Practice Note for Authorized Persons,

Buildings Department Registered Structural Engineers and APP-24

Registered Geotechnical Engineers

Railway Protection under Railways Ordinance,

Mass Transit Railway (Land Resumption and Related Provisions) Ordinance and
Area Number 3 of the Scheduled Areas in Schedule 5
to the Buildings Ordinance

As a result of the merger of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and

Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) on 2 December 2007, the MTR
Corporation Limited (MTRCL) becomes the operator of all the railway lines in the
territory. The existing railways in operation comprise the following lines:

Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Island Line, Tseung Kwan
O Line, Tung Chung Line, Airport Express, Disneyland Resort
Line, East Rail Line, West Rail Line, Ma On Shan Line and
Light Rail.

2. To safeguard the safety and stability of the railway structures, railway

protection areas have been delineated and shown on relevant plans and a set of
building/engineering guidelines produced. Copies of the plans showing the railway
protection areas are available for inspection in the MTRCL. They can also be viewed and
downloaded from the MTRCL’s website1.

3. As a general guide, the boundary of the railway protection areas is about 30

m outside the outer surface of the railway structures or the railway fence/wall, or from the
nearest rail if there is no railway fence/wall, but it encompasses the whole of any lot where
any part thereof lies within the 30 m distance. At the railway stations, the area enclosed by
the boundary is more extensive.

4. The railway protection areas of some of the railway lines are designated as
Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas in Schedule 5 to the Buildings Ordinance. Such
protection areas are delineated and shown edged black on the plans as listed out in the
Schedule, which will be updated from time to time as and when necessary. Copies of
these plans have been deposited in the Land Registry and are available for inspection in
the Buildings Department (BD), either by attending the Building Information Centre in
person or by visiting BD’s website2 as detailed in Practice Note for Authorized Persons,
Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers (PNAP) APP-39.

5. The guidelines at Appendix A apply to all building works (including

ground investigation works and underground drainage works) to be carried out in the
railway protection areas. Ground investigation works and underground drainage works in
Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas are subject to additional control as stated in
paragraph 11 below.
/Building …

1
https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/operations/protection_boundary.html
2
https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/resources/codes-and-references/scheduled-areas/index.html
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Building Works

6. Plans submitted to BD for proposed building works within the railway

protection areas are circulated to the MTRCL for their comment under the centralised
processing arrangements. Section 27 of the Railways Ordinance (Cap. 519) or section 15
of the Mass Transit Railway (Land Resumption and Related Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.
276) will be invoked to require the incorporation of any necessary measures to protect the
railway lines.

7. Authorized persons (APs), registered structural engineers (RSEs) and

registered geotechnical engineers (RGEs) are required to monitor any movement and
vibration on the railway structures when required by the MTRCL. Upon request by the
MTRCL, APs, RSEs and RGEs should submit a monitoring proposal to the MTRCL for
agreement and forward a copy of the monitoring records to them. APs, RSEs and RGEs
are required to inform the MTRCL direct of the commencement of any building works
within the railway protection areas to enable them to plan an appropriate monitoring
programme. If any adverse situation becomes apparent, the MTRCL will alert the
interested parties.

8. Any other necessary monitoring within the building site (e.g. monitoring of
piezometric change) will be carried out by the AP/RSE/RGE of the site, who should
maintain regular contact with the MTRCL and keep each other informed of the monitoring
records as necessary.

9. The Director of Buildings may in writing, under the provisions of section

12 of the Mass Transit Railway (Land Resumption and Related Provisions) Ordinance
authorise an employee of the MTRCL to enter any building site within the railway
protection areas for the purpose of monitoring construction. Alternatively, the Secretary
for Transport and Housing may issue such notice under the provisions of section 24 of the
Railways Ordinance.

Building Opening adjacent to a Railway Vent Shaft

10. There are certain restraints on the design of and making alteration to
properties in close proximity to a railway vent shaft to minimise the possibility of
contamination by fire or smoke. In this connection, APs and RSEs are advised that any
opening such as an openable or fixed window, doorway, building ventilation system intake
or exhaust and the like in any building shall be located not closer than 5 m to the opening
of any railway vent shaft, irrespective of whether such vent shaft is free-standing or is
accommodated in a building. This distance may be reduced to 2.5 m, if the exhaust air
from the railway vent shaft is directed away from and is not likely to affect the opening by
natural convection.

