On 5 October 2000 the operator of the MTR network , MTR Corporation Limited , became Hong Kong 's first privatised rail and metro company , which marked the start of the Hong Kong government 's planned initiative to wind down its interests in various public utilities . On 5 October 2000 , the operator of the MTR network , MTR Corporation Limited ( MTRCL ) , became Hong Kong 's first rail company to be privatised , marking the beginning of the Hong Kong government 's initiative to dissolve its interests in public utilities .