Consent given to resume the building works near Light Rail Tin Wing Stop

     A Government spokesman said today (May 24) that consent was given to resume the building works of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL)'s Tin Wing Stop development project (the Project).

     The spokesman said that since the readings recorded in the settlement monitoring checkpoints installed at the Platform No. 7 of Light Rail Tin Wing Stop had exceeded the pre-set trigger level, the piling works of the Project were suspended on June 25, 2018. The Government announced the situation on July 11, 2018, and the Buildings Department (BD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) respectively confirmed the structural safety of the relevant railway facilities and safe operation of the railway.

     The registered building professional appointed for the said building works subsequently submitted to the BD an incident report and a proposal of mitigation measures to alleviate the effects of the said building works on the structural safety of the nearby railway facilities. The registered building professionals have also requested resumption of the suspended works.

     The BD has confirmed the structural safety of the railway facilities concerned. The MTRCL has been consulted and confirmed that the resumption of works will not affect the structural safety of the railway facilities and safe operation of the railway. The EMSD, which regulates and monitors the safety of railway operation according to the Mass Transit Railways Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations, has also confirmed the safe operation of the railway. Regarding the resumption of works, the EMSD has also confirmed that the MTRCL has put in place stringent monitoring measures to ensure the safety of railway operation.

     Having considered the above advice, the request for resumption of works was accepted today. The suspended building works will be resumed in phases on May 31, starting with the proposed grouting works as mitigation measures as well as an assessment on the effectiveness of the grouting works upon their completion to be submitted to the BD. The developer may only commence the remaining works having obtained the BD’s satisfaction with regard to the effectiveness of the grouting works.

     In addition, in processing the piling and excavation amendment plans, the BD requested the registered structural engineer appointed for the Project to conduct comprehensive and detailed engineering analyses for each works procedure and detail of the remaining works in order to assess the possible effects on the nearby buildings and public facilities (including railway structures and facilities). The assessment has confirmed that structural safety of the platform would not be affected within the estimated range of settlement (i.e. 150mm). The Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department has accepted the settlement level estimated by the registered structural engineer of the project. The MTRCL has also indicated that the revised pre-set trigger level will not affect the safety of the railway operation. As the proposed amendments have fulfilled the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance, the BD has accepted the pre-set trigger level for the platform to be revised to 150mm.  

     The spokesman further said that having considered the circumstances of the Tin Wing Stop, the BD has imposed extra conditions when approving the piling and excavation amendment plans, requiring the developer, registered structural engineer, registered geotechnical engineer and registered contractor of the Project to implement a series of measures to enhance site supervision and safety of works, including regular submissions of settlement monitoring data, as well as review, on a monthly basis and before commencement of each type of the construction works, the magnitude of estimated settlement values and the structural assessment of the railway facilities having regard to the settlement monitoring data. The BD will closely monitor the situation and take timely and necessary follow-up action. If the settlement situation exceeds again the revised pre-set trigger level, the relevant works would be suspended immediately and the Government would make an announcement of the situation to the public immediately. The staff of the New Buildings Divisions and the Site Monitoring Section of the BD will also carry out regular inspections of the site and Tin Wing Stop to ensure the structural safety of the Tin Wing Stop facilities and the nearby buildings.

     The BD, the EMSD and the MTRCL will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the structural safety of the railway facilities and the safe operation of the railway, the spokesman said.