Hung Hom Shoddy Work Could Be Much Worse Says Tien

The chairman of Legco's Railways Subcommittee, Michael Tien, says the shoddy work on the Shatin-to-Central Link's Hung Hom Station extension could be much worse than thought.

Tien, who is a former chairman of the KCR, said front-line workers had told him up to 5,000 of the 26,000 steel bars supporting a platform there have been cut short. This contradicts the MTR's account. It put the number at fewer than 30.

Tien said, if true, the platform would be affected.

"If it's distributed evenly, maybe it's not that serious but I still think in the long term it will be a problem," he said. "If it's focused on a certain section of the diaphragm wall, it's very serious."

Tien said such construction may pass the loading test but, between three and seven years later, cracks could appear and the platform could become deformed.

The government has already announced a judge-led inquiry into the matter.

In response, the MTR Corporation says it understands that the public might think its report to the government is still unclear. Therefore, it says, it welcomes the setting up of an inquiry.

The railway company said its contractor Leighton has stated that it had completed the construction work at Hung Hom station in accordance with the contract.

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