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The government must revamp the regulatory framework for construction works and clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the industry, lawmakers urged amid a troubling rise in serious construction accidents in recent years.
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This motion to enhance safety regulations in construction, proposed by lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu, was passed during the Legislative Council meeting on Thursday.
Zhang emphasized the need for the government to drive cultural and regulatory reform within the industry, advocating for the establishment of a professional safety monitoring system that evolves with contemporary needs.
Echoing Zhang’s sentiments, lawmaker Andrew Lam Siu-lo called for a review of subcontracting practices within the industry and emphasized the importance of enhanced promotion and education regarding safety.
He said that despite the amended Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance taking effect in 2023 -- which raised the maximum penalty for serious occupational safety violations from HK$500,000 to HK$10 million -- the number of industrial accidents has not significantly decreased.
“The number of industrial accidents has consistently remained around 3,000 per year, with the accident rate per 1,000 workers increasing from 26 percent in 2020 to 29 percent in 2022, and slightly decreasing to 27 percent in 2023,” Lam said.
“I hope the government recognizes that merely increasing penalties is not a sustainable solution.”
Lam also urged the government to clarify the relationships and responsibilities of project contractors, subcontractors, and workers, saying, “Subcontracting is a fundamental issue that affects the culture of the construction industry, and the government should enhance relevant promotion and education to raise safety awareness.”
(Ayra Wang)
