The Transport and Logistics Bureau said MTR must allocate HK$4.8 million to its service-performance rebate account after two incidents disrupted rush-hour train services at Lam Tin Station on consecutive days. The requirement was announced at a Legislative Council railway affairs subcommittee meeting on 30 October.

Under the existing scheme, MTR must arrange one designated weekend day of half-price fares when the account reaches HK$25 million. The HK$4.8 million goes into that account; it is not a payment or fare deduction for passengers affected by these incidents.

Lawmakers questioned whether a weekend-wide discount helps weekday commuters whose journeys were disrupted. A lawmaker representing New Territories West argued that the arrangement could not compensate people affected during weekday rush hours. Another, representing Kowloon East, proposed giving affected passengers tickets or directly reducing their fares. The bureau’s deputy secretary-general said the current mechanism would remain in use and that lawmakers’ views would be considered at its next review.

The first incident was a track-equipment fire in the tunnel between Lam Tin and Yau Tong stations on 13 October. Lam Tin Station was temporarily closed and the fire was extinguished about an hour later. The following morning, smoke at the station triggered its fire-suppression system and evacuation procedures. Trains continued running but bypassed Lam Tin.

Preliminary findings in Legislative Council papers attributed the first fire to a failed insulating component, which caused a short circuit. After that incident, a portable earthing switch was kept closed as a safety measure. The findings said prolonged high current then wore a connection and overheated a cable, causing smoke the next day.

MTR sent more than 210 frontline staff to assist during the disruptions and arranged about 150 free shuttle-bus trips for passengers.

An MTR representative said the company would review the rebate arrangements alongside next year’s review of its fare-adjustment mechanism.