Govt to launch investigation and prosecution against Aggressive Construction Engineering: Eric Chan

Even one industrial incident would be too many and the government definitely won’t go easy on contractors who break the law, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Thursday. 

This came as Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho announced yesterday that Aggressive Construction Engineering, the contractor behind the fatal Yau Tong industrial incident last December, will be removed from the registry of general building contractors starting November 16. 

Speaking at a forum on occupational safety, Chan said authorities will initiate investigation and prosecution against Aggressive at full speed. 

Chan continued that every worker’s life is priceless and stressed that the government highly values industrial safety. He also said not only is a life lost but a family is forever hurt in each case. 

Any contractor who disregards workers’ safety due to mismanagement or insufficient supervising will not be tolerated, Chan said. 

He added that every time he learns of an industrial incident he asks himself if it is truly an accident or if there are any manual factors involved, like contractors not following safety guidelines stringently. 

Chan also said authorities will step up law enforcement and patrolling at construction sites, as well as promotion, education and training on industrial safety. 

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who is now in Beijing, said he supports the Development Bureau and Buildings Department in handling Aggressive’s case according to existing regulations. 

Lee added that he has requested the Secretary for Housing to review and report to him if the supply of public housing would be affected by Aggressive ceasing operations. 

Siu Sin-man, chief executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, said the removal of Aggressive from the registry is a severe punishment. 

She also said the move sends a warning to the construction sector that there will be consequences following serious industrial incidents that occur due to the contractor not paying attention to safety guidelines. 

Speaking on the application for license renewal by Aggressive’s sister company, Aggressive Construction Co Ltd, Siu believes it is involved in more serious industrial incidents and the government’s approach on handling its case would be similar.