuen Mun Town Centre - High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 63X (Via Tuen Mun), 268X (Via Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long): Hung Shui Kiu (Hung Fuk Estate)- High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 69X: Tin Shui - High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 81: Sha Tin (Wo Che)-High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 95: Tsui Lam - High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station
  • 271, 271X (From HSR West Kowloon Station Only): Tai Po (Fu Heng Estate) - High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station

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.[54] In the same year on 4 November, the West Kowloon Station design won the "Best Future Project ─ Infrastructure" World Architecture Festival Awards.[55]

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See also

References
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  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. "Promotional poster on the co-location arrangement" (PDF).
  5. "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link".
  6. "West Kowloon Terminus (WKT)" (PDF).
  7. "Severely damaged TBM to delay Hong Kong XRL". Tunnellingjournal.com. 16 April 2014.
  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.
  10. "【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. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  11. "Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department - Specified Control Points". www.customs.gov.hk.
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  14. Haas, Benjamin (4 September 2018). "Hong Kong cedes part of rail station to China in secretive ceremony". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
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  16. "China says part of Hong Kong rail station to be subject to mainland laws". Reuters. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
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  27. "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill" (PDF).
  28. 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
  29. Voting Results
  30. "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.
  31. "CE welcomes passage of Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Co-location) Bill". Government of Hong Kong. 14 June 2018.
  32. "Judgment". legalref.judiciary.hk.
  33. "Decision of HCAL 630/2018 ([2018] HKCFI 800)".
  34. "Decision of HCAL 1160 & 1165/2018 ([2018] HKCFI 1869)".
  35. "Judgement of HCAL 1160, 1164, 1165, 1171 & 1178/2018 ([2018] HKCFI 2657)".
  36. "Concern as mainland officials take away two at West Kowloon station". South China Morning Post. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  37. 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.
  38. "Greater transparency needed on detentions at rail joint checkpoint". South China Morning Post. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  39. James Griffiths. "A shared train station symbolizes Hong Kong's fears about China". CNN. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  40. Sudworth, John (20 November 2019). "Former UK consulate worker says China tortured him". Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  41. 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.
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  44. 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
  45. Express Rail Link West Kowloon Terminus Hong Kong Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine 凱達環球
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  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/M50/025A號文件），2009年7月22日，香港環境保護署
  49. 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
  50. 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
  51. "Frequency and Capacity". MTR Corporation. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  52. 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
  53. 高鐵班次及載客量 Archived 5 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine 香港鐵路公司
  54. Real Estate Investment, Development and Construction Exhibition - 2010 Winners Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Cityscape，2010年
  55. West Kowloon Terminus Archived 5 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine World Buildings Directory

Further reading

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