Legislative Council (LegCo) yesterday passed a motion debate asking the government to speed up cross-boundary transport infrastructure projects to beef up bilateral ties between Hong Kong and the mainland.

In order to cope with the anticipated gridlock in New Territorities West caused by huge incoming cross-boundary vehicles from the scheduled operation of the Shenzhen Western Corridor on July 1, legislators further suggested widening the toll-free Tuen Mun Highway, buying out the Route 3 and then reducing the tolls to attract more motorists to use it as an alternative route.

The government, however, said it would attach great importance to the 11th Five-Year Plan and two major cross-boundary projects the Western Corridor and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line would come into operation this year or the next.

However, there are inconsistencies in other major projects which has to be rationalized before they can go ahead, the government said.

In moving the original motion, Cheung Hok-ming from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong referred to the SAR government's action agenda for the 11th Five-Year Plan that highlighted the importance of cross-boundary cooperation.

In particular, he urged the government to speed up cross-boundary infrastructure projects like the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Liantang Eastern Corridor and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

"The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link is a strategic railway that connects Hong Kong with mainland provinces and cities," he said.

The Democratic Party's Albert Ho and Andrew Cheng both introduced amendments to the original motion.

Ho called for widening of the Tuen Mun Highway to four-lane traffic and construction of the northern section of the Route 10.

Cheng asked the government to consider buying out the Route 3 or extend its franchise period and then reduce the tolls to encourage more drivers to use it as alternative route.

Many other legislators also agreed to build a fifth eastern land control point at Liantang on the mainland side to improve cross-boundary traffic.

After completion of the eastern corridor, said the Liberal Party's Miriam Lau, cross-boundary traffic can save a lot of time as incoming and outgoing vehicles can use the same route without the need to use the western corridor and pass through Shenzhen city center.

In the end, it was Cheung's motion as amended by Ho that was carried by the majority.

On the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Rail Link, Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao said this regional express was originally designed as a one-hour train service for the benefit of business travelers, but now it is intended as a point-to-point network connecting major cities across the country.

"This involves the positioning of control points. Also, the Guangzhou-Hong Kong section must be built upon a shared corridor option," she said.

"If the rail link is intended to connect the whole country, we must first ascertain how much of the overall capacity is set aside for Hong Kong's use. If not, we cannot shorten the travelling time even if we build the speedy, dedicated rail link."

She said the bridge involved the interests of the three places in terms of routing, construction pattern and capital financing. As convener of the three-party working group, Hong Kong has set forth 25 detailed study areas on top of questions of environmental protection and whether a tunnel should be built. "We hope to implement the project as soon as the problems are ironed out," she said.