In response to media enquiries on the settlement of the platform of the Light Rail Tin Wing Stop, a Government spokesman today (July 11) responded as follows:

     The Government has always accorded top priority to railway safety and has put in place a stringent regulatory system. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) regulates and monitors the safe operation of the railway system according to the Mass Transit Railway Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations. The Buildings Department (BD) regulates the planning, design and construction of buildings and associated works on private land to prescribe building safety standards according to the Buildings Ordinance (BO).

     To this end, the relevant government departments and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) have stringent mechanisms to require those who intend to carry out works in the railway protection area to regularly monitor the effect of the construction works to railway structures nearby, to submit reports in a timely manner to facilitate monitoring by the relevant departments and MTRCL, and to require registered building professionals responsible for the development projects to follow up when necessary. This includes more frequent monitoring or even suspension of works. At present, there are two cases of suspension of works, one concerns the viaduct piers of Yuen Long Station on the West Rail Line and the other concerns the platform of the Light Rail Tin Wing Stop. In these two cases, MTRCL and the relevant government departments have taken corresponding actions once being informed of the monitoring results. This proves that the relevant monitoring mechanisms have been effective.

     Regarding the case of the Light Rail Tin Wing Stop, to follow up on comments made by members of the Yuen Long District Council Traffic and Transport Committee in the meeting on June 25, 2018, MTRCL will issue a letter to Yuen Long District Council and a press statement later on to explain the situation. In fact, MTRCL has notified BD of the case under the mechanism. BD has also confirmed that the structural safety of the platform has not been affected. EMSD has also reviewed MTRCL's rail monitoring data and confirmed that the railway condition has not been affected by the related works. The concerned tracks comply with safety standards and operate normally. BD and EMSD will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.

     The Government emphasises that the structure of the railway facilities and railway operation of the Light Rail Tin Wing Stop are safe. In response to public concern, various departments of the Government (including BD and EMSD) are reviewing the communication and information dissemination arrangements of similar incidents with MTRCL to enhance transparency.

Ends/Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Issued at HKT 21:43

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