Calls For Probe Into Over-supply At Rail Link

Lawmakers on Friday urged the government to look further into construction problems surrounding the scandal-hit Sha Tin to Central Link after an investigation report by an expert team revealed that more steel bars than needed were used in building Hung Hom station.

A government-appointed expert team released its final report on the rail project in February, highlighting various irregularities at Hung Hom station and other management issues.

Spot checks carried out by the expert team found that contractors had used extra rebars in building the station.

In one area, the number was five times more than what was needed.

During a Legco's railways subcommittee meeting, lawmakers expressed concern if that helped to inflate the cost of the project.

Director of Highways Jimmy Chan said the government will look into the matter and seek to recover from the MTR Corporation any costs arising out of the use of unnecessary material.

Meanwhile, Factwire earlier reported the number of couplers ordered for the Hung Hom station more than doubled what was originally specified in a contract signed between Leighton, the project's main contractor, and subcontractor BOSA Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, which supplied the couplers.

According to the news agency, BOSA supplied more than 380,000 couplers, instead of about 180,000 as stated in the original contract.

Factwire said company records showed that the additional supply boosted the revenue of BOSA's parent firm from HK$17 million to HK$33 million.

Roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien said the government should look into whether any crimes were committed and any transfer of benefit was involved.

"Why did it happen?" he asked. "Why would they order such an excessive amount? Is there anything going on between individuals? That's where I think the government should look into."

Tien also urged the MTR Corporation to punish Leighton further, saying it should be banned from getting involved in any rail projects for at least 10 years due to various breaches of contract in the Sha Tin to Central Link project.

"Considering we have seven new railways coming up, we're talking about hundreds of billions of dollars involved. That's the least MTR can do."

Leighton was blacklisted for a year when the scandal came to light three years ago.

Another lawmaker, Cheng Chung-tai, questioned why no one has been held accountable for the construction saga. He said Taiwan's transport minister Lin Chia-lung tendered his resignation after a train crash near Hualien last week killed dozens of people.

In response, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan said the bureau had already provided information to the police and the ICAC for their investigations.