Transport minister Frank Chan fends off calls that he resign over MTR problems on Sha Tin-Central rail link
Instead, he pledges to give public a full account of what led to ‘totally unacceptable’ shoddy work and cover-ups in HK$97.1 billion project
Hong Kong’s transport minister fended off calls for his resignation on Wednesday, as two lawmakers insisted a top official take responsibility for the MTR Corporation’s supervision and reporting lapses in construction of the multibillion-dollar Sha Tin-Central rail link.
Instead, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan pledged to give the public a full account of what led to a burgeoning scandal of shoddy work and cover-ups and to ensure the safety of the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) rail link, the city’s most expensive rail project to date.
“We need to find out who should be held responsible,” he said. “What really happened that led to the current disappointing situation? How do we ensure public safety is safeguarded and the impact on the work progress is reduced to a minimum level? At the moment the imminent task is to resolve these matters.”
“As to who should be held accountable for these matters, the public will have a fair view in future.”
Opposition lawmakers Claudia Mo Man-ching and Roy Kwong Chun-yu had asked the minister if he would resign, pointing to how top officials in other countries would face up to a similar situation.