In relation to the Tsuen Wan Line train incident on November 13, 2022, and the Tseung Kwan O Line train incident on December 5, 2022, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) appointed an Expert Panel on December 23 last year to conduct a comprehensive review of its asset management and maintenance regime. The Government established the Independent Monitoring Panel (IMP) on the same day to closely monitor the MTRCL's review. The Government today (June 21) received the MTRCL's comprehensive review report and the IMP's report respectively.
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, said, "The MTRCL's top priority is to provide safe, reliable and efficient railway services. With the ever-expanding railway network and the increasing usage over the life of railway assets, the MTRCL needs to put in more resources and make more efforts to ensure maintenance work is conducted safely and properly. The review scrutinised the MTRCL's asset management and maintenance regime comprehensively and thoroughly for improvements in its maintenance management system structure, risk management, asset registration, corporate culture, etc. This would enhance the maintenance quality of the Corporation and allow it to continue to serve the public with high-quality railway services."
The IMP conducted seven meetings with the MTRCL over the past six months to closely monitor its review work progress and reviewed the submissions from the MTRCL. These were to ensure that the review findings and follow-up recommendations are comprehensive and thorough.
The IMP made a total of 13 recommendations on the two major areas of asset management and maintenance regime of the MTRCL, including the transformation and upgrade to technology-led maintenance, the enhancement on the identification and mitigation of high-consequence low-frequency risk items, the establishment of a dedicated team for maintenance quality assurance, and putting in more resources for asset upkeep and replacement. These are to fundamentally optimise the entire asset management and maintenance regime, and further enhance the reliability of MTR services.
The IMP confirmed that the MTRCL had incorporated the IMP's findings and recommendations in its review.
"The Government will closely monitor the MTRCL to ensure the full implementation of the various follow-up measures put forward in its review report. We will also continue to monitor and review their effectiveness to ensure that the MTRCL's asset management and maintenance work keeps pace with the times, and that the MTRCL continues to provide safe and reliable railway services to the people of Hong Kong," Mr Lam said.
Mr Lam expressed his gratitude towards the IMP Chairman, Mr Wai Chi-sing, and the three members Mr Warren Chim, Dr Lee Kang-kuen and the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Eric Pang, for their efforts in closely monitoring the completion of the MTRCL's review within six months, and providing valuable advice to the Government on the regulation of railway safety.
The IMP report has been published on the Transport and Logistics Bureau website (www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/studies/IMP%20Report%20(Eng)%20230621.pdf).
Ends/Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:30