Don't Even Think About Damaging MTR: Frank Chan

Transport Secretary Frank Chan on Monday appealed for an end to attacks on MTR facilities, saying such acts are causing much inconvenience to the public.

"I would [like to] appeal to fellow citizens not to try or even think about damaging the MTR facilities or other transport facilities because the damage would cause inconvenience or even safety concern to other fellow citizens," he said.

Speaking to reporters after attending a Legco meeting, Chan said the MTR Corporation has to make sure its service is safe for people to use.

"The system has been repeatedly damaged or vandalised over the past months. The MTRC team has been working very hard to bring everything back to their expected standard and safety requirement," he said.

The MTR has been closing its stations earlier than usual in the past few weeks, citing the need for repair work to be conducted due to damage done to many of its stations. The rail firm closed Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei stations early on Sunday after they were vandalised by protesters.

Commuters who were using Mong Kok Station found one more exit closed on Monday, with exit B3 already boarded-up after an earlier protest.

Wong, a part-time Chinese teacher, said she felt inconvenienced by the disruption. She also said it’s reasonable that police fired tear gas from inside the station at protesters at the entrance.

Wong said she thinks the protesters started the trouble by attacking the station and the police then used force.

But Ken, a 40-year-old who works in Mong Kok, said he doesn't blame the protesters for damaging the train station and causing service disruptions.

"The MTR has connived with the police by letting them enter the train station to fire tear gas. Why did the police go into the MTR station? To retreat? For that they have [police cars," he said.

Ken said the government should put a stop to the attacks on the MTR by offering a political solution, instead of just saying services will resume when protesters no longer damage the stations.

Tertiary student surnamed Tam said she wasn't bothered by the closed exits at Mong Kok Station as the others were open. But she was also critical of the MTR for letting the police use the station to fire tear gas at protesters outside.