The Lifts and Escalators Ordinance Disciplinary Board has completed hearings for six charges of disciplinary offences brought against Holake Hong Kong Lifts Limited and decided that all the charges are established and the company should be disciplined.
 
     Being the registered escalator contractor responsible for the maintenance of six escalators in three public markets, Holake was charged with six disciplinary offences under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance for failing to ensure the maintenance works for the escalators concerned were carried out properly, thus committing misconduct or neglect in a professional respect. The Board ordered that Holake be fined $120,000 in total as well as pay the expenses of around $90,000 incurred in the proceedings. The Board's decision and orders were gazetted today (February 11). Details are available on the website (www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20222606/egn20222606796.pdf).

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) welcomes the decision and will continue to strictly enforce the Ordinance to ensure the safety and reliability of lift and escalator services, with a view to safeguarding public safety.
 
     Examinations conducted on the six escalators at Tai Shing Street Market, Kwun Chung Market and Sai Kung Market in January 2019 during the transfer of maintenance responsibility from Holake to another registered escalator contractor revealed that the escalators were in a poor state of maintenance and repair. The EMSD issued warning letters to Holake for non-compliance including substandard braking performance and malfunctioning of safety devices.
 
     Considering the repeated unsatisfactory performance of Holake in maintaining the escalators, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, pursuant to Section 109(1) of the Ordinance, referred the disciplinary offences concerned to the Board for disciplinary proceedings.

Ends/Friday, February 11, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:00

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