Hong Kong’s MTR Corp should bear responsibility for shoddy construction at residential project, lawmakers argue
- Legislators grill transport chief over role of rail giant in The Pavilia Farm at Tai Wai, where two blocks must be torn down due to substandard concrete
- But minister says that under the contract between the MTR Corp and New World Development, the property giant is responsible for construction
But according to the transport minister, the rail giant was only the landlord and not in charge of the construction process.
Weeks after New World Development announced it would demolish two of the seven blocks at The Pavilia Farm at Tai Wai and rebuild them after substandard concrete was used in podium walls, lawmakers on Wednesday grilled the minister on the role of co-developer MTR Corp, of which the government is a major shareholder.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan said the MTR Corp was the owner of the project and responsible for its planning, as well as management of issues related to the site’s railways.
“Based on the agreement [between New World and the MTR Corp], the developer is responsible for designing, constructing, coordinating and supervising the entire project to ensure all construction works fully comply with relevant legal requirements,” he said.