MTR steel bars scandal: finding the guilty is easy if this is done

Alex Lo, in his column of June 8, writes: “MTR management … doesn't know who was responsible” for the failed rebar-coupling operation when building a platform under Hung Hom station, noting possible criminality (“MTR may be on the right lines with public flats”, June 8)

A rookie Independent Commission Against Corruption auditor, assisted by an experienced senior inspector of works specialising in quality control, could have within a few hours exposed those responsible for the non-compliance.

The project’s contractual documentation must surely refer to the client, MTR Corp, and the contractor, Leighton Asia, carrying out all work in accordance with their own quality manuals and quality plans.

A part of all such manuals and plans is the smoking gun known as the “inspection and test plan”.

Independent probe into MTR’s Sha Tin-Central rail link platform scandal possible

Fixing of rebar to couplers is of such critical importance that the supervision of implementation of compliance for this activity normally requires three signatures – noting pass/approval or, as in this case, failure. This would then require the raising of a non-compliance report.

Find the “inspection and test plan” and you find the guilty. All else is smoke and mirrors.

John Charleston, Tuen Mun