Court Increases Fines for Contractor in Fatal Chek Lap Kok Industrial Accident Case

Court makes review decision on sentencing for violating occupational safety and health legislation

Regarding the sentencing in a fatal industrial accident, the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 21) handed down a review decision, accepting the prosecution's application for review of an earlier court sentence and increasing the fines imposed on the contractor.

The West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, the West Kowloon Law Courts Building

The case involved a fatal accident that occurred on August 19, 2023, at a construction site in Chek Lap Kok, Lantau. A worker, while carrying out electrical installation work on the false ceiling of a building under construction, received an electric shock. The worker subsequently lost consciousness and passed away on the same day.

Hip Seng Builders Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Electricity) Regulations, and was fined $261,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on January 23, 2025.

After the sentencing, the prosecution filed a review application with the court regarding the sentences imposed on the relevant contractor. The review hearing was brought up today before the court. The fines imposed on Hip Seng Builders Limited were increased to $521,000.

A spokesman for the LD said that the ruling will disseminate a strong message to all contractors that they have to protect workers' safety and health at work in accordance with the laws. The prosecution will continue to pay attention to court rulings and will file review or appeal applications for cases where the sentences are manifestly inadequate and/or wrong in principle.

Source: AI-found images

CMAB responds to media enquiries

In response to media enquiries regarding the Director of the Tianjin Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau has further responded today (January 21) as follows:

Regarding the concerns arising from the social media posts issued by Mr Ricky Cheng Chun-sang, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau has undertaken further investigation. It has been considered that the incident in which Mr Cheng's seat being upgraded on a vessel during his earlier trip to Macao is suspected of breaching the provisions under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance regarding civil servants accepting advantages without permission. The matter has already been referred to law enforcement agencies for follow up.

Mr Cheng is a contract staff of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. The bureau has decided to terminate his contract with immediate effect.