Resumption of foundation works for MTRCL Oyster Bay Station project
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The spokesman said that since the upheaving readings recorded on July 15 at five monitoring checkpoints installed on a section of the MTRCL's Tung Chung Line (TCL) ballasted railway tracks near Siu Ho Wan Depot had exceeded the preset trigger level of 20 millimetres for works suspension, the socketed steel H-pile works of the aforementioned project were suspended on the same day. The situation occurred under the preset mechanism that aims to monitor the potential impact of construction works in the vicinity of railways under operation. Once the exceedance of the preset trigger level is observed, works will be suspended, and mitigation measures will be explored, ensuring the safety of the railway. The Government announced the situation on July 17 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202507/17/P2025071700605.htm). In accordance with the established procedures, resumption of works will only be allowed when the Buildings Department (BD) is satisfied with the mitigation measures adopted by the project team; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is satisfied with the enhanced monitoring measures by the MTRCL; and the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safety of the railway operation.
The registered building professional of the Oyster Bay Station project has earlier submitted to the BD an incident report, a proposal of mitigation measures and the associated amendment plans. After review, the BD has agreed to the mitigation measures and the amendment plans, as these measures can effectively minimise the potential risk of the upheaval and settlement of the relevant tracks beyond the preset threshold upon the resumption of works, and has accepted the enhanced monitoring measures taken by the MTRCL.
The EMSD has reviewed the monitoring data and assessment report submitted by the MTRCL in relation to the safe operation of the railway and confirmed that the condition of the railway and the MTRCL's monitoring measures meet the operational safety requirements.
In addition, the MTRCL has confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.
The staff of the BD and the EMSD inspected the concerned railway tracks at midnight on October 8, and reconfirmed that the maintenance works completed and the reconditioned ballast track after the incident of July had no impact on the structural safety of the railway facilities and operational safety of the railway.
The BD, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation, including the continuous monitoring of upheaval and settlement levels against the triggering limit, to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway.
Ends/Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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