Fostering Community Connection Through Faithful Service

Rex Auyeung, Chairman of MTR Corporation, will complete his term in end of December. The Standard has invited him to reflect on and conclude his tenure.

Hong Kong: a city that never sleeps. From dawn till dusk, its people and activities intertwine ceaselessly and seamlessly.

At the heart of this exceptional pace lies a highly efficient public transport system that faithfully supports the city’s orderly operations – the MTR.

As the backbone of Hong Kong's public transport, the MTR serves the daily commuting needs of millions. Beyond the local convenience of connecting all  districts of the city, it also links Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland through the High Speed ​​Rail and the East Rail Line.

This pivotal role strengthens ties between Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area.

Few would dispute that the MTR is an anchor infrastructure, fueling Hong Kong's rapid development as an international financial center and its continuous growth, leveraging the fast-paced development of the country.

MTR’s commitment to service is evident. With over 8,000 train trips deployed during 19 hours of daily operations, and an average on-time rate of over 99 percent, the service runs year-round except during typhoon signal no 9 or above when certain sections are suspended.

This level of reliability would not be possible without a high level of professionalism and meticulous planning.

As the railway ages, maintaining its performance would naturally become more challenging. While declining asset quality is not uncommon elsewhere, I am truly grateful for the MTR team’s unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and efficiency. From the beaming smiles of station staff, to the diligent effort of maintenance staff in tunnels during my visits at late-night hours, and the exchanges with the management over strategic issues, I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the MTR team’s commitment and dedication.

The role of MTR extends far beyond that of a railway operator. In addition to being a public transport operator, it builds and maintains railways.

It is a listed company, however 75 percent of its shares are in the hands of the Hong Kong SAR government. 

For sure, MTR holds a sizable land bank, but this is for the pure task entrusted to it of unlocking the value of such land, so that the revenues generated could go into the construction and maintenance of railways.  As a by-product, Hong Kong gets many communities that are built and fully integrated with the railway development. This multifaceted identity endows MTR with unique social value – creating and maintaining sustainable, high-quality railway services and building communities for Hong Kong, while generating value for shareholders, including the SAR government. In addition to its annual dividend payment to the Treasury, the company allocates billions of dollars to provide various travel subsidies to those in need and supports social service projects, a testimony to its strong social mission.

My nearly seven-year tenure as Chairman of MTR has been marred by three years of the COVID pandemic. It was a challenging period for us as a business, but we made strides by championing a company transformation to ensure we have a future-ready organization with a strong focus on innovative technologies. We have embarked on multiple new railway projects, including the Northern Link, which will serve as a key infrastructure for Hong Kong’s new economic growth engine in the Northern Metropolis. Arrangements are being made to ensure the corporation is fully equipped to finance such monumental projects. To enhance the quality, safety and program management of such projects, the newly-unveiled digital delivery centers also demonstrate the benefits of innovative technologies.

I have no doubt that the MTR team will continue to strive for excellence and contribute to Hong Kong.  It has been an honour to lead the MTR in serving Hong Kong for the past few years. The MTR will always hold a special place in my heart as an institution we should cherish and take pride in. As I prepare to leave office, I firmly believe that the MTR will continue to provide world-class service, cater to the needs of the public, and maximize the benefits of railway for Hong Kong's development, injecting new impetus into the future. As we say it at MTR, we Keep Cities Moving.

Rex Auyeung, Chairman of MTR Corporation