The future of MTR Corp chairman and chief executive Jack So remained uncertain yesterday after the government said he was attempting to renegotiate his contract a year ahead of its expiry.
The government said it was in talks with Mr So over his three-year contract, but denied a report in a Chinese-language newspaper that he had submitted his resignation in the middle of the year.
Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung said he wanted Mr So to stay on.
'From my point of view Mr So has performed well and if he stays at this time it will be helpful to MTRC's future development,' Mr Leung said.
Speculation over Mr So's future comes as the government is considering whether to merge the MTRC with the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp.
Analysts said the timing of the contract negotiations was significant, with the findings of a study on the potential merger expected to be released at the end of the month.