MTR staff need guidelines on handling animals on tracks, unions say after dog is killed
MTR staff have little idea of what to do when animals get onto railway tracks because the company has not set guidelines, a coalition of three staff unions said after a dog was killed.
MTR staff have little idea of what to do when animals get onto railway tracks because the company has not set guidelines, a coalition of three staff unions said yesterday, amid anger at the death of a dog run over by a train last week.
The coalition said Wednesday's incident - which has sparked protests, memorials and an online petition condemning the MTR Corporation for not stopping the cross-border train that struck the animal - was not a first.
"It has happened before. The staff have faced a lot of pressure," said Mak Pui-tung, of the MTR Staff General Association. In previous incidents, staff had been able to rescue the dogs because the animals were calm and did not struggle, Mak said.
Video: Death of dog on MTR tracks sparks outrage in Hong Kong
Lam Shiu-wai, rights and welfare officer at the Railway Management Professionals Union, said the MTR Corporation should install platform doors at all stations to prevent animals from getting onto the track.
The MTR Corporation said its staff first spotted the dog at Sheung Shui station and held back local trains while they attempted to coax it to safety. But trains resumed after eight minutes as the situation was "considered safe". It was found dead at Fanling, the next station on the East Rail line, shortly afterwards, after being hit by an express train from Guangzhou.
