Staff shortage hits MTR's project to bore through mountain for Sha Tin-Central link

Boring through the mountain below Lion Rock is shaping up as the next challenge for the MTR in the construction of the delayed Sha Tin-Central link, with a labour shortage and uncertainty about ground conditions.

General manager for the line Dr Philco Wong said yesterday the overall project was already 1,000 short of its required 4,200 workers and would need 6,000 when work reached its peak next year. He said blasting began about 10 days ago at Hin Keng, Sha Tin, for the 3.5km tunnel to Diamond Hill. About 40 boreholes had been drilled earlier to check ground conditions but uncertainties remained.

"No one has done any construction through the mountain since the Lion Rock Tunnel opened decades ago, so there could be many uncertainties in the process," he said.

"If you went hiking on the mountain, you would see there's a lot of erosion. We don't know if that's also the case in its middle."

The line is estimated to be 11 months behind schedule because of the excavation of ancient relics at the To Kwa Wan station site.

The first phase, from Tai Wai to Hung Hom, is scheduled for completion by 2018.

The second phase, from Hung Hom to Admiralty, is scheduled to open in 2020.