MTR Contractor May Carry Out Safety Tests: Expert

An expert probing shoddy construction at Hung Hom MTR Station said on Friday that a contractor linked to the saga may be asked to carry out some of the safety tests planned.

Wong Chi-ming said Leighton Asia, the contractor overseeing the construction of the Shatin-Central Link, may be asked to help with the checks.

After mounting criticism and concern over the scandal, the rail operator on Wednesday had named Wong, a registered structural engineer, to head the probe.

Wong said he believes asking staff from Leighton, or another contractor, to do the tests will not make any difference.

"The whole process will be under our supervision. And it is not a building work, it is some sort of very sophisticated testing work," he said.

He denied that the credibility of the tests could be undermined if Leighton workers take part.

He said some workers have to load weight on to the site and then measure the deformation of the structure.

"Whether Leighton or another contractor put the weight on site, I don't think that is important, because the weight will be checked by us to make sure it is up to our standard," he said.

He told RTHK's Janice Wong that the most important part of the test will be conducted by an outsider.

"The measurement part will actually be a very fine piece of measurement. Most likely we shall employ an outside surveyor to do the measurement. And that is the crucial part."

On Wednesday the MTR Corporation admitted that it found workers had cut-corners three years ago by trimming short steel bars connecting a new platform to the walls. The admission came following days of media reports on the questionable works.

MTR officials on Thursday also named Fang Sheung Construction as the potential subcontractor involved in the shoddy construction, and urged the main contractor Leighton to explain to the public what had happened.