Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Chief Executive Officer-designate James Blake has pledged to meet with staff to learn their concerns and work to ensure good morale so reliable train services are maintained.

Meeting the media today, Mr Blake said he understood staff concerns and said he would work with them to ensure they are addressed. Having worked with the KCRC for seven years in the past, he said the corporation has a proud reputation and its board has worked to solve the railway's recent problems.

"My immediate objective is to get out and meet my former colleagues, understand their concerns and then sit down with the senior management to decide what is the best course of action," he said.

"The best way to raise morale is to get out and meet them and give them the opportunity to express their concerns and to make sure they understand that the senior echelon of the corporation are fully in support of their concerns. I know that their commitment to service will pull them through, because that is what teamwork is all about."

'Hands-on' management

Mr Blake said he has a "hands-on" management style and that he likes to meet staff and share their problems.

"I believe in trust between the senior management and middle-management staff, and I also believe you have got to have confidence to allow your staff to come forward and raise their suggestions, their comments and ideas without fear of being criticised without reason," he said.

"My experience with KCRC staff is that they are very good at putting their ideas on to the table and I would expect that style of management to continue. I will try to trust them, and I hope they will trust me."

Good working relationship

Along with his former KCRC colleagues, Mr Blake said he also has a good working relationship with Chairman Michael Tien and believed the corporation's good service and image will be upheld.

"The fact that I have spent sevens years with the corporation, the fact that I know most of the staff, gave me the confidence to accept [the post] with virtually no hesitation," he said.

"My heart has always been and still is with the KCRC. In my 40 years in Hong Kong I have covered a wide range of projects in infrastructure. But I have to say my time with the KCRC was one of the most satisfying and fruitful. I hope that by coming back I am able to help the corporation to recover and even build upon its image of service to the public."

Mr Blake will be confirmed in the post once outgoing CEO Samuel Lai leaves. Mr Lai said: "I am very confident the transitional period will be very smooth and the handover will be quite swift."