Hong Kong's MTR Corporation opens the Island line in 1985 — from the SCMP archive
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by Francis Li and Louis Liu
Massive roll-up as new line opens
Huge crowds rolled up to try out the Mass Transit Railway Island line which went into operation without a hitch on Friday (May 31, 1985).
An MTR Corporation spokesman said on Friday night more than 136,000 people travelled on the line between Chai Wan and Admiralty stations in the first five hours after it opened for commuters at 2pm.
Rostered station staff helped by volunteer MTR workers turned out in force to help passengers, many of whom were first-time MTR commuters.
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The Causeway Bay station was so busy that many commuters said they had to queue for nearly 20 minutes for a ticket, well before the evening rush hours.
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