#Newspaper
Whistle-blower on Hong Kong MTR construction scandal launches legal bid to overturn inquiry’s findings
//A whistle-blower at the centre of a construction scandal involving Hong Kong’s costliest rail link is suing the government-appointed commission of inquiry in a legal bid to overturn its finding that the project was safe to go live.
//In a writ filed on Thursday for a judicial review, subcontractor China Technology sought a court order to quash the interim and final reports of the commission chaired by former judge Michael Hartmann on the expanded Hung Hom station of the HK$90.7 billion (US$11.7 billion) Sha Tin-Central rail link.
//“The commission is fully satisfied that, with suitable measures in place, the station box structure will be safe and also fit for purpose,” the report said.
//In launching the legal challenge, Jason Poon Chuk-hung, managing director of China Technology, who blew the whistle on allegations of defective work over the project in May 2018, argued the commission did not have the capacity to judge the project’s safety.
//The commission, set up in July 2018, had looked into allegations of shoddy work at the Hung Hom station site, a missing tranche of vital safety documents relating to the project and other construction issues.
//While confirming the staff of subcontractor Fang Sheung Construction had cut the rebar, the report said “it was not extensive” and amounted to 2 to 3 per cent of the amount used.
//It also concluded cutting the rebar was not “condoned” by either main contractor Leighton Contractors (Asia) or rail operator MTR Corporation, and that there was no evidence the workers were authorised or encouraged by their employer.
//The writ argued that without any supporting evidence, the commission jumped to the conclusion that it was Fang Sheung workers who cut the rebar and that both Leighton and MTR Corp had no knowledge of the act.
//The Sha Tin-Central link project has been plagued by repeated delays and cost overruns.
Full Article: SCMP, (21-May)
#MTR #shatincentrallink #overuns #delay #commission #ChinaInfluence #mainlanderizartion #FailedState
Whistle-blower on Hong Kong MTR construction scandal launches legal bid to overturn inquiry’s findings
//A whistle-blower at the centre of a construction scandal involving Hong Kong’s costliest rail link is suing the government-appointed commission of inquiry in a legal bid to overturn its finding that the project was safe to go live.
//In a writ filed on Thursday for a judicial review, subcontractor China Technology sought a court order to quash the interim and final reports of the commission chaired by former judge Michael Hartmann on the expanded Hung Hom station of the HK$90.7 billion (US$11.7 billion) Sha Tin-Central rail link.
//“The commission is fully satisfied that, with suitable measures in place, the station box structure will be safe and also fit for purpose,” the report said.
//In launching the legal challenge, Jason Poon Chuk-hung, managing director of China Technology, who blew the whistle on allegations of defective work over the project in May 2018, argued the commission did not have the capacity to judge the project’s safety.
//The commission, set up in July 2018, had looked into allegations of shoddy work at the Hung Hom station site, a missing tranche of vital safety documents relating to the project and other construction issues.
//While confirming the staff of subcontractor Fang Sheung Construction had cut the rebar, the report said “it was not extensive” and amounted to 2 to 3 per cent of the amount used.
//It also concluded cutting the rebar was not “condoned” by either main contractor Leighton Contractors (Asia) or rail operator MTR Corporation, and that there was no evidence the workers were authorised or encouraged by their employer.
//The writ argued that without any supporting evidence, the commission jumped to the conclusion that it was Fang Sheung workers who cut the rebar and that both Leighton and MTR Corp had no knowledge of the act.
//The Sha Tin-Central link project has been plagued by repeated delays and cost overruns.
Full Article: SCMP, (21-May)
#MTR #shatincentrallink #overuns #delay #commission #ChinaInfluence #mainlanderizartion #FailedState
South China Morning Post
Rail construction scandal: whistle-blower wants court to overturn panel’s findings
The commission of inquiry had ruled that Hung Hom station of the Sha Tin-Central rail link would be safe for use. But subcontractor China Technology says panel did not have the capacity to make such a judgment.