MTR could face bill for two-year delay to high-speed cross-border rail link
Controversy over high-speed line to Guangzhou takes new twist, as transport minister's apology amid 'cover-up' claims fails to pacify lawmakers
The government is seeking legal advice on whether the MTR Corporation should pay for the extra costs caused by the two-year delay to the high-speed cross-border railway, the transport secretary revealed yesterday.
Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung and three senior members of the MTR management offered apologies and explanations for the hold-up to lawmakers.
But the lawmakers continued to accuse them of intentionally covering up the problems that will put off completion of the HK$67 billion project to 2017.
Cheung, facing calls to step down, also pledged to introduce reforms to the corporation aimed at strengthening the government's supervisory role.
"I over-trusted them," he told Legco's railways subcommittee. "There were problems with my judgment and the way I handled the matter. I should have made public the split in judgments of the government and the MTR."
Cheung said government officials were dubious whether the project would be completed on time next year, but gave the "benefit of doubt" to the MTR and did not inform lawmakers.
Apologies were also made yesterday by MTR chairman Raymond Chien Kuo-fung, chief executive Jay Walder and project director Chew Tai-chong. The MTR also paid for a full-page apology in newspapers signed by Chien and Walder.