Govt Demands Answers From MTR Contractor Leighton

The Acting Chief Executive, Matthew Cheung, said on Monday that the government has ordered a major contractor for the MTR Corporation, Leighton Asia, to submit a report on a string of safety concerns surrounding the future Shatin-Central Link.

Cheung said the contractor had been given until June 26 to respond, and if the administration is unhappy with the firm's explanation, or problems are found, regulatory action could be taken.

He added that in an extreme case, Leighton could even be stripped of its licence if the government believes this is necessary.

Cheung said the Development Bureau had told public works departments to monitor all projects Leighton is involved with.

Earlier, Development Secretary Michael Wong said the company was working on seven government projects.

The safety scares include steel bars being cut short at Hung Hom Station, a wall not built to design specifications at the future To Kwa Wan Station, and a report that excavation work had to be stopped at the as-yet-unopened Exhibition Centre Station in Wan Chai because of inadequate support underground.

A Commission of Inquiry is due to look at the Hung Hom concerns and Cheung said the government would also investigate the safety issues raised at the other two stations.