An expert panel has asked the government to expand safety checks to structures under construction at two more stations of the upcoming Sha Tin-to-Central link of the MTR Corp
The government-appointed panel of three retired officials said in their interim report that such checks be done not only at the troubled Hung Hom Station, but also at two other stops of the cross-harbour extension, RTHK reports.
It said there has been more media reports about inconsistency in MTRC records, peeling
concrete and honeycomb-like holes and voids at a platform slab in Hung Hom.
It said there is “an inevitable concern” whether similar irregularities are there in the Convention and Admiralty stations of the upcoming line.
So, the panel calls for extra assessments of the slabs and diaphragm walls on these two stations.
The report also said it is not good enough to rely only on loading tests previously proposed to test the strength of the structures.
It said a series of tests, such as opening up the structures for physical inspections, are needed, and the MTRC has agreed.
The MTRC submitted a proposal to the Highways Department this month on how to inspect the Hung Hom platform slab. But the panel said it clearly failed to meet the requirement needed, as it has major technical deficiencies.
The report said the MTRC agreed to improve on the proposal and panel urged the rail operator to submit its new assessment strategy quickly.
The report also suggested ways to tackle subsidence issues linked to works at To Kwa Wan and Convention Centre Stations.
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