Li Kit-loi, 42, the assistant maintenance manager of the former cable car operator Skyrail-ITM, was making his first appearance at Tsuen Wan Magistracy.

Li is charged with not consulting or clarifying with the manufacturer of the cable car system before performing a brake test, which is not stated or required in the system's operational and maintenance manual.

He is also charged with negligence in conducting a brake test that was likely to cause danger to others, as well as in supervising his assistant during the performance of the test.

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According to a government-appointed investigation team, Li, who was sacked from his job, was found to be responsible for the incident in which an empty cabin plunged 50 meters to the ground on the evening of June 11.

Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma Hon-cheung asked the prosecutor whether a case will also be brought against Li's then employer, Skyrail-ITM.

Deputy principal government counsel Patrick Cheung Wai-sun said the option was being considered but that there was insufficient evidence at this time.

Skyrail's former managing director Bill Calderwood appeared in court but made no comment.

The Australian company had earlier pledged to help defend Li.

A pretrial hearing has been set for February 18 and is expected to last 15 days.

Tanner De Witt solicitor Mark Side, representing Li, said a long period of time was needed to compile reports and call in overseas experts.

The prosecution said it will call eight witnesses, including two from Switzerland and Austria, while the defense will call in three witnesses who are experts on design/installation and management.

So far, details of the cable car plunge have not been divulged because of the court hearing.

Skyrail-ITM, whose image was tainted by 22 major incidents and frequent service interruptions, had its 20-year-long contract with MTR Corp terminated after just nine months of operation.

Ngong Ping 360 - a subsidiary of MTR Corp that owns the project - is now in the process of preparing to restart cable car operations.