'Probe at full speed'

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu yesterday ordered police to investigate the deaths of two repair workers "at full speed" after they were locked in an underground pipe at Elements mall on Austin Road West.

Lee also vowed that checks on construction sites will be stepped up and those who breach safety rules will be punished.

Sources said the contractor, Raft (E&M) Engineering, argued that the pipe where Lau Ho-cheung, 63, and Kwok Fo-kee, 61, perished was not a confined area, so stringent regulations - such as having staff on the ground to keep contact with those below - did not apply.

The Development Bureau suspended the contractor from tendering for public works. It said it will only consider lifting the suspension after the company conducts a safety audit and improves its safety measures, but it may extend the suspension or even remove the company from a government recognized list depending on the investigation findings.

Lee said the fatal accident was "heartbreaking."

He said all workers and contractors should work together to prevent accidents, adding those who violate laws on occupational safety and health could be jailed for two years.

"We can increase the punishment through legislation to deter people from committing the offenses. But no matter how many laws we have, citizens should be willing to comply with them," Lee said. "For example, we cannot ban all robbery cases even though robbery is a crime against the law. Everyone involved in the construction site should join hands and make sure we do a good job in safety at the workplace."

Hong Kong must foster a culture of construction safety and the person in charge has to raise their employees' awareness of safety, Lee urged.

He stressed that construction sites should enhance safety measures by using new technologies, while adding that the administration will investigate "at full speed" when there is an accident.

"Whenever an accident happens, we must find out who is responsible and all workers and persons in charge must realize their responsibilities," he said.

The Labour Department has started inspections of all confined areas at construction sites, Lee said.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han siad the site of the recent accident was a confined space and contractors must conduct a risk assessment, ensure appropriate training and protection of workers, and put up relevant information, including workers' list, in a visible area.

Preliminary investigation showed the contractor was negligent, Sun said, adding the government will launch prosecution if there is sufficient evidence.

According to a bill passed by the Legislative Council in April, employers could be fined HK$10 million and jailed for two years if negligence causes casualties, he said.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions expressed concerns over