Partial opening of US$12.4 billion scandal-hit Sha Tin-Central rail link being considered, Hong Kong transport chief Frank Chan says
- To make it happen, Chan says officials will need to carry out tasks such as testing signalling system
- But former rail boss Michael Tien says he has learned some documents for link that need official approval are still missing
Hong Kong’s transport minister said on Saturday the government was considering opening the controversy-hit Sha Tin-Central rail link as much as possible, even if it meant a partial launch only.
But a former rail boss expected that opening the section between Tai Wai and Diamond Hill would only be possible by the end of the year at the earliest because he had learned some documents that needed official approval were still missing.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan noted the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) link, Hong Kong’s costliest rail project, could serve many passengers but was plagued by construction delays.
“We are seriously and thoroughly considering [opening] it with the MTR Corporation. Given that safety – a prerequisite – is being guaranteed, we would consider a partial opening of the link as far as possible,” he said.