Contractor in scandal involving HK$97.1 billion Sha Tin-Central rail link made unauthorised design changes, Hong Kong government tells inquiry
- Lawyer for government rebuts claims that Leighton Contractors (Asia) received the green light to trim the top of diaphragm walls
The Hong Kong government has rejected claims of innocence by the main contractor at the centre of a construction scandal plaguing the city’s most expensive rail project, insisting the firm made unauthorised design changes.
The rebuttal came on Tuesday as the government gave its opening statement at an independent inquiry investigating allegations steel bars were cut short to fake proper installation at a station platform on the HK$97.1 billion (US$13 billion) Sha Tin-Central link.
Leighton Contractors (Asia), the main contractor for the platform at Hung Hom station, had argued the Buildings Department gave it the green light to trim the top of some diaphragm walls for supporting the platform without using couplers.
“It was envisaged by the Buildings Department that, ‘Ah I got your submission in relation to the temporary excavation works, but then I saw something in relation to the permanent slabs and diaphragm walls. But I anticipated you would submit further materials,” Khaw said.