Rectification work on as engineer fired over defects in HKU project

The University of Hong Kong says rectification work has been carried out at the construction site of a dormitory project on campus after holes were found in concrete walls and pillars. The contractor's site engineer has also been replaced.

The construction site is in the High West Site Development Project next to the University Hall on the Pok Fu Lam campus. Construction work continued yesterday.

The project involves the building of two 19-story towers on a single-story podium, providing 938 student places, including living accommodation for management staff, common space, a canteen and supporting facilities.

The project also involves the redevelopment of two 20-story towers of senior staff quarters. The project was started in 2019 and is expected to be completed in the second quarter next year.

The university said last night that the defective concrete work was first identified in late April. Defects were also discovered in May at locations in the car park area.

The Buildings Department said no obvious danger to the building structure was noted after inspection yesterday.

The university confirmed that the project team, Andrew Lee King Fun & Associates Architects Ltd, has issued four site memos and a warning letter to the contractor, Aggressive Construction Co Ltd, for rectification and improvement.

HKU arranged a meeting with the contractor on June 6 as no improvements were observed after receiving the memos and warning letter.

The school took immediate action after the meeting, which included the replacement of the concrete team members and superviser on June 8 and the contractor's site engineer in mid-June.

"Rectification work for minor defects had been carried out. For more extensive defects, a detailed assessment is being conducted to ascertain appropriate rectifications," HKU said.

HKU said it places "utmost importance" on the quality of the construction projects and has been closely monitoring the progress and performance of the work.

At an HKU event, president and vice chancellor Zhang Xiang told the media: "The university is very serious about construction safety and our standards. My colleagues are really working hard to look into the details."

Jason Poon Chuk-hung, chief executive of construction concern group Chinat Monitor, uploaded photos of the construction site on his social media, saying the quality of the project was worse than in third world countries. The photos showed honeycomb-like voids in the walls and beams, with some walls revealing steel bars.

Speaking on a radio program, Poon said the honeycomb-like voids are found on the second floor of the load-bearing wall of a building, which would affect its safety.

Also speaking on radio, structural engineer Ngai Hok-yan said he believed the situation in the photos involved construction issues, which can occur in construction projects from time to time.

There are generally requirements and standards in construction contracts.

Ngan said honeycomb voids in concrete are mainly due to air or water trapped in the concrete during grouting, which cannot be released.

He said the severity of the situation may not be judged solely by the naked eye. It is necessary to inspect whether there are more voids inside with instruments, or even break open the concrete for inspection.

Aggressive Construction has been involved in work site incidents before. In September 2022, a crane collapsed at a site on Anderson Road in Sau Mau Ping killing three people and injuring six others.

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