Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020 | Page 118

Fiction – Group 7
Traveling in Hong Kong by MTR
Korean International Springboard, Lin, Athena – 14
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most convenient places to travel, thanks to its network
of MTR stations, it is easy to get around the city, but now this network has made quick access
to China possible. This city, as it made its way back to China, has built numerous connections
to the country and in this essay, I will be covering a few of them. I would also be talking
about the transport inside Hong Kong.
The MTR was started on October 1, 1979, during the Hong Kong’s time as part of the
British Empire and consisted of 93 stations, from the beginning of its debut, it’s been popular
among travelers of all kinds as it was a quick, safe and comfortable way to get around the city.
Originally, the MTR wasn’t the only railway service in Hong Kong, the city also had its own
transit system, the Kowloon-Canton railway corporation. Eventually, in December of 2007,
the two railway companies merged with one another, creating a new era in Hong Kong’s
railway development. The merged company had ten railway lines combined and promised to
improve the quality of service.
In 2018, the first connection to China through trains was introduced to the public.
Hong Kong’s residents could now comfortably and efficiently travel to China without much
hassle, running from Hong Kong West Kowloon, this high-speed railway connects the city to
China’s high-speed rail network of over 29,000km in length and 58 stations. This year, travel
between Hong Kong and China has become easier with the introduction of the High-speed
bullet train running from Kowloon to places all around China. Hong Kong has anticipated
the the train’s debut since 2018, when construction was announced.
The MTR also operates the Airport Express, a fast link to the city’s airport and
conference centre, AsiaWold Expo. This High-speed railway runs between Airport station,
Hong Kong station, Tsingyi, Kowloon station and, previously mentioned, Asia Wold Expo.
This transit system takes 24 minutes to go from HK station to the airport and yes, it is
popular among tourists as well as locals.
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