KCRC acting chief executive Samuel Lai Man-hay's letter to the chairman was an expression of frustration and not an ultimatum to Michael Tien Puk-sun, says legislator Abraham Razack.
Mr Razack, who sits on the managing board of the KCRC, said Mr Lai was expressing his frustration with the chairman in the context of the situation and this may not be the case if the situation changed.
The letter was submitted to the KCRC's board of directors last Thursday and pointed the finger at Mr Tien for placing an inordinate amount of pressure on staff by pushing for a high level of transparency. About 4,000 rail employees, including four department heads and 19 general managers, signed a petition backing Mr Lai.
In the letter, portions of which were disclosed by Ming Pao yesterday, Mr Lai concluded that 'I can no longer work with the chairman effectively for the benefit of the corporation'.
But Grace Lam Wong Pik-har, general manager of corporate affairs, said the entire letter's text had to be considered.
She said the letter clearly spelled out the problems, the relationship between the chairman and the chief executive, their management styles and the impact on daily operations. Mrs Lam signed the letter endorsing Mr Lai's comments.