Take Time To Find The Truth, Frank Chan Tells MTR

The Transport Secretary, Frank Chan, has warned against rushing to judgement in the matter of substandard works carried out at Hung Hom Station and called for the MTR Corporation to take the time required to uncover the truth.

He said on Wednesday that the MTR would be required to submit "a very detailed and comprehensive report to the government", but emphasised that this would take time.

"Therefore if they take more time to acquire the information from their main contractor and subcontractor we would allow for that," Chan said.

He cited the need "for us and the entire community to clearly understand what has happened, and whether or not any wrongdoing has been committed".

MTR officials have told the government that they will miss its Thursday deadline to submit an investigation report and need another week to do so.

The problems at Hung Hom Station have sparked criticism of the railway operator's management.

The MTR's chief executive, Lincoln Leong, said the fact that the shoddy work was discovered during routine inspections meant the management system was working, but engineer Albert Lai, from the Professional Commons, said the system had clearly failed.

The chairman of Legco's railways subcommittee Michael Tien says a panel should be set up to look into the matter.