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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, at a media session before attending the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Classics 2016: Art, Culture and Music organised by the Airport Authority Hong Kong today (July 6):
Reporter: Secretary Cheung, on the Singapore trains, did the bureau know all along about the quality issues with Singapore C151 trains made by the CSR Sifang before FactWire discovered the problems? Did they know all along? Did the department know ...?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: We were not aware of what was happening in Singapore. Indeed, why should Singapore inform Hong Kong about this?
Reporter: But did the bureau receive any complaints in 2015 about the regular bidding process of the urban line trains and about cracks in CSR Sifang's trains? Did they receive any complaints?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: Well, I am not privy to what was happening at that time. The tendering process was conducted in line with the procedures laid down by the MTR Corporation. There was a tendering exercise, and there were several bidders, and then of course in line with the procedures, the MTR Corporation will first look at the compliance situation. If all the bidders are in compliance with the specifications, then the Corporation will look at the price and other related matters before deciding on which bidder will get the contract. So it was entirely in line with the procedures. But of course, given what we know now about the Singapore situation, we have to find out more about what's happening. I notice from the information from the Singapore Land Transport Authority that they regard this situation as not safety critical, so apparently the Singapore authorities do not think the matter involved safety issues. But of course we have to be doubly cautious. That's why I asked the MTR Corporation to get in touch with the manufacturer, to find out more, and I will expect the Corporation to update me on the situation. I have also asked EMSD, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, as the regulator on safety issues to look into the situation.
Reporter: About the report, some considered that the Committee report was rather lenient to the Government. So do you think you should be more responsible for not overseeing the project properly?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: I have always taken my responsibility as Secretary (for Transport and Housing) seriously. So that's why throughout the process I have responded to queries from all sides with replies that I could honestly make. And I have also given very detailed responses to the Select Committee during the hearing.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:24
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