Tender launched for East Kowloon transit project

The Hong Kong Government has launched the international tender for the Smart and Green Mass Transit System (SGMTS) in East Kowloon, marking the start of procurement for a 7km urban transit scheme featuring a 1km tunnel and around 6km of elevated guideway. The Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession was launched on 17 July, with tenders due to close on 12 March 2027. Construction is expected to commence in 2027, with the system scheduled to enter service in or before 2033. The East Kowloon Project will comprise approximately 7km of alignment with nine stations, linking Choi Hung East and Yau Tong East stations. The route will connect directly with Hong Kong’s existing MTR network at Choi Hung Station and Yau Tong Station, while serving the districts of Choi Wan, Shun Lee, Shun On, Sau Mau Ping, Po Tat, Ma Yau Tong and Lam Tin North. According to the tender documents, the scheme includes approximately 6km of elevated guideway and a 1km tunnel beneath Black Hill, one of the project’s principal civil engineering elements. The underground section will allow the route to negotiate East Kowloon’s steep terrain while minimising impacts on the densely developed urban environment above. The Government estimates the new system will serve more than 300,000 residents, as well as major community facilities including United Christian Hospital. The stations will incorporate 24-hour pedestrian access and be connected to surrounding neighbourhoods by approximately 20 barrier-free pedestrian links designed to improve access between the area’s hillside communities, including Sau Mau Ping and the Anderson Road development. Under the BOT procurement model, the successful franchisee will be responsible for financing, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the system. Both Hong Kong and international companies are eligible to bid, with the winning consortium required to establish a Hong Kong-incorporated company to deliver the project. To support the commercial viability of the concession, the Government will grant property development rights at three sites, including the Ma Yau Tong depot site, two development sites at Kai Tak and a site on Cha Kwo Ling Road. Bids will be evaluated using a two-envelope assessment process, with technical proposals carrying a 60% weighting and financial proposals accounting for the remaining 40%. Technical submissions will be assessed on a range of criteria, including the suitability of the proposed transit technology for East Kowloon’s steep gradients, integration of smart technologies, provision of all-weather pedestrian connections and the adoption of innovative construction methods capable of shortening the construction programme. Tenderers will also be required to safeguard the potential for future extensions of the system towards Tsz Wan Shan and Po Lam by incorporating suitable design provisions into their proposals. The Government has also introduced a number of financial safeguards, including financial due diligence on the successful bidder, mandatory performance guarantees and restrictions on dividend payments before the system enters operation. The project received statutory approval in August 2025 following completion of the gazettal process without any public objections, demonstrating broad public support for the proposed alignment. The tender is open until 12 March 2027, with the successful bidder expected to be appointed later that year. Comments: