Why is firm behind Hong Kong’s MTR system, known for being reliable and world-class, having a crisis of confidence?
A steel cutting scandal, allegations of management-led cheating in internal exams and hiccups in testing the cross-border high speed rail link have all put strain on rail company in recent weeks
Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, one of the most profitable rail firms in the world, has become embroiled in a series of scandals, with one issue after another piling pressure on management.
In the past few weeks, several pieces of bad news, some still unfolding, have plagued the corporation including a steel cutting scandal at Hong Kong’s most costly rail project, allegations of management-led cheating in engineers’ internal exams and hiccups in testing the cross-border high speed rail link.
Engineer Albert Lai Kwong-tak, the founding chairman of independent think-tank Professional Commons, said public confidence in the MTR Corp’s projects was in limbo.
“The company is in a public confidence crisis,” Lai said. “The nature of the recent scandals is different from previous problems. This time it’s about integrity,while previously they were about cost overruns and delays which could be fixed through time and money.”