MTR is a local company and it will always put Hong Kong first

I refer to the letter by Donald Gray (“MTR should invest in HK, not overseas”, January 16), and would like to update readers on the continuous substantial investments committed by the MTR Corporation to maintain and enhance railway services for the benefit of the Hong Kong community.

These investments together with the dedicated efforts of MTR staff have enabled us to improve our railway facilities, and enhance train services as patronage has continued to increase in recent years, while maintaining our world-class 99.9 per cent ­on-time train service performance.

The corporation is squarely focused on ensuring that these high standards of service are upheld. There have been a number of service disruptions that inconvenienced the public and we apologise for that. The corporation takes these incidents seriously and will conduct an in-depth investigation to seek improvements. We also invest continuously to maintain and upgrade our railway infrastructure, assets and facilities for the travelling public with such investment totalling over
HK$8 billion in 2016 alone.

In addition, major railway investment projects are underway to optimise and enhance railway service. These include the
HK$6 billion procurement of 93 new urban line trains to provide a better travelling experience for customers, and the HK$3.3 billion upgrade of signalling systems on six urban lines and the Airport Express which will further enhance the capacity, service reliability and efficiency of the railway network. At the same time, we continue to invest in upgrading our station facilities and services to provide a better customer experience.

As a home-grown Hong Kong company and a recognised leader in the railway industry, the MTR takes pride in having been able to expand over the past decade into mainland China, the UK, Sweden and Australia and contribute to the further development of their railway services. Our subsidiaries and associate companies outside Hong Kong have their own local management and staff. Their success not only brings benefits to our shareholders but also provides opportunities for professional exchanges that benefit the development of our Hong Kong staff.

I can assure your readers that these businesses in no way detract from our focus on our Hong Kong railway services. The MTR is a Hong Kong company that always puts Hong Kong first. We will continue to invest to expand and improve our Hong Kong railway network and serve our customers with dedication.

Osbert Kwan, deputy general manager, media and corporate communications, MTR Corporation Limited