Hong Kong probe into shoddy railway work to feature British engineer from 2014 inquiry
Peter Hansford to team up with judge Michael Hartmann for second time, on independent commission looking into steel bars scandal on Sha Tin-Central link
An expert panel probing a scandal in which corners were cut on construction for Hong Kong’s most expensive railway project will feature the same British engineer appointed to a similar inquiry back in 2014.
The Executive Council, the top body of advisers to Hong Kong’s leader, is expected to discuss and approve Peter Hansford on Tuesday to sit on the independent commission investigating shoddy work on the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.37 billion) Sha Tin-Central link, the Post has learned.
The anticipated appointment of the former British government chief construction adviser comes after Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor last month chose non-permanent Court of Final Appeal judge Michael Hartmann to lead the inquiry, amid mounting public pressure to get to the bottom of the scandal.
Hansford will link up with Hartmann for a second time after the pair led a panel probing delays in construction for a high-speed railway to the mainland Chinese city of Guangzhou in 2014.
The current panel has been given powers not enjoyed by the 2014 probe, including the right to summon witnesses and request documents where necessary.