A spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said today (July 28) that regarding the fatal industrial incident that happened on July 27 at a public works construction site in Southern District on Hong Kong Island, the contractors concerned were on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works (the List) and the subcontractor concerned was on the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials and Specialist Contractors for Public Works (the Specialist List).

      The DEVB, being the party to procure services for public works, attaches great importance to the site safety performance of all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the List and the Specialist List. The DEVB issued notifications to the contractors and subcontractor concerned today to suspend the contractors and subcontractor from tendering for public works contracts in the buildings category and the lift, escalator and passenger conveyor installation category respectively with immediate effect pursuant to the regulating regime. The contractors and subcontractor concerned have to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system. Taking cognisance of the outcome of the independent safety audit, the contractors and subcontractor are required to submit an improvement action plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that they have an effective safety management system before the lifting of the suspension from tendering can be considered. The suspension from tendering is not only confined to future tender exercises, but is also applicable to tender exercises with procedures initiated but not concluded.

      The Labour Department is investigating this industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law. Subject to the investigation findings, the DEVB may impose further regulating actions on the contractors and subcontractor concerned later on, including extension of the period of suspension from tendering for public works contracts and even removal from the List and Specialist List.

Ends/Monday, July 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:44

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