CEO Accepts Full Responsibility, MTR Widens Probe

The MTR's Chief Executive Lincoln Leong said on Thursday that he will accept full responsibility for any failings on the part of the corporation, as the rail operator announced a new probe relating to the construction of the entire Shatin-Central Link

Speaking after a special board meeting, Leong said the company's 17,000 employees are very professional but if there have been problems with their compliance with rules, this would be looked into.

"But at the end of the day as a chief executive officer of this company, I am responsible, I am accountable as chief executive of the company," he said.

Chairman Fred Ma said it is the duty of the CEO to report any issues to the board, which will decide later whether anyone should be held responsible.

The new probe is to look into the corporation's project management system. A registered structural engineer had already been asked to investigate a safety scare involving the construction of a platform at Hung Hom Station.

The troubled new rail link, which has been delayed and is now the MTR's costliest expansion project to date, has been plagued by controversies in the last few weeks as an array of construction flaws were unearthed one after another.

The dodgy construction at Hung Hom Station was revealed first, followed by a report of a similar issue at To Kwa Wan. Then it was revealed that the future Exhibition Centre Station has also been experiencing trouble with excavation and construction work.