Subpoena Hung Hom MTR Contractor: Michael Tien

The chairman of Legco's railways subcommittee, Michael Tien, said on Thursday that contractors linked to shoddy work at Hung Hom MTR Station should be subpoenaed to find out what exactly happened.

Tien said without this, officials would never get to the bottom of this case.

He was speaking a day after the rail operator held a media briefing on the substandard construction work carried out at the station for the upcoming Shatin-to-Central link. Top MTR officials provided few answers to the many questions that were raised and announced they are appointing an independent expert to look into the scandal.

Tien said the key player in this saga, Leighton [Asia] has not come forward with any statement. "Obviously Leighton and their subcontractors are key players in this issue. What the MTR has told us is simply what they knew at that time."

"I dont think we can ever get to the bottom of this without somebody with subpoena power, subpoena Leighton and the subcontractor to come forth and at least explain why on earth would they do such a silly thing," he said. "What do they stand to gain? What was their motivation?"

He said what is also important is how to deal with contractors over faults like this. Especially as there are a lot of construction and expansion projects coming up in Hong Kong in the next few years, he said.

Tien said the way MTR explained the issue at the press conference was more worrying. It seems like they blindly trust what the contractor told them, he said.

He also criticised the government's monitoring of the rail operator. He said it looks like the administration is adopting a similar attitude to that of MTR management – blind faith in whatever they are being told.