A Government spokesman said today (January 4) that consent has been given to resume the pile foundation works of the topside development project of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)'s Tai Wai Station.

     The spokesman said that since the readings recorded in the settlement monitoring checkpoints installed at the rear end of the southbound platform and an overhead line mast at the Tai Wai Station of the MTRCL's East Rail Line had exceeded the pre-set trigger level, the pile foundation works of the Tai Wai Station topside development project were suspended on July 12, 2018. The Government announced the situation the next day, and the Buildings Department (BD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) have respectively confirmed the structural safety of the relevant railway facilities and safe operation of the railway.

     The registered building professional appointed for the said building works subsequently submitted to the BD an incident report and a proposal of mitigation measures to alleviate the effects of the said building works on the structural safety of the nearby railway facilities. The registered building professional has also requested resumption of the suspended works.

     The BD has ascertained the structural safety of the railway facilities concerned. The MTRCL has been consulted and confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structure of the railway facilities and railway operation. The EMSD has also confirmed that the MTRCL has put in place stringent monitoring measures to ensure the safety of railway operation.

     Having considered the above advice, the request for resumption of works was accepted on January 2. The suspended pile foundation works will be resumed on January 5, and the proposed mitigation measures will be completed prior to the commencement of the remaining works. Having considered the engineering assessment and the revised building plans submitted by the registered building professionals responsible for the project, the BD accepted the revision of the pre-set trigger level for suspension of works to 40 millimetres.

     The BD, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure structural safety of the railway facilities and the safety of railway operation, the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, January 4, 2019
Issued at HKT 11:15

NNNN