Two construction workers have died and three have been injured after a section of bamboo scaffolding collapsed on a construction site in Kai Tak.
The scaffolding, which was approximately 15 metres tall by eight metres long, collapsed from the external wall of a new residential building on Tuesday afternoon, Ming Pao reported. Two female construction workers on the ground who were hit by the scaffolding were pronounced dead soon after being admitted to hospital.
Another female construction worker who was working on the scaffolding when it collapsed was severely injured. She was in critical condition after leaving the intensive care unit.
Two other workers were injured, and were in hospital in a stable condition, local media reported.
Multiple government departments met the press on Tuesday evening. A police spokesperson said they would work with other departments to investigate the incident and would pursue prosecution if any negligence was identified.
The construction site for the residential project Pano Harbour was being developed by Fame Well Creation, a joint venture formed by the China Resources Land and the Poly Property Group – developers from mainland China. The contractor for the project was Hip Hing Construction Company.
Wan Chi-ping, assistant commissioner (occupational safety) for the Labour Department said a temporary work suspension notice had been issued for the construction site, which meant the contractor could not alter, dismantle or construct any bamboo scaffolding.
According to Hong Kong’s construction site safety regulations, scaffolding must be inspected by a “competent person” before being used for the first time and at regular intervals. If any major alterations were made to the scaffolding, another inspection should be conducted.
Wan said they would investigate the design, construction, and use of the bamboo scaffolding to determine the cause of the fatal accident.
Fay Siu, chief executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, told HK01 she had assisted the families of the victims, and that the two deceased workers were aged 68 and 54 and were the breadwinners of their family.
Siu urged the contractor and all employers linked to the accident to respond as soon as possible and support the victims’ families.
Multiple accidents linked to same company
In April 2023, a cleaner fell from 11th floor at another construction site in Tai Kak and died after being admitted to hospital. The construction site was also managed by contractor Hip Hing Construction Company.
The Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts ruled last June that Hip Hing had violated the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and should be fined HK$130,000 over the fatal accident.
The construction company has also been involved in multiple other industrial accidents in recent years.
In May 2022, a working platform around two metres high collapsed at the construction site of the new Immigration Department headquarters in Tseung Kwan O, killing a 48-year-old construction worker. The site was managed by Hip Hing.
In December 2022, a crane at the same construction site collapsed, although no one was injured.
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