Express railway between Hong Kong and southern China

HONG KONG (AFP) - An express rail link will be built between Hong Kong and southern Chinese cities Shenzhen and Guangzhou, Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang said yesterday.

Tsang said the new line would significantly reduce travel time between the Asian financial hub and booming industrial cities over the border in mainland China. Train travel between Hong Kong and Guangzhou currently takes two hours.

"This will...help strengthen Hong Kong's status as the regional transportation hub and as the 'southern gate' for travelling to and from the mainland," Tsang said in a statement.

The chief executive made the announcement after holding a cooperation conference with Huang Huahua, governor of Guangdong province which includes the two cities.

During the meeting, both sides reiterated their commitment on reducing emissions, mostly from booming industries in the province, often blamed for air pollution in Hong Kong.

Guangdong authorities also promised to toughen checks on food supplies coming over the border into Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has been plagued by health scares over imported produce mainly from mainland China which is the city's principle source of foodstuffs.

Imports of farmed fish, eels and eggs were banned last year after cancer-causing chemicals were found in some samples.