Expand Sha Tin-Central link shoddy work inquiry to include key witness, Hong Kong lawmaker urges
Legislator Tanya Chan says subcontractor working on Hung Hom station’s north approach tunnels should give evidence as joints showed similar problems to faulty steel works being investigated
To “find out the whole truth”, a high-level inquiry into the construction scandal at Hong Kong’s most expensive rail link should be expanded to include a key witness, a lawmaker has urged ahead of this month’s hearings.
Civic Party legislator Tanya Chan said Wing & Kwong Steel Engineering Co – a subcontractor hired by Leighton Contractors (Asia) for steel works at the HK$97.1 billion Sha Tin-Central link’s Hung Hom station – was missing from the list of witnesses for the inquiry. The engineering firm worked on the joints connecting the tunnels of the station’s north approach to the platform, which were also found to be faulty.
“I think the inquiry should also look into the shoddy work at the station’s north approach tunnels because it showed similar problems. Wing & Kwong should also be called to give evidence at the upcoming hearings next month,” she said.
Chan made the call as the independent commission of inquiry into the faulty steel works surrounding the Hung Hom extended station conducted its preliminary hearing last month.
The commission was formed by the government to look into the construction scandal that erupted in May involving the cutting of steel bars to fake proper installation into couplers in the station platform. Leighton, which has remained silent on the controversy, was the main contractor in charge of building the platforms and the tunnels’ connection joints.