Independent probe into MTR’s Sha Tin-Central rail link platform scandal possible, Hong Kong No 2 official Matthew Cheung says
The chief secretary also spoke up for the transport minister, saying he did not know about a subcontractor’s request for a meeting that critics allege could have shed light on the scandal earlier
“The government does not rule out conducting an independent investigation,” Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said on Saturday, adding that the public would be informed when it made a decision.
Last week, the semi-privatised corporation admitted a subcontractor cut corners when carrying out its HK$5.2 billion contract to build platforms under the existing Hung Hom station for the new rail link.
It subsequently named Fang Sheung Construction as the culprit, saying its workers cut steel bars used in construction to fake proper installation in September 2015, when they should have been screwed by hand into couplers on the platforms. The fault was rectified in August 2016.
Fang Sheung is voluntarily registered with the Construction Industry Council as a subcontractor specialising in “reinforcement bar fixing”. It was hired by Leighton Contractors (Asia), which won the main contract for the rail link project in 2013.
