MTR, or Mass Transit Railway, is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. The MTR first began service in 1979 and officially merged with the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) on 2 December 2007, still bearing the same name in English. The network includes 211.6 km of rail with 150 stations, including 82 railway stations and 68 light rail stops. The MTR system is currently being operated by MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL). Due to its efficiency and affordability, the MTR system is a common mode of public transport in Hong Kong, with over 4 million trips made in an average weekday. The integration of the Octopus smart card fare-payment technology into the MTR system in September 1997 has further enhanced the ease of commuting on the MTR.

In 1967, construction of the MTR was prompted by a government-commissioned study. The Hong Kong Government had previously commissioned a study in the 1960s to find solutions to the growing traffic problem caused by the expansion of the territory's economy. Construction started soon after the release of the study, and the first line was opened in 1979. The MTR was immediately popular with residents of Hong Kong; as a result, subsequent lines have been built to cover more territory. There are continual debates regarding how and where to expand the MTR network. (Read more...)

Chung Sze Yuen (Sir S.Y. Chung, GBE, GBM) (Chinese: 鍾士元) (3 November 1917 – 14 November 2018) was a mechanical engineer, industrialist and Hong Kong politician. He succeeded Sir Yuet Keung Kan, GBE (簡悅強), as the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council in 1980 and served in the latter body until his first retirement from politics in 1988.

He has been more influential in Hong Kong politics when Tung Chee Hwa became the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, when he was invited by Tung as the convenor of the non-official members of the Executive Council.