Sha Tin-Central rail link whistle-blower accuses main contractor of corruption and colluding with Hong Kong MTR to fool public
- Fresh allegations made at commission of inquiry into construction scandal, claiming Leighton Contractors (Asia) told labourers to continue shoddy work
A whistle-blower in a construction scandal plaguing Hong Kong’s most expensive rail project has hit back at his critics with additional allegations, accusing the main contractor of corruption and colluding with the MTR Corporation to fool the public.
The fresh assertions emerged on Tuesday at the commission of inquiry looking into claims of shoddy work at the Hung Hom station of the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.3 billion) Sha Tin-Central link as Jason Poon Chuk-hung gave evidence.
Poon is managing director of subcontractor China Technology Corporation, hired by main contractor Leighton Contractors (Asia) to do concreting work for the expanded station platform.
Leighton is embroiled in allegations that steel bars used in reinforced concrete were cut short to fake proper installation into couplers on the new platform. It is also claimed diaphragm walls supporting the platform were changed without authorisation, the top level being reduced by half a metre.
Poon said he was first alerted to the cutting by a staff member during an internal meeting in August 2015. Then, at a site inspection in September 2015 with two Leighton superintendents, he said he witnessed three workers dressed in the firm’s uniforms using a hydraulic cutter to slash threaded rebars one after the next.