Hong Kong MTR half-price ticket offer is a joke: the culture of impunity has to end

On October 16, the MTR collapsed into chaos, causing untold economic damage and grave disruption to the commuting public at rush hour (“Lawmakers want MTR to get big fine over rush hour chaos”, October 24). The offer of half-price tickets this weekend to compensate the public for the MTR’s utter failure is ludicrous. What is regrettable is that it confirms the entrenched culture of personal non-accountability in the government, which is the majority shareholder in the rail operator (“Buy back all shares in Hong Kong’s railway operator, officials told”, September 15).

I am writing in response to the article, “Penalty for MTR Corp over worst ever breakdown remains unclear” (October 27). I believe that MTR Corporation should be penalised, and the penalty should be high. The MTR has consistently been raising fares, despite its high profits. But it has been unable to consistently deliver on its promise of a smooth commute, especially in the past few months.