Timely trains are useless if you cant board them MTR Corporation boss Jay Walder has boasted about it. And so has the railway companys media relations boss Kendrew Wong, in a letter to this paper. Their boast? MTR trains run on time. In the first half of this year, 99.9 per cent of the trains were on time. We wont argue with that. But to the MTR Corp, we say this: So what if they arrive at their destinations on time? The question is, do these trains get passengers to their destinations on time? Of course not. How can they, if passengers cannot board the over-packed trains? Nowadays, you can forget about boarding the first train that arrives at stations such as Admiralty and Tsim Sha Tsui. Youll be lucky if you can board the third train at these stations during rush hours. On Tuesday last week at 6.30pm, Public Eye had to wait for four trains at Kowloon Tong before we could board a train to Sha Tin. We were 30 minutes late for our appointment. All four trains ahead of us, and the one we boarded, no doubt arrived at their stations on time, but we did not for our appointment. But what the heck: As Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung (who travels in a taxpayer-financed car) says, if you cannot board the first train, wait for the next one, or the next, or the next. Michael Chugani is a columnist and television show host. mickchug@gmail Share 0 inShare 11 Comments PrintEmail For unlimited access to: SCMP SCMP Tablet Edition SCMP Mobile Edition 10-year news archive Subscribe now Existing subscribers, login here Comments Content limited to 1500 characters, remaining: 1500 All comments Most recommended 11 hunghingshek hunghingshek Jul 23rd 2014 1:22pm Please stop using the name of Hong Kong people to justify extremist acts and violence we actually saw on TV. Some people in Hong Kong (and I am not sure they are Hong Kong people at all) are capable and intending on violence to advance their own goals, whether as they manifested or simply in accordance with their own secret agenda. reply Report Like (0) Dislike (1) tomonday tomonday Jul 23rd 2014 11:25am Michael, its just s fence, nothing wrong with taking extreme precaution from those thugs. Does your house/home has a fence/gate?? Nothing wrong with that! Idiots pay loads of money buying something they havent seen? Nothing wrong with that. Its called greed or afraid to lose out, CK is very smart, fortunately they have fools playing their game. Timely trains are useless? You sure? You are so bloody wrong. They are everything in running a successful public transport system. Cant get on the first one to get to your destination on time, then plan better. reply Report Like (2) Dislike (3) sipsip1238 sipsip1238 Jul 23rd 2014 11:13am The greed of the property developer can only exist because of the greed and stupidity of the citizens. If those same buyers end up getting badly burnt or regret their purchases, they have no one to blame except for themselves. reply Report Like (2) Dislike (1) chaz_hen chaz_hen Jul 23rd 2014 12:00pm Problem is, in HK theyll start organizing and orchestrating sit ins (a la Occupy) to protest and demand the government reimburse them! For their own greed and stupidity! reply Report Like (0) Dislike (0) cleareye cleareye Jul 23rd 2014 10:46am In the shock aftermath of people causing property damage at LegCo over the proposed Northeast development, the government building takes precautions to avoid similar incident happening again... Good enough Michael. The government is not afraid of its citizens, it is cautious from a small group of extremists. reply Report Like (1) Dislike (2) mercedes2233 mercedes2233 Jul 23rd 2014 9:40am My employer installed glass partitions at the receptionist counter. He must also be frightened of something. Should I tell him to tear it down because there are no terrorists around? reply Report Like (3) Dislike (4) sammckhk sammckhk Jul 23rd 2014 3:45am I always find it quite amusing that the oppressive colonialists could govern from the old Central Government office at Lower Albert Road with no gates and nothing more than a 3 ft high railing to surround the centre of colonial oppression, yet once Hong Kong came under the control of China with patriots running the show, within weeks there was a 10 ft fence with locked gates erected. What was the reason for change then ? Why now ? A government shouldnt fear its citizens, if it does then its a sign that things are badly wrong with the government. reply Report Like (8) Dislike (7) mercedes2233 mercedes2233 Jul 23rd 2014 9:36am What is so funny? The US Embassy has a fence and fierce security too. Does it fear another countrys citizens? reply Report Like (2) Dislike (5) syn syn Jul 23rd 2014 12:20pm Hong Kongs office had some broken glass and people brandishing bamboo sticks. The US had two business towers hit with 747 airplanes and constant bombing attempts. I think you can see a difference if you really try. reply Report Like (3) Dislike (0) chaz_hen chaz_hen Jul 23rd 2014 12:02pm Yes. But thats not the issue now is it? Chugani is talking about the HK government and HK citizens. Dont try to muddle the story. reply Report Like (2) Dislike (0) Pages 1 2 next › last » All From SCMP (Last 24hrs) Tung Chee-hwas son-in-law to take leave of absence after alleged drunken airport incident News 22 Jul 2014 Tung Chee-hwas son-in-law to take leave of absence after… Singapores censorship of childrens book defies reality of alternative lifestyles Comment 22 Jul 2014 Singapores censorship of childrens book defies reality of… China hit by Western military moves in Africa, says Academy of Social Sciences report News 23 Jul 2014 China hit by Western military moves in Africa, says Academy of… Poison and big business: Jimmy Lais private life thrust into the spotlight in leaked files News 23 Jul 2014 Poison and big business: Jimmy Lais private life thrust into… Drug suspect accused with possession of Ice jumps HK$500 bail News 23 Jul 2014 Drug suspect accused with possession of Ice jumps HK$500 bail Multimedia Hong Kong hosts Chinas largest -- and only -- 25th anniversary Tiananmen remembrance rally Play Video Videos 05 Jun 2014 Hong Kong hosts Chinas largest -- and only -- 25th anniversary… Hong Kong Viral video of Obama working out in Polish gym Play Video Videos 05 Jun 2014 Viral video of Obama working out in Polish gym Offbeat An animated tribute to Chinas June 4th crackdown from a Hong Kong animator Play Video Videos 05 Jun 2014 An animated tribute to Chinas June 4th crackdown from a Hong Kong… Hong Kong Football: FIFA finds a field of dreams in China Play Video Videos 06 Jun 2014 Football: FIFA finds a field of dreams in China China Groups clash with pro-Beijing group ahead of Hong Kongs June 4 vigil; one arrested Play Video Videos 04 Jun 2014 Groups clash with pro-Beijing group ahead of Hong Kongs June 4… Hong Kong From Around The Web Short but sweet: The miniskirt BBC 23 May 2014 Short but sweet: The miniskirt 6 mistakes young managers make LinkedIn 28 Apr 2014 6 mistakes young managers make Dont quit your job until youve asked these questions LinkedIn 28 May 2014 Dont quit your job until youve asked these questions Transport chief says ill-fated jet took approved course Nikkei Asian Review 19 Jul 2014 Transport chief says ill-fated jet took approved course Downed plane puts Malaysia Airlines in even worse straits Nikkei Asian Review 19 Jul 2014 Downed plane puts Malaysia Airlines in even worse straits Recommended by
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 08:23:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015