HK railway company chairman withdraws resignation

The chairman of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) withdrew his resignation Wednesday after meeting with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's chief executive over the company's management discord.

"I have asked the chairman to withdraw his letter of resignation which he gave me last Saturday and he has agreed to do so," Chief Executive Donald Tsang told reporters after the meeting on Wednesday.

Having met with Tsang, KCRC Chairman Michael Tien Puk-sun and the company's acting chief executive Samuel Lai Man-hay agreed to drop their management disputes and work together to serve the public interests.

The special administrative region government Monday gave the KCRC board a three-day deadline to solve their management disputes, which climaxed when Lai alleged Tien's leadership style caused the company problems and thus induced Tien's resignation.

The management row of KCRC, a government-held company, has raised public concerns since hidden safety risks were found in compressors of the company's several trains last December.

Lack of unity and transparency among KCRC management was blamed for the problem, while local media called on the company to take the opportunity to improve their operation.

"I am always in support of a high sense of accountability and high degree of transparency in the operation of a public entity such as the KCRC," said Tsang.

Tsang also asked the KCRC board to look into "personnel and disciplinary issues" so as to thoroughly solve the problem.

Established in 1982, KCRC provides transport for over one million commuters daily, but also attracts constant media criticism for being bureaucracy and lack of transparency.

Source: Xinhua