Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kowloon Bay today
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened on a construction site in Kowloon Bay this morning (June 26). While working on the ground, a male worker was run over by a reversing compactor to death. The LD is saddened by death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the operation of all loadshifting machines at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."
The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
To prevent workers from being struck by loadshifting machines, the LD reminds employers to take adequate precautionary measures, including placing suitable barriers to segregate workers from machinery operating zones; installing suitable safety devices on loadshifting machines, such as rearview mirrors, closed-circuit televisions for reversing operations, and audio/visual alarms, to alert persons working nearby; and arranging signallers to give clear indications to operators, especially when visibility is obstructed during reversing operations.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
Source: AI-found images
FS continues visit to Xi'an
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 26) continued his visit programme in Xi'an.
Mr Chan today called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, and had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong. Mr Chan said that Shaanxi has gathered innovative resources, possesses strong research capabilities, and has complete and thriving industrial chains in areas such as national hard technology research and development, aerospace and aviation, and major equipment manufacturing. Hong Kong, with its advantages as an international financial centre and in high-end professional services under "one country, two systems", together with its common law system and free port status, is an important hub connecting the Mainland and international markets.
He said that the two places can deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation and research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, cultivation of innovative enterprises and listing financing, as well as talent exchanges and higher education. This would better connect Shaanxi's research and industrial strengths with Hong Kong's financial and internationalisation advantages, achieve resource sharing and mutual empowerment, enable each other's success, and jointly serve the country's development of new quality productive forces and high-quality development. He invited Xi’an enterprises to form delegations to visit Hong Kong, exchange and connect with Hong Kong enterprises and the investment community, and explore further co-operation.
In the morning, Mr Chan visited Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), where he met with the President of NPU, Professor Song Baowei, and held a discussion session with innovation and technology enterprises. He then delivered a speech to more than 200 teachers, students and alumni, engaging in in-depth exchanges on promoting hard technology innovation, commercialisation of research outcomes, and deepening co-operation between Xi'an and Hong Kong in scientific research and industrial development.
In his speech, Mr Chan pointed out that NPU students have demonstrated, in different ways, a spirit of craftsmanship in perfecting technologies and products. However, for technology to move from the laboratory to the world, it no longer depends only on whether the product is advanced, but also on whether it can withstand the tests of supply chain restructuring and alignment with international standards.
He said that globalisation is shifting from the previous "efficiency first" model to one that places equal emphasis on "efficiency and resilience", with supply chain security, self-reliance in core technologies, and cross-boundary regulation becoming key considerations. Against this backdrop, the country is strengthening basic research and original innovation, supporting breakthroughs with long-term accumulated "slow variables". At the same time, areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials and quantum technology are crossing the threshold of industrialisation, forming synergistic development among "technology clusters" and driving the development of new industries, new models and new growth drivers.
Mr Chan pointed out that Xi'an has a profound foundation in hard technology and is an important fertile ground for the accumulation of related technologies, with its achievements being accelerated for civilian application. Hong Kong, with its common law system, free port advantages and international platform, brings together capital, talent and professional services, to help connect technological achievements with international markets, and promote "Xi'an R&D, Hong Kong empowerment, global application".
He encouraged young people to be professionally strong and broad-minded, and to actively enter the intersection of "finance + technology". He also encouraged them to base themselves in the country and look to the world, seize opportunities amid changes, enhance their sustainable competitiveness, and grasp the broad opportunities brought about by technological development.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the Xi'an High-tech Industries Development Zone (Xi'an High-tech Zone). As a national-level high-tech industries development zone, the Xi'an High-tech Zone focuses on strategic emerging industries such as electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials. The Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and Invest Hong Kong also joined the visit.
Mr Chan and his delegation visited enterprises engaged respectively in advanced energy storage, optoelectronic integration, metal additive manufacturing, and high-end equipment inspection and testing, to learn about their latest progress in frontier technology research and development and industrialisation. Mr Chan then held a discussion session with representatives of 25 enterprises in the Xi'an High-tech Zone, exchanging views on promoting hard technology innovation, facilitating deeper integration among industry, academia, research and application, and expanding co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi in areas such as technology and innovation, finance and professional services.
During the discussion session, a number of enterprises expressed strong interest and willingness to access international capital through Hong Kong and further expand into overseas markets. Mr Chan welcomed them to come to Hong Kong for fundraising and financing, global expansion, and technology research and development and advanced manufacturing. He asked the OASES, the HKIC, HKEX and others to fully connect with them and provide support.
Mr Chan will continue his itinerary in Xi'an tomorrow (June 27) and attend the inaugural Western Commercial Aerospace Conference.
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
