A new report says the Hong Kong government was informed about problems with train compartments manufactured on the mainland long before MTRC awarded a contract to the same firm.
Carriers shipped to Singapore by CSR Qingdao Sifang were found have cracks and the compartments were then sent back to the mainland.
Thursday's report by Hong Kong news agency FactWire contradicts a comment by the Transport Secretary, Anthony Cheung, who said on Wednesday that he was not aware of the issue.
FactWire quoted sources as saying that multiple emails were sent from January to August last year to the Transport Bureau informing them of the defects. The report did not identify who sent the emails but said they obtained copy of the mails from a government source.
The MTR Corporation awarded the contract for 93 trains to CSR Qingdao Sifang in July last year.
The emails, sent to the bureau before the contract was finalised, stated that it found the MTR Corporation's tendering process to be unusual and hasty, as the company did not conduct technology exchanges or made site visits to the factory before making the purchase. The government was then asked to intervene.
FactWire reported that officials responded in February last year, saying they will follow up on the matter. Three months later, the corporation awarded the bid to the company.
The Transport Bureau then got another email, demanding a freeze of the tendering process.
Cheung, while denying any prior knowledge of the matter, said on Wednesday that the administration was highly concerned about the matter. He said the corporation has been asked to report to the government about this as soon as possible.
The corporation had said it conducts stringent safety assessments on newly-purchased train compartments and reports on the tests to the government before they are put into use.
Carriers shipped to Singapore by CSR Qingdao Sifang were found have cracks and the compartments were then sent back to the mainland.
Thursday's report by Hong Kong news agency FactWire contradicts a comment by the Transport Secretary, Anthony Cheung, who said on Wednesday that he was not aware of the issue.
FactWire quoted sources as saying that multiple emails were sent from January to August last year to the Transport Bureau informing them of the defects. The report did not identify who sent the emails but said they obtained copy of the mails from a government source.
The MTR Corporation awarded the contract for 93 trains to CSR Qingdao Sifang in July last year.
The emails, sent to the bureau before the contract was finalised, stated that it found the MTR Corporation's tendering process to be unusual and hasty, as the company did not conduct technology exchanges or made site visits to the factory before making the purchase. The government was then asked to intervene.
FactWire reported that officials responded in February last year, saying they will follow up on the matter. Three months later, the corporation awarded the bid to the company.
The Transport Bureau then got another email, demanding a freeze of the tendering process.
Cheung, while denying any prior knowledge of the matter, said on Wednesday that the administration was highly concerned about the matter. He said the corporation has been asked to report to the government about this as soon as possible.
The corporation had said it conducts stringent safety assessments on newly-purchased train compartments and reports on the tests to the government before they are put into use.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1271171-20160707.htm
