Minor settlement of MTRCL's underground water cooling mains near Cheung Sha Wan Station

***************************************************************************************

     A Government spokesman said today (June 30) that during the construction of foundation works for a public housing development project at North West Kowloon Reclamation Site 1 (East), the reading in a utility settlement monitoring checkpoint installed at the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)'s underground water cooling mains at Tung Chau Street near the Tonkin Street junction had shown a minor irregularity. The checkpoint showed a reading of 20.3 millimetres, which slightly exceeded the pre-set trigger level of 20mm. In accordance with established procedures and as a precautionary measure, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) immediately suspended works on a temporarily basis yesterday (June 29) at the relevant public housing development project site as requested by the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing).

The additional monitoring checkpoint was installed by the HA to meet the MTRCL's requirement in accordance with the established procedures for Railway Protection Areas. These procedures aim to facilitate the MTRCL's monitoring of settlement data of nearby projects, thereby ensuring that the safety of railway operation and railway facilities would not be affected by the works concerned.

     The ICU, the HA's building team and the MTRCL have deployed staff to inspect the affected underground water cooling mains of the air-conditioning system and confirmed that they are in normal operation conditions. The settlement did not affect the structural safety of other adjacent facilities. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has reviewed the relevant report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway fulfilled the operational safety requirements. The construction works concerned did not pose any danger and have not affected the safe operation of the railway and railway facilities.

     The ICU, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure safe operation of the railway and the safety of railway facilities.

     The ICU and the MTRCL will request the HA's building team responsible for the development project to formulate mitigation measures and adopt suitable construction methods that would be able to avoid adverse impacts on the railway facilities before relevant construction works of the development project can resume.

     Upon receipt of the corresponding amendment plans of the development project and application for resumption of construction works from the HA, the ICU will vigorously scrutinise the application including consulting the MTRCL and other relevant government departments, so as to ensure safe operation of the railway and the safety of railway facilities. The EMSD will also confirm that the MTRCL has put in place stringent monitoring measures to ensure the safety of railway operation. Moreover, if the HA's building team proposes to revise the pre-set trigger level(s) for suspension of works, the ICU will consider the proposal having regard to the circumstances after consulting the MTRCL and other relevant government departments. When the application for resumption of suspended works has been agreed, the ICU and the EMSD will make a public announcement about the decision.

Ends/Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:49

NNNN

Archives Yesterday's Press Releases

Back to Index Page

Today's Press Releases