Ground Investigation Works and Underground Drainage Works

11. The practice of monitoring building works being carried out above railway
structures has proved very effective and a number of potentially dangerous ground
investigation operations have been identified. Particularly dangerous are ground
investigation works where carelessness may result in the drill bit breaking through an
underground railway tunnel with the possibility of striking a train.
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12. Ground investigation works within Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas
require prior approval and consent from the Building Authority. Plans prescribed under
regulation 8(1)(l) of the Building (Administration) Regulations should be submitted and
_____
the proposals should follow the guidelines at Appendix A. Application for concurrent
processing of approval and consent in respect of ground investigation works should follow
PNAP ADM-16. Apart from those underground drainage works which may be carried out
under the simplified requirements of the Minor Works Control System (MWCS),
underground drainage works in any building to be carried out in Area Number 3 of the
scheduled areas are not exempted from application for approval and consent to commence
works and are subject to the full provisions of the Buildings Ordinance.

13. Proposals for ground investigation works or underground drainage works

in or for any existing buildings to be carried out within railway protection areas other than
those designated as Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas should be forwarded to the
MTRCL for comment prior to commencement of the proposed works.

Minor Works

14. Upon receipt of minor works (MW) submission for notice of

commencement of Class I and Class II MW involving spread footing, excavation or
underground drainage works within Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas to be carried
out under the simplified requirements of the MWCS, BD would forward a copy of the
MW submission to the MTRCL. The MTRCL would then convey their comments to
the prescribed building professionals (PBP)/prescribed registered contractors (PRC)
directly. The PBP/PRC shall inform the MTRCL and obtain their agreement before
commencement of the MW. Section 27 of the Railways Ordinance or section 15 of the
Mass Transit Railway (Land Resumption and Related Provisions) Ordinance will be
invoked in case the proposed MW would be incompatible with any works for the
construction, maintenance or improvement of the railway or with the operation thereof.

Guidelines for Registered Contractors

15. A similar practice note is issued to registered contractors.

( YU Tak-cheung )
Building Authority

Ref. : BD GP/BORD/67 (XI)

BD RAIL/29/78 (VIII)

This PNAP is previously known as PNAP 77

First issue April 1981
Last revision May 2013
This revision September 2020 (AD/NB1) (Paragraphs 2, 4 and 12 amended and
paragraphs 11 and 14 added)
 Appendix A
(PNAP APP-24)

Technical Notes for Guidance in Assessing

the Effects of Civil Engineering Construction/Building Development
on Railway Structures and Operations

A. General

All proposals for new building and engineering works including utilities works
within the limits of the railway protection areas shall be subject to special
scrutiny of the Government prior to giving approval to any plans and/or consent
for commencing construction works. Every proposal shall be assessed
individually on its impact on existing railway and related structures/installations
including all plants and fixtures necessary for the safe operation of the railway
and subject to satisfactory compliance with the following technical
requirements.

B. Underground Railway Structures

1. Site Formation/Foundation Works

Where site formation or foundation works or excavation works etc. are

proposed above, beneath or adjacent to railway underground
structures/installations including cooling water mains system, the effects
of such works shall not exceed the following limits:

(a) The vertical or horizontal pressure change on any underground

structures/installations due to the works, including filling, ground
improvement, dewatering, field testing (such as plate loading test,
pressure-meter test and packer test) etc. and due to addition or
reduction of loads transmitted from foundations (including any
loads arising during construction), shall not exceed 20 kPa;

(b) Differential movement resulting from the works shall not produce
distortion in any railway structures/installations including the
plinth or track in excess of 1 in 1 000 in any plane or a total
movement in any railway structures/installations including the
plinth or track exceeding 20 mm in any plane;

(c) The induced level difference between rails of a track in

perpendicular plane resulting from the works shall not exceed
5 mm;

/(d) …
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 (d) The peak particle velocities induced to any railway structures
resulting from blasting (where permitted) and from driving or
withdrawing of piles or any similar operation which can induce
prolonged vibration shall not exceed 25 mm/sec and 15 mm/sec
respectively, when measured with a vibrograph;

(e) No pile, foundation, borehole/drillhole, well, soil nail, horizontal

drain, rock bolt/dowel or other geotechnical installation shall be
driven, constructed or installed within a distance of 3 m from any
point of the underground railway structures; and

(f) Any part of an anchor, if allowed, shall be more than 3 m away

from any part of a railway structure/installation, and the centroid
of the fixed length of the anchor shall be more than twice the
fixed length away from any railway structures/installations.

2. Ground Investigation Works

Ground investigation proposals should include the followings:

(a) Details of the exploration and locations of the proposed

exploration holes, trial pits, trenches, field testing or
instrumentations relative to any railway structures whether inside
or outside the lot;

(b) Proposed depth of boreholes/drillholes, pits or trenches;

(c) A method statement for sinking boreholes/drillholes, excavating

trial pits and trenches including back-filling, conducting field
testing or installing instrumentation;

(d) A method statement for checking verticality of

boreholes/drillholes located within a distance of 10 m on plan of
any point of the underground railway structure, should
boreholes/drillholes be sunk to a depth of 3 m from the highest
point of the railway structures; and

(e) A method statement for controlling depth of boreholes/drillholes

sinking within a distance of 3 m on plan of any point of the
underground railway structures.

