#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.
⬆️⬆️⬆️ Continue reading
#FailedState #LegCoElection #1C1S #Delay
The Hong Kong government is to announce as early as on July 28 the plans for delaying the Sept 6 Legislative Council Election
After the third wave of Wuhan pneumonia outbreak in Hong Kong, a number of pro-Beijing figures have demanded to delay the Legislative Council election.
The Hong Kong Economic Times reported that the Executive Council (ExCo) held a special meeting on July 28, in which they agreed to delay the election on the grounds of "lowering the risks of gathering". The election is said to likely be delayed "by a year or so".
Another newspaper Ming Pao Daily reported that the ExCo meeting was not attended by members who are running for, or are related to the upcoming election. Sources say that the issue was also raised at the ExCo meeting last week, but the government declined discussing it due to it being a "sensitive" topic.
The nomination process for the LegCo election has already begun; it was to end on July 31, 2020, with the election being held on Sept 6, 2020. A number of pro-democracy candidates have not yet received confirmation of their nomination, but instead, they received letters from the election's returning officer requiring them to to answer extra questions.
Jasper Tsang, ex-chairperson of LegCo and founding chairperson of pro-Beijing DAB, had earlier suggested to delay the election by at least a year, pushing the election date to September 2021, with the next term of the council beginning in the following October, almost a year later than scheduled. He also suggested that the Chief Executive can instruct the LegCo to hold special meetings, with the existing members carrying out their duties in the meantime. The PRC's NPCSC member Tam Yiu Chung, who is also a member of thd pro-Beijing DAB, said that "many Hong Kong citizens" may be unable to vote because they have moved to live and work in the Greater Bay Area, and thus have no place of residence in Hong Kong.
Source: Stand News #Jul28
#GreaterBayArea #ExecutiveCouncil
#FailedState #LegCoElection #1C1S #Delay
The Hong Kong government is to announce as early as on July 28 the plans for delaying the Sept 6 Legislative Council Election
After the third wave of Wuhan pneumonia outbreak in Hong Kong, a number of pro-Beijing figures have demanded to delay the Legislative Council election.
The Hong Kong Economic Times reported that the Executive Council (ExCo) held a special meeting on July 28, in which they agreed to delay the election on the grounds of "lowering the risks of gathering". The election is said to likely be delayed "by a year or so".
Another newspaper Ming Pao Daily reported that the ExCo meeting was not attended by members who are running for, or are related to the upcoming election. Sources say that the issue was also raised at the ExCo meeting last week, but the government declined discussing it due to it being a "sensitive" topic.
The nomination process for the LegCo election has already begun; it was to end on July 31, 2020, with the election being held on Sept 6, 2020. A number of pro-democracy candidates have not yet received confirmation of their nomination, but instead, they received letters from the election's returning officer requiring them to to answer extra questions.
Jasper Tsang, ex-chairperson of LegCo and founding chairperson of pro-Beijing DAB, had earlier suggested to delay the election by at least a year, pushing the election date to September 2021, with the next term of the council beginning in the following October, almost a year later than scheduled. He also suggested that the Chief Executive can instruct the LegCo to hold special meetings, with the existing members carrying out their duties in the meantime. The PRC's NPCSC member Tam Yiu Chung, who is also a member of thd pro-Beijing DAB, said that "many Hong Kong citizens" may be unable to vote because they have moved to live and work in the Greater Bay Area, and thus have no place of residence in Hong Kong.
Source: Stand News #Jul28
#GreaterBayArea #ExecutiveCouncil