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Consultancy firm hired to monitor Hong Kong rail giant MTR Corp admits it did not carry out any surprise visits at scandal-hit site

  • Unannounced checks were part of contract PYPUN-KD & Associates had signed with government, inquiry told
  • But director says ‘we cannot just walk on to the site and take a look at things’

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The controversy centres around work done at Hung Hom station. Photo: Winson Wong
A firm hired to monitor the MTR Corporation did not conduct any surprise inspections at the Sha Tin-Central rail link’s Hung Hom site, a commission of inquiry heard on Friday.
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That was despite unannounced checks being part of the contract the consultancy firm, PYPUN-KD & Associates (PYPUN), had signed with the government in 2012.

Since October, the commission has been investigating construction scandals that enveloped the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) link, the city’s most expensive rail project.

The government discovered in August that 2,000 fewer couplers used in connecting steel bars had been installed at a new platform at the Hung Hom site than required.

The inquiry is looking into allegations of shoddy work. Photo: Handout
The inquiry is looking into allegations of shoddy work. Photo: Handout
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On Friday, PYPUN director Yueng Wai-hung told the inquiry it was not possible to carry out surprise inspections at the site.

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