Media reports said concrete in some columns may not have been poured to the top, with some reportedly ending 30cm below the ceiling. The Buildings Department says an engineer’s site team found defects in about 30 concrete columns at Tung Chung West Station.
Technical staff for the project’s registered structural engineer found one affected column in early October. Because the condition was not considered an immediate danger, the engineer was not required to notify the department straight away under site supervision rules. Department staff confirmed defects in two columns during an inspection on October 27, then asked the engineer’s team and the registered contractor to investigate fully and make corrections promptly. After further checks, the site team reported on November 3 that about 30 columns had defects.
The department says the defects did not pose an immediate structural danger because temporary supports for the slabs remained in place. The station is being built from the top down: its underground concourse and platform slabs are complete, while columns and structural walls at platform level are still under construction. The supports can be removed only after the registered structural engineer’s team is satisfied with the relevant work.
The department’s preliminary review found no evidence of deliberate departures from approved plans or of responsible personnel breaching codes or regulations in their follow-up work. It said the registered structural engineer had followed site supervision procedures for handling defects. Separately, the MTR said routine inspections found an unauthorised repair procedure and that it had told the main contractor to stop it and submit a report. It also instructed that related construction be suspended.
The registered structural engineer was due to submit an investigation report and proposed remedial measures by mid-November. The Highways Department said it had asked the MTR to ensure the contractor repairs the work at its own expense and to quality standards, without affecting progress. It said the Tung Chung Line extension’s 2029 opening target remained unchanged.