'Efficiency Will Slip If MTR Is Not Profitable'

MTR Corporation chairman Frederick Ma has dismissed criticism of the railway's decision to raise fares this year, warning that service standards would fall and staff would either get a pay cut or be sacked entirely if the company can't make a profit.

Talking on a radio programme, Ma brushed aside complaints that the MTR is to put prices up by more than three percent in June.

He said the company spends upwards of HK$8 billion per year just on maintenance, and rejected suggestions that its service standard has been slipping.

He said that's a perception that's fuelled by critical lawmakers, but the fact is that its on-time rate remains at 99.9 percent.

He joked that people would appreciate how good the MTR is if they lived in New York or London for a week.

Ma also said the company must be allowed to make a profit, saying otherwise, wages would have to be cut or people would have to be laid off, and the MTR wouldn't be able to maintain its service standards.

Meanwhile, lawmakers blasted the MTR's handling of a two-hour train disruption on the East Rail Line in January, saying the train operator needs to come up with a better contingency plan to help passengers.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting alleged that the response of the MTR that day almost "collapsed". He said the the rail company should ferry passengers to the closest transport hub if a similar incident happens again.

The corporation's operations director Adi Lau said staff are studying if it is possible for shuttle buses to ferry passengers beyond the next available station, as is the practice now.