MTR staff issued social media warning after CY Leung ‘D689’ Facebook post

MTR staff have been warned to share company-related information online in a “responsible” manner after a photograph of a train carriage bearing the number ”D689” – seen as a vulgar reference to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying – was shared on social media.

The photo was uploaded to the MTR Service Update Facebook group on Monday. It quickly followed another photo of a runners’ T-shirt with the Hong Kong Marathon entrant number “D7689” posted on sportswear company Puma’s official Facebook page.

The MTR Service Update group, which has more than 26,000 “likes”, is reportedly managed by railway personnel and passengers, who share news of delays and disruptions to train services on the Facebook page and a Twitter account.

The latest photo showed the number “D689” printed on the interiors of a train compartment. In a message attached to the photo, the group said the “D” in “D689” meant the train was an unpowered carriage which needed to be pulled by other carriages.

“D” and “D7” sound similar to a vulgar Cantonese expression and are often used by local internet users.

The post had been liked more than 7,800 times as of Thursday afternoon.