File photo shows the Kai Tak MTR station during construction.

The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Frank Chan Fan, said today the government has accepted the MTR Corporation Limited's recommendation of opening the first phase of the Tuen Ma Line, which includes Tai Wai, Hin Keng, Diamond Hill, and Kai Tak stations, and it is targeted to occur in the first quarter of next year.

The government has also accepted two separate reports from the MTRCL in respect of incidents relating to the Hung Hom Station extension.

"MTRCL recommended in the reports a series of works and measures at and near the Hung Hom Station extension in order to satisfy the relevant codes of practice and contract requirements. There will be long-term monitoring of the structure upon completion of the works tentatively in late 2020 or early 2021," Chan said.

"Taking into account the testing and trial run, the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section can only be fully commissioned before the end of 2021."

The MTRCL said it will fund the costs arising from the Hung Hom incidents and certain costs associated with the phased opening of the Tuen Ma Line and its best estimate of such costs is around HK$2 billion in aggregate.

The railway operator will also make a provision of the HK$2 billion in its consolidated profit and loss account for the six months ended June 30, adding that the amount does not take into account any potential recovery from any other party.

The Tuen Ma Line, part of the Sha Tin-Central link, extends the existing Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai to the West Rail Line via East Kowloon.