(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee urged the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), following three service suspensions this year, to enhance its entire railway network system and strengthen its contingency planning and response to such incidents.

Mr Lee made the statement while meeting the media ahead of this morning's Executive Council meeting and pointed out that the MTRC’s suspension of service occurrences, particularly the event last Thursday, together with two other incidents that happened this year, show that there are inadequacies in the railway operator’s emergency response and contingency planning.

He also made it clear that the Transport & Logistics Bureau has already asked the MTRC to submit a comprehensive investigation report within one month and recommend remedial action.

Mr Lee stressed that he thinks it is more important to focus on prevention as well as the response when there are, unfortunately, such incidents. Consequently, Mr Lee proposed four requests.

“First, the MTRC must review the entire railway network system comprehensively and systematically to enhance it. This includes improving maintenance standards, renewing equipment and components, using new technologies and establishing a regular risk-monitoring and assessment system.

“Second, the MTRC must strengthen its emergency response and contingency handling capabilities and training. This includes incident reporting and information dissemination, setting up dedicated emergency response teams, increasing manpower, strengthening mobilisation, enhancing communication equipment, and conducting regular drills.

“Third, the MTRC must improve alternative transport arrangements during suspension of service, regularly conduct stress tests and drills, and design an effective information dissemination mechanism that focuses priorities on passengers' needs and ensures timely and comprehensive information is disseminated to reduce public inconvenience and anxiety.

“Fourth, the Transport & Logistics Bureau, the Transport Department and the EMSD (Electrical & Mechanical Services Department) must exercise leadership and guidance, particularly in the MTRC's implementation of its five-year plan for facilitating the upgrade, maintenance and technology applications, and system and personnel enhancements.”

The Chief Executive added that prevention is better than rectification, so the MTRC has to comprehensively work in those directions.