The Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities are collaborating on two cross-border railway projects, which will achieve seamless connection between the cities’ subway networks within a decade, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday.

The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (Hung Shui Kiu–Qianhai) and the Northern Link Spur Line will boost the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's connectivity and bolster industry confidence in establishing operations here, he said.

“The Greater Bay Area is central to Hong Kong's future and our deepening integration with the Chinese mainland,” he said while addressing the 35th annual conference of the International Railway Safety Council.

The theme of this year’s conference is "Advancing Railway Safety through Innovations and Collaborations".

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As a global transport center and premier hub for mega conferences and events, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is strengthening the road connections that complement its rail network, Lee said.

Cross-boundary rail services between the SAR and the mainland entered a new era in 2018, when the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link began operations, connecting Hong Kong seamlessly to the mainland's high-speed rail network spanning over 48,000 kilometers, he said.

With 96 destinations accessible from Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station, and with streamlined immigration clearance procedures, the Express Rail Link has significantly enhanced passenger convenience, reinforcing the city’s role as a regional logistics and transportation hub, he added.

“The progress we are driving in the Greater Bay Area is built upon our country, China's formidable capabilities. China has emerged as a global leader in railway development,” said Lee.

Pointing out that the country’s high-speed rail network is a testament to the country's technological innovation and operational excellence, he said Hong Kong supports the country's railway initiative and its mission to promote international connectivity, safety, and innovation.

The HKSAR is formulating new "Hong Kong Railway Standards" by incorporating world-class specifications, aiming to serve as the GBA standards and potentially new global standards, facilitating broader adoption of mainland technologies and innovative methods in the city’s railway development, he told the forum.

“Down the tracks, the railway industry faces numerous challenges, from maintaining safety standards to addressing cybersecurity and other emerging risks. While artificial intelligence, big data, and other technologies offer transformative potential, they also demand vigilance and collaboration.”

Deputy Administrator of China’s National Railway Administration Wang Qiming, Chairman of MTR Corporation Dr Rex Auyeung, and Core Group Secretary of the International Railway Safety Council Dr Ann Mills were among the dignitaries who attended the conference.

More than 300 industry players from some 30 countries and regions, including transport ministers and officials, railway safety regulators and operators, consultants and manufacturers, took part in the event.