No regrets, except for subpar work of those involved in Sha Tin-Central link scandal, outgoing Hong Kong MTR chairman Frederick Ma says

He admits saga on city’s costliest rail project was a blemish on the company’s track record, but expresses confidence staff will rise to the challenge

Ma cites family’s unwillingness to let him stay on in the hot seat as reason for stepping down despite being offered chance to continue at helm

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Frederick Ma, MTR Corp chairman, will step down on Sunday. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 8:09pm, 24 Jun 2019Updated: 10:35am, 25 Jun 2019

The outgoing chairman of Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation has said the only regret he harbours from his time at the helm was the botched handling of the scandal-plagued Sha Tin-Central link, the city’s costliest rail project.

Frederick Ma Si-hang is set to step down on Sunday after his contract expires following a three-year stint at the top. The outspoken rail boss will be succeeded by Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, head of the governing council at Lingnan University.

The MTR Corp’s reputation has been in tatters after construction scandals on the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) Sha Tin-Central link and the company’s first-ever crash in March during a trial run of a new signalling system. The collision led to an unprecedented suspension of service between two of the busiest stations on the network, Admiralty and Central, for 48 hours.

The problem-plagued Hung Hom MTR station on the Sha Tin-Central link. Photo: Winson Wong

Ma, who took over the chairman position in 2016 after serving on and off for the board over eight years, insisted he had no regrets except for the disappointing performance by some staff members handling the major rail project.

“I love what I have been doing for the past 11 years. I enjoyed every moment I was with the MTR Corp, even during the Sha Tin-Central link crisis,” he said.