Whistle-blower on Hong Kong MTR construction scandal launches legal bid to overturn inquiry’s findings
- The commission of inquiry had ruled that Hung Hom station of the Sha Tin-Central rail link would be safe for use
- But subcontractor China Technology says panel did not have the capacity to make such a judgment
A whistle-blower at the centre of a construction scandal involving Hong Kong’s costliest rail link is suing the government-appointed commission of inquiry in a legal bid to overturn its finding that the project was safe to go live.
In a writ filed on Thursday for a judicial review, subcontractor China Technology sought a court order to quash the interim and final reports of the commission chaired by former judge Michael Hartmann on the expanded Hung Hom station of the HK$90.7 billion (US$11.7 billion) Sha Tin-Central rail link.
“The commission is fully satisfied that, with suitable measures in place, the station box structure will be safe and also fit for purpose,” the report said.
In launching the legal challenge, Jason Poon Chuk-hung, managing director of China Technology, who blew the whistle on allegations of defective work over the project in May 2018, argued the commission did not have the capacity to judge the project’s safety.