Hong Kong lawmakers dismayed as MTR Corp fined HK$2m, not HK$20m, for delay
Fine much lower than figure expected for signal glitch early this month that caused a 10-hour disruption
That is significantly lower than the HK$20 million speculated in media reports under a “service performance” clause of the fare agreement that penalises the railway operator for delays.
The government explained that services still ran on the line during the incident – albeit at reduced intervals – so commuters were able to complete their journeys.
Trains had to slow down from around 11am on August 5 after a signalling fault was detected.
But there were reports that passengers were stranded inside carriages stuck between stations for over an hour. Thousands more had to switch to shuttle bus services, creating severe traffic congestion in parts of Kowloon East.
Normal services resumed at 9.30pm after emergency repairs were completed – nearly 11 hours after the glitch was detected.