Hong Kong rail operator probes leaking of information on service ‘weak spots’ as trains run smoothly after protests kept to minimum at stations
- Action had been planned at Kowloon Tong, Lai King and Fortress Hill stations
- But protesters mark month since attacks at Yuen Long by showing videos of incident and not delaying travellers
Hong Kong’s embattled rail operator the MTR Corporation was investigating whether staff revealed weak spots in its operations to outsiders, a union chief said on Wednesday, as anti-government protesters targeting train services made a comeback.
Lam Wai-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions, said some people suspected to be MTR staff had leaked internal information on the internet to teach protesters how to disrupt train services.
“The leaked information included instructions in the train manual which shed light on ways for people to block the service and make the train come to a sudden halt, which can be very dangerous,” he said.
Union vice-chairman Tam Kin-chiu added: “The information concerns weak spots in MTR train operations. It also teaches people tricks on pushing open emergency doors and making the platform screen doors fail to function. Outsiders won’t know these kinds of tricks.”
Lam said he raised the possible leaks with the company’s management a few days ago and the rail giant promised to investigate, emphasising that misuse of the information could affect passenger and staff safety.
“But the management admitted to us that it was very difficult to find those responsible for the leaks, and to prove they are MTR staff. They could be former staff or even outsourced workers who have finished their contracts,” he said.
The union raised its concerns with the company following a series of non-cooperation protests which resulted in train services on major lines coming to a halt on numerous occasions over the past two months. Protesters used various means including stopping train doors from closing, damaging emergency buttons on platforms with glue and hurling objects onto the tracks.
The management was said to be “shocked” by a major incident last Wednesday near Chai Wan station as an emergency door on the end carriage was pushed open after the door release was pulled. It resulted in seven passengers leaving the halted train in the middle of a tunnel and walking on the tracks.
Lam appealed to protesters to refrain from disrupting train services as their actions would affect the safety of passengers and cause them inconvenience.
An MTR spokeswoman said the company was still trying to understand the leaks issue.
Meanwhile, there was little disruption to train services on Wednesday morning despite the launch of another non-cooperation campaign at three stations. The action came exactly a month after a violent attack on protesters in Yuen Long MTR station on July 21.
More than 45 people were injured in the incident when a mob of white-clad men, who protesters claimed were triad members, indiscriminately attacked passengers and passers-by inside the station.
On Wednesday, protests were planned for the rush hour in Kowloon Tong, Lai King and Fortress Hill stations. At 8am about a dozen protesters in Kowloon Tong sat on the platform and played video clips of the Yuen Long attacks on their tablets, while holding signs, that read “Don’t forget 721” and “The five demands, not one less”.
The protesters’ five demands include a complete withdrawal of the now-abandoned extradition bill and an independent investigation into police use of force.
One man, who believed some protesters were making rail users feel uncomfortable, challenged a group at Kowloon Tong.
“It’s OK to protest through peaceful means like holding up signs, but this is not right as it disrupts citizens and makes them feel unsafe,” the passenger said.
In response, a protester said: “If our actions have disrupted you, then we would like to apologise. But if the government will respond to our demands, then we won’t have to resort to this.”
White-clad mob brutally attacks Hong Kong protesters in MTR station, injuring 45
In a 10,000-member Telegram group connected to the campaign, administrators said if there were not enough people, they would change from blocking trains to playing videos of the Yuen Long violence at around 7.15am.
“It’s been a month since the attacks and we don’t want citizens to forget what happened,” a protester named Lai said.
“The MTR also has a responsibility for this because they are supposed to protect passengers. There should be some measures to maintain the safety of the passengers.”
A total of 28 people have been arrested for illegal assembly in relation to the Yuen Long attack, but so far no one has been charged.
Police said they and the Department of Justice were examining whether there was enough evidence to prosecute those involved.
Unlike previously, when train services were crippled, on Wednesday trains ran on time. In Fortress Hill station, only a few people in black were seen lingering on the platform, and no action had been taken by 9am. It was also quiet at Lai King station.
