[ad_1]
After years of delays and cost overruns, the $ 11 billion link between Hong Kong and China's extensive high-speed rail network finally opened on Sunday, an important step on the road to Beijing to integrate the territory. semi-autonomous to the rest of the country.
The 26-kilometer line linking Hong Kong to the world's largest high-speed rail system is a highly symbolic development for its supporters and detractors. The first hopes that it will promote economic growth and social integration with mainland China, while the latter argue that it is a white elephant that will accelerate the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy.
"This is a historic moment for Hong Kong," said Carrie Lam, chief executive of Hong Kong, appointed by the Chinese government. "The extension of the high-speed rail network will be an important driver for [regional integration]. "
From the new West Kowloon cavernous station in the heart of Hong Kong, travelers can now reach Beijing in nine hours rather than 24 hours and the neighboring city of Shenzhen in 15 minutes rather than an hour on trains reaching more than 300 km / h.
But democracy activists in Hong Kong have attacked Beijing's decision to turn part of the station into Chinese territory and place Chinese police and border agents.
"This is a violation of the basic law and it is detrimental to the autonomy of Hong Kong," said Tanya Chan, an opposition MP, referring to the mini-constitution intended to guarantee judicial independence, civil rights and a "high degree of autonomy" "For 50 years after the British surrendered the former colony in 1997.
These passengers did not intend to try the new service, which connects the financial center to 44 mainland Chinese cities, many of which have no direct flight link.
"The development of the high-speed train in China has been very fast, it could be the best in the world," said Hui Chun-ping, a retiree, who paid $ 160 for a one-way ticket to Beijing.
advisable
Cherry Wong, a full-time mother who took her daughter to relatives near Wuhan, four and a half hours north of Hong Kong, said the high-speed rail link was more convenient Kongers feel closer to the mainland , which gives us more opportunities to get to know China. "
It will be the music of the Chinese authorities that sees the railway connection as part of a much larger plan to integrate Hong Kong into the continent, with a combination of major infrastructure projects and reforms making life and living easier. Hong Kong. work across the border.
Beyond the political motivations, the analysts wonder if the railway project will never be profitable. Only a few Chinese high-speed roads, including Beijing-Shanghai, are profitable. Hong Kong's 26-kilometer link with the mainland, which is completely underground, is one of the most expensive rail lines ever built, at a cost of $ 420 million per kilometer.
The Hong Kong government was forced to increase the budget and reduce traffic forecasts over the eight years it took to build.
Yu Zhanfu, a Chinese transportation expert at Roland Berger, a management consulting firm, said high-speed rail can be competitive in terms of price and convenience for 3- to 5-hour trips. the flourishing cities of Changsha, Wuhan and Xiamen.
"The new link will support bilateral economic development," he said. "In terms of volume, there will be many more passengers bound for Hong Kong because the backcountry in China is huge."
Most businessmen will always prefer to fly from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Beijing, respectively at eight and nine hours by train. But some travelers worried about the frequent delays caused by bad weather and the closing of military airspace will opt for the train.
"Nine hours are not bad when we have WiFi and we can relax, especially because the flights are often delayed," said Zarina Lu, a Hong Kong resident who went to Beijing to see her mother during the festival from mid-autumn. "I will definitely get back on the train."
While admitting that the high-speed train brings practical benefits, Ms. Chan fears that these deeper ties to the mainland will compromise what makes Hong Kong a place of special life and business.
"It's not just that we are more connected to China," she said. "I'm afraid we have a sense of dependence on China, and that's another way of losing our autonomy and our core values."
Additional report by Nicolle Liu in Hong Kong
