Is security check feasible in MTR?

The latest attack on the MTR has caught wide attention. Many celebrities, including four candidates for Hong Kong chief executive election, expressed their sympathy and condolence for the victims via social media.

Hong Kong has been deemed one of the safest places in the world and local residents rarely feel any threats to public security amid explosion, gun crime and terror attacks raging in the rest of the world. However, after the Mong Kok riot last year, it is not safe anymore.

There have been lots of complaints about the security check for subways in the Chinese mainland as people consider it time consuming, especially during rush hours. As the population in big cities grows, many people question the necessity of security check since it takes too much manpower and material resources.

However, in countries that don’t conduct security check for subways, such as Russia, security risks are high.

That’s why Chechnya’s Black Widows can easily enter subway stations with firebombs and attack innocent passengers.

It’s, therefore, much safer to take subways in the mainland since the security check can detect all inflammable materials including liquids. And no arson attack or explosion has ever happened on the subway so far.

Although Hong Kong subway is more efficient without security check, this poses high risks to public security.

Mainland cities cannot relax their alert in terms of public security and should continue the security check on subways until they find better alternatives.

In the meantime, can Hong Kong learn from the mainland and set up security checks? After all, life outvalues anything else.