Hong Kong, 9 October 2017: Boase Cohen & Collins Partner Alex Liu has praised the “amazing” infrastructure of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link after a first-hand look at West Kowloon Station.
Mr Liu was given a guided tour of the almost-complete facility with his fellow directors of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and representatives of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. After a brief introduction and viewing of site models, the group donned safety shoes, vests and helmets for the 40-minute exploration.
“It was a fascinating visit that highlighted the scale and complexity of what is an incredible engineering project. The infrastructure is amazing,” said Mr Liu. “We were shown around the different underground levels, including ticketing lobby, customs clearance, waiting areas and platforms. The architecture is truly stunning, allowing for natural light to penetrate the lower floors.
“I was also privately shown a video clip demonstrating how smooth the train journey will be. It showed a five-dollar coin placed upright on a table in a cabin facing the direction of travel and it stayed in place even when the train reached speeds of 300 km/h. It was highly impressive.
“While admiring the engineering and construction, our visit also brought home to us the human effort required to build the Express Rail Link. After the tour, we emerged at ground level drenched in sweat. You can only imagine how tough it is working underground through Hong Kong’s summer. The construction workers deserve our highest thanks and praise.”
Mr Liu was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Travel Industry Council two years ago having served on the organisation’s Consumer Relations Committee from 2002-14. He was also appointed to the TIC’s Appeal Board in 2014. Established in 1978, the TIC regulates inbound and outbound travel agents under the Travel Agents (Amendment) Ordinance.
The Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link is being built by the MTR Corporation and is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of next year. It will connect Hong Kong with the Mainland’s 20,000km long high-speed rail network, offering an alternative to short- and medium-haul flights.