Supervision of MTRCL
高鐵延誤只怨天怨地 改善規管防港鐵異化
文章日期:2014年6月13日

雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】RUMOUR was already rife last year that the Express Rail Link (XRL) project would fall behind schedule. The management of the MTR Corporation Ltd (MTRCL) kept denying it until it could not choose but admit it. The "black" rainstorm Hong Kong saw towards the end of last March has given the MTRCL management an opportunity. It has now attributed the delay (of at least a year) to the torrential downpour and unforeseeable geological conditions at the site of the XRL terminal in West Kowloon. In short, the delay has to do with heaven and earth, and nobody is to blame.

英語

高鐵工程延誤,去年已經甚囂塵上,港鐵高層一直否認,但是不認不認還須認,港鐵管理層借3月底一場黑雨的「契機」,把延期至少1年歸因於這場雨和西九高鐵總站有未能預知地質等情况,總之是事關天地、與人無尤。

普通話

In May last year at least two newspapers (including Ming Pao) reported on the strength of contractor documents that the construction of the XRL was seriously behind schedule and the contractors had claimed $1.55 billion in compensation from the MTRCL. However, MTRCL chairman Dr Raymond Ch'ien vowed solemnly there would be no delay or cost overrun. Secretary for Transport and Housing Prof Anthony Cheung subsequently said something to the same effect.

英語

關於高鐵總站工程延誤,去年5月,本港最少兩家報章(包括《明報》)根據承建商的文件,報道出現嚴重延誤,承建商並已向港鐵索償15.5億元。但是,港鐵主席錢果豐信誓旦旦表示「不會有超支情况或者要延期完工」,其後,運輸及房屋局長張炳良答覆提問時,也有類似說法。

普通話

The XRL project has fallen behind schedule. That points to a question - how much do MTRCL directors know about the company's affairs? Take the XRL terminal project. It would be Dr Ch'ien's problem if he heroically vowed there would be no delay or cost overrun though he was fully aware of the gravity of the situation. However, if he knew little about the situation when he made that remark, it will be a concern whether there has been a cover-up. Secretary for Transport and Housing Prof Anthony Cheung, who sits on the board of the MTRCL, said yesterday (April 15) he was surprised and had demanded that the MTRCL submit a full report to the government. That shows he is totally ignorant of the situation. Then, what does he do sitting on the board of the MTRCL?

英語

高鐵工程延誤,暴露了一個問題,就是港鐵董事局對港鐵事務,究竟知多少?以高鐵總站工程為例,若錢果豐知道問題性質之嚴重,仍然發出不會延期、不會超支的豪言壯語,那是他的問題;若他不知就裏而否認延誤,是否有人意圖隱瞞,就值得關注。張炳良局長作為港鐵董事,昨日他對高鐵工程延誤,以「感到驚訝及意外」來形容,表示已要求港鐵提交全面報告,云云,顯示他對情况一概不知道,然則張炳良在港鐵董事局,所為何事!

普通話

The XRL costs more than $60 billion. As the XRL project is seriously behind schedule, its contractors are expected to claim large sums of money. Yesterday the MTRCL management refused to reveal whether the company would apply for additional funding. Conceivably, the amount needed has been determined, but the MTRCL management refrains from disclosing it lest the public should be even more greatly surprised. It is the taxpayer that has to provide the money, which will be used by the MTRCL, which is not adequately supervised. It is therefore a question who should protect citizens' interests.

英語

高鐵建造費用超逾600億元,以工程延誤之嚴重,預期承建商會提出巨額索償,昨日,港鐵管理層不肯交代會否申請追加撥款,相信已知數額,但是暫不披露,以免使市民更驚訝。這些費用都是納稅人的錢,由無足夠監管的港鐵運作,突顯了市民利益由誰來保障的問題。

普通話

Two bureau secretaries sit on the board of the MTRCL ex officio. The Secretary for Transport and Housing is one, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, the other. Normally, the government gets information on the MTRCL from them and supervises the company through the agency of them so that it will provide good railway services and do what is in citizens' interests. However, over the past few years, MTR failures have become frequent and MTR services have worsened. Furthermore, The MTRCL has diversified into so many areas that the provision of railway services has become a "side dish". All such unhealthy developments and tendencies have emerged under the two bureau secretaries' very noses. There are only two possibilities. Either they carry out the government's policy or they fail to do what they ought to do as MTRCL directors.

英語

港鐵董事局現有兩名董事,由兩名局長當然出任,除了運輸及房屋局長,另一名是財經事務及庫務局長,按正常情况,政府透過他們掌握港鐵的情况和監管,使之提供優質鐵路服務和符合市民利益。最近幾年,港鐵事故頻仍,鐵路服務質素下降;另外,港鐵業務多元化,鐵路業務淪為配菜,種種不良發展和傾向,都是在兩名局長眼皮底下發生。情况只有兩個可能,一是反映他們在執行政府政策,一是說明他們在港鐵董事局尸位素餐,未能發揮應有的作用。

普通話

The government is a major shareholder in the MTRCL and wholly owns the East Rail Line. It must fulfil its functions and step up its supervision of the MTRCL. The Mass Transit Railway Ordinance is not such that the MTRCL (which virtually enjoys a monopoly) can be adequately supervised. The government should remedy the situation by having it amended so that the MTRCL will return to the right track.

英語

政府是港鐵大股東,全資擁有東鐵,有責任加強監管,顯現政府的應有職能。對具壟斷地位的港鐵,現行的香港鐵路條例未能有效規管,政府應該亡羊補牢,完善相關條例,把港鐵納回正軌。

普通話

明報社評 2014.04.16

■Glossary

on the strength of ﹕on the basis of or relying upon

heroically ﹕extremely bravely; courageously; in a way that involves great effort or determination

gravity ﹕extreme importance and a cause for worry

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Franco Wong

Lecturer, HKCC

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/social_communication/details.php?id=75&lang=eng

李予湘

香港專上學院講師

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/social_communication/details.php?id=92&lang=chi

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