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Construction firm behind shoddy work on Hong Kong’s Sha Tin-Central rail link ‘should be barred’ from sports park contract at Kai Tak airport

Despite year-long tendering ban, it appears Leighton Contractors (Asia)’s bid for HK$32 billion sports park contract at Kai Tak airport remains unaffected

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An aerial view of the Kai Tak Sports Park under construction in Kowloon Bay. Photo: Roy Issa
Cannix Yau

A construction firm mired in scandal over Hong Kong’s costliest rail link should be disqualified from a multibillion-dollar project at the city’s old airport, critics have said.

It appeared on Tuesday that Leighton Contractors (Asia)’s bid for the HK$32 billion sports park contract at Kai Tak airport would remain unaffected, despite the company being slapped with a year-long ban from tendering for government projects after shoddy work was exposed on the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.39 billion) Sha Tin-Central rail link.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun (left) and China Technology Corp's managing director Jason Poon Chuk-hung discussing the railway construction scandals. Photo: Edmond So
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun (left) and China Technology Corp's managing director Jason Poon Chuk-hung discussing the railway construction scandals. Photo: Edmond So
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Jason Poon Chuk-hung, director of China Technology Corporation and whistle-blower of the rail link scandal, said the government should clarify how it would handle Leighton’s role in the bidding process for the Kai Tak contract.

“Now it’s in the final stage of the tendering process, it’s not easy to disqualify a bidder and find a replacement,” he said on a radio programme on Tuesday. “The ideal way is for Leighton to withdraw voluntarily. The government needs to address this and give the public an explanation.”

Only a disqualification or suspension of five years can serve as a deterrent
Michael Tien Puk-sun, lawmaker

“Since Leighton is already banned from bidding for government contracts, its joint bid should be disqualified,” Poon added.

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