The DAB has urged MTR Corporation to offer free rides to compensate passengers hit by the suspension of services along the entire Tseung Kwan O line that began with the evening rush hour on Thursday.

DAB lawmaker Stanley Li said on Friday the rail firm would likely be fined more than HK$10 million due to the incident but stressed that this does not have a strong enough deterrent effect.

“We think yesterday’s service disruption was far too serious," he said.

"We hope that the MTR can offer affected passengers, especially residents of Tseung Kwan O, a free return journey on weekdays as compensation.”

Li also said the government and the MTR should have enhanced their cooperation and initiated emergency measures earlier, noting that many passengers were stranded at Tiu Keng Leng station on Thursday night.

He further called on the government to initiate a study on building a fourth cross-harbour tunnel in Area 137 – an area located near the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate that is currently being used as a fill bank – saying it could ease traffic jams during major railway service disruptions.

The DAB also urged the MTR to review its guidelines on emergency handling and enhance staff training for better emergency response capabilities.

Sai Kung district councillor Sze Pan-pan said she had observed that MTR staff were not armed with walkie-talkies on Thursday night while directing crowds to alternative means of transport, which made the distribution of real-time information highly inefficient.

The party also urged the MTR to explain the cause of the major disruption during the railway subcommittee meeting in the Legislative Council on Monday and to submit a thorough investigation report within a week.