Each proposal will also be judged against the technical guidelines as

specified in paragraph B.1 above.

3. Utility Works

Utility trenches/pits which require excavation within the railway

protection areas shall not be carried out without the approval of the
Government in consultation with the MTRCL.

/4. …
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 4. Marine Works

Any reclamation, dredging, laying of pipes, dropping of anchors, or other

engineering works to be carried out within the railway protection areas
shall be submitted to the Government for approval in consultation with
the MTRCL.

5. Sinking of Wells

Sinking of wells within railway protection areas is building works

subject to the control of the Buildings Ordinance including section 14(1)
thereof. Before the carrying out of the works, the approval of plans and
consent for the commencement of such works should be obtained from
the Building Authority.

C. Overhead Railway Structures

1. Scaffolding, Advertising Signs, Projections

Erection of scaffolding, working platforms, advertising signs or any

projections at a level above the railway tracks shall not be allowed within
a distance of 6 m on plan of any point of the railway tracks, without the
consent of the Government. When such works are permitted to be
carried out within the 6 m limit, effective measures to protect the railway
structures shall be provided. According to individual circumstances it
may be necessary for such works to be conducted outside the railway
operation hours. All protective works shall be subject to the special
approval of Government.

2. Overhead Structures

The requirements of paragraph B.1(b) to B.1(f) should also apply to

overhead structures.

3. Utility Works

When cables, ducts and pipes, etc are to cross above or below railway
overhead structures, the Utility Undertaking shall submit to the
Government details of the cables, ducts, pipes and the method of
construction and seek special approval before work can commence.
When cables, ducts and pipes, etc are to pass over the railway, the
provisions of paragraphs B.1, C.1 and D shall apply.

D. At-grade Railway Structures

1. When utility works are to be carried out across the at-grade railway
tracks, agreement from the MTRCL has to be sought.

/2. …
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 2. Unless prior special agreement has been obtained, piling works will not
be permitted within 3 m on plan from the railway fence or wall along the
railway premises, or 7 m on plan from the centreline of the nearest track
when there is no railway fence or wall.

3. Vibration measured on the overhead power line mast, or signalling and

telecommunication furniture of railway shall not exceed the peak particle
velocity of 10 mm/sec and the vibration amplitudes shall not exceed
80 µm.

4. The requirements of paragraphs B.1, B.2, B.3 and C.1 shall also apply to
the at-grade railway structures and tracks.

E. Operation of Stationary Lifting Appliance

(tower crane, hoist, piling/drilling rigs)

1. When such an appliance is erected adjacent to railway tracks and/or

above ground structures/installations, effective measures to protect the
railway structures shall be provided. According to individual
circumstances it may be necessary for such works to be conducted
outside the railway operation hours. All protective works shall be subject
to special Government approval. The Government may impose
conditions on the operation and positioning of the appliance if in its
opinion such operation and positioning may endanger the safe operation
of the railway.

2. The arc in which the jib of lifting appliance swings shall not encroach
within 6 m of the railway tracks and above ground structures/installations
on plan except with special Government approval.

F. Mobile Lifting Appliance

Where a mobile lifting appliance (e.g. crane, excavator) operates within 6 m on

plan of railway structures and any part of the appliance is higher than the railway
track level, the provisions of paragraph E shall apply.

G. Maintenance of Road Lamp Standards

When road lighting tower maintenance vehicles are to be used to service road
lamp standards adjacent to railway tracks, the working equipment shall not be
positioned closer to the railway tracks than the nearest part of the road lamp
standard where the height of the lamp standard is greater than the height of the
tracks. If the working equipment is to be operated at a level higher than 1 m
above railway tracks and closer than 6 m from the railway tracks, provisions as
in paragraph C.1, E and F shall also apply.

/H. …
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H. Fire Services Department/Police Force Vehicles

The operation of Fire Services/Police vehicles adjacent to the railway tracks or

vent shafts under emergency situations shall be in accordance with the
emergency procedure agreed between MTRCL and the respective organization.

I. Storage of Materials

1. No materials, containers, huts etc. shall be stored within 6 m on plan of

the railway structures/tracks and vent shaft openings except with the
special Government approval.

2. No dangerous goods or other inflammable materials shall be stored

within 6 m on plan of railway structures/tracks except with special
Government approval.

J. Demolition Works

Where demolition and removal works for any structure which includes
scaffolding, advertising signs, container offices and buildings are proposed
above or adjacent to above-ground railway structures, such as entrances, vent
shafts, power distribution substations, traction substations, plant rooms,
overhead railway structures and at-grade railway tracks, effective measures to
protect the railway structures shall be provided. Demolition works proposal
with the protective measures shall be submitted to BD for approval and consent
prior to commencing work.

(Rev. 5/2013)

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