Blake does have fans, but critics recall old mistakes
Some politicians commended the appointment of former works chief James Blake as the KCRC's caretaker chief executive yesterday.
They said the 72-year-old engineer was a trouble-shooter with superb management skills. But critics questioned his judgment in the wake of a controversial $100 million compensation payment when he was West Rail project chief in 2002.
Two pro-government parties, the DAB and the Liberal Party, believed that Mr Blake's KCRC and government background made him an ideal choice for a rough interim period. But a Democrat condemned the appointment as 'political expediency'.
Currently chairman and non-executive director of Paul Y Engineering, the British engineer quit his private consultancy in 1991 to become secretary for works.
During his five-year appointment, Mr Blake worked closely with Rafael Hui Si-yan, now Chief Secretary. Mr Hui was then a low-ranking bureaucrat in charge of the new airport programme.
Mr Blake joined dozens of senior government officials to form the Hong Kong Experts Consultancy after leaving the top job in 1995. In 1997, he joined KCRC as senior director of capital projects.
But controversy broke out after it was disclosed that Mr Blake and other senior staff of the West Rail project had failed to alert the management board over delays in the signaling system. The corporation eventually signed an agreement worth $100 million with the contractor and Mr Blake later apologised for his error of judgment.
Describing yesterday's appointment as 'political expediency', Democrat legislator Andrew Cheng Kar-foo said: 'It could be even better to keep Samuel Lai and let him rectify the wrongdoings than ask someone who had incurred a $100 million loss for KCRC to take charge of the organisation.'
Mr Cheng reiterated that the government should now consider allowing MTR experts or even government officials to become involved in the running of KCRC.
Liberal legislator Miriam Lau Kin-yee and DAB legislator Lau Kong-wah, however, said Mr Blake was an appropriate candidate. .
'He has knowledge of the KCRC, good experiences and has connections with the people there. I think he is a suitable person to take up the post at this stage,' said Ms Lau.
But both were unsure whether Mr Blake could work smoothly with chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun in restoring workers' and the public's confidence in KCRC.
'Mr Blake is an old colleague at the KCRC and he might still share some old traditions of the organisation. I hope he will be able to co-operate well with Mr Tien,' Mr Lau said.
