Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session on the Shatin to Central Link project this afternoon (July 18):

     MTRCL (MTR Corporation Limited) submitted two final reports relating to the Hung Hom Station Extension incident to the Government today. Both reports have been accepted by the Government and submitted to the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project.

     MTRCL recommended in the reports a series of works and measures at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension in order to satisfy the relevant codes of practice and contract requirements. There will be long-term monitoring of the structure upon completion of the works tentatively in late 2020 or early 2021.

     Taking into account the testing and trial run, the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section can only be fully commissioned before the end of 2021. The Government considers it necessary to partially commission the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section so that the public can enjoy the benefits of the new railway soonest. The Government accepted the arrangement recommended by MTRCL, which involves the commissioning of three new stations, namely Hin Keng Station, Diamond Hill Station Extension and Kai Tak Station. The section from Wu Kai Sha Station to Kai Tak Station is now officially named as Tuen Ma Line Phase 1, which is targeted for commissioning in the first quarter of 2020.

     MTRCL will pay the costs associated with the Hung Hom Station Extension incident, including those relating to partial commissioning. The estimated costs are about $2 billion. As for the total costs for the entire SCL project, the Government will seriously follow up with MTRCL with a view to coming up with a comprehensive solution.

Ends/Thursday, July 18, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:18

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