New blow for MTR as relic find delays work on Sha Tin-Central link

The discovery of ancient relics has caused a five-month delay in work on the Sha Tin-Central railway link's To Kwa Wan section.

The MTR Corporation yesterday disclosed for the first time the extent to which an archaeological dig has hit the schedule. It means all five of the MTR railway projects are experiencing delays, with the most high profile, the cross-border link to Guangzhou, set to arrive two years late in 2017.

The announcement came two months after the publication of an interim archaeological study report showing that thousands of relics dated from the Song dynasty (960-1279AD) to the early 20th century had been found at the site of To Kwa Wan station and two tunnels connecting it to Ho Man Tin station.

The progress was reported to 14 legislators who visited the site yesterday for briefings from the MTR and archaeologists.

Yet the corporation would not say whether the opening of the Tai Wai to Hung Hom section of the link, scheduled for 2018, would be delayed. The line is due to go into full service in 2020 when the Hung Hom to Admiralty section is completed.

"So far there has been some construction work suspended due to archaeological studies," general manager for the project Philco Wong said. "The time impact is five months. We are discussing with the government possible construction techniques to catch up."