Registered General Building Contractors Disciplined for Offences Relating to Building Works

Four registered general building contractors disciplined for offences relating to building works

The Registered Contractors' Disciplinary Board (the Board) has completed disciplinary inquiries under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) on four fatal site incidents and decided that the four Registered General Building Contractors (RGBC) concerned should be disciplined for having been convicted by courts of offences related to building works.

The Board's written decisions and orders issued on August 5 were published in the Gazette today (August 21). Details are available at the following links:

Case 1: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5127

Case 2: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5125

Case 3: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5126

Case 4: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5124

The first case involved a fatal incident that occurred on August 10, 2019, at a building alteration site in Causeway Bay. A worker, while carrying out wooden formwork work on the rooftop, fell from an unfenced edge of a formwork to the floor below. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away later. The RGBC was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (FIUO), the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation. The RGBC was convicted and fined $245,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on June 5, 2020. In view of the convictions of the RGBC, the Buildings Department (BD) notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be removed from the register of general building contractors for two months, to be fined $200,000, and to pay a total of $50,500 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The Labour Department, Photo source: reference image

The second case involved a fatal incident that occurred on December 9, 2020, at a construction site in Stanley. Two workers, while dismantling a metal hoarding at the site, were pressed by the collapsed portion of the hoarding. One of the workers died and the other was injured. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO. The RGBC was convicted and fined $35,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on May 29, 2023. In view of the conviction of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be removed from the register of general building contractors for two months and to pay a total of $60,100 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The third case involved a fatal incident that occurred on June 30, 2020, at a reclamation site of the Hong Kong International Airport three-runway system project. While a group of workers was engaged in repairing a winch drum of a machine on the site, a wire rope suddenly flipped and struck two of the workers. One worker sustained a serious head injury and died later while the other sustained a bone fracture. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. The RGBC was convicted and fined $53,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on June 24, 2021. In view of the convictions of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $299,700 and to pay a total of $64,000 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The fourth case involved a fatal incident that occurred on November 8, 2022, at a construction site in Tsim Sha Tsui. While a worker was carrying out fire service work on a reinforcement bar structure, part of the structure suddenly collapsed onto him. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away on the same day. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO. The RGBC was convicted and fined $8,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on March 21, 2024. In view of the conviction of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $166,700 and to pay a total of $55,700 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The Buildings Department, Photo source: reference image

A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out building works, or is convicted by any court of an offence relating to building works, or has been negligent or has misconducted in building works, will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO.

Source: AI-created image

Amendments to scheme for Mass Transit Railway - Lantau and Airport Railway Phase II Hong Kong Station Extended Overrun Tunnels gazetted

The Government published in the Gazette today (August 21) the amendments to the scheme for the Mass Transit Railway - Lantau and Airport Railway Phase II Hong Kong Station Extended Overrun Tunnels under section 7 of the Railways Ordinance (Cap. 519) (the Ordinance).

A Government spokesman said, "The Mass Transit Railway - Lantau and Airport Railway Phase II Hong Kong Station Extended Overrun Tunnels project mainly involves the construction of underground tunnels of around 500 metres long beneath Lung Wo Road to the east of Hong Kong Station with a ventilation building and its associated works at the east of Yiu Sing Street. The amendments, covering the General Layout Plan, the Creation of Rights of Temporary Occupation of Land Plan, and the Control of Building Plans and Commencement of Work Plan, are made mainly to reflect the latest layout and design of the railway scheme and facilities, and the infrastructure constructed in the surrounding environment since the gazettal of the original scheme in 2001.

"The amendments demonstrate the Government's dedication to advancing transportation infrastructure with an innovative mindset and a people-centric approach. Leveraging technological innovation, the Government has proactively responded to the public's aspirations for the project by optimising the layout, design and construction methods. The amendments to the scheme will enhance the capacity of the railway network and meet the transportation demands arising from the development of Lantau and Hong Kong as a whole, while minimising the impact on this precious piece of land at the Central Harbourfront."

The construction works of the project will commence after the authorisation of the amendments to the scheme with the main works expected to be completed by 2032.

Under the Ordinance, members of the public may object to the amendments to the scheme from today until October 20, 2026. Additionally, any person who has a compensatable interest can claim compensation under the provisions of the Ordinance.

The Amendments to the Scheme and the Amendment Plans have been uploaded to the Highways Department (HyD) website (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/our_projects/railway_projects/tcle/index.html). They are also available for public inspection during office hours at the Central & Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; the Wan Chai Home Affairs Enquiry Centre; the District Lands Office, Hong Kong West and South; and the District Lands Office, Hong Kong East. A copy of the Amendments to the Scheme and the Amendment Plans may also be purchased from the HyD, which can be contacted at 2762 3976 for details.

The Central Government Offices, Photo source: reference image