MTR–KCR merger

There had already been some discussion of merging the KCR, which was also government-owned, and the MTR to make the territory's transport system more efficient.

that the government's choice was made to avoid being criticised for selling assets of the KCRC – which it wholly owned – to MTRCL at an underpriced level.

'Hong Kong Railway Corporation Limited') after being granted the Service Concession while the English name remained unchanged.

This also resulted in changing the system's Chinese name from "地鐵" ("Subway") to "港鐵" ("Hong Kong Railway").

[6] Student Octopus holders would continue to pay the current reduced concessionary fares on the MTR network.

Two workers changing the sign at East Tsim Sha Tsui station after the merger
Ticket gates at key interchange stations were removed one year after the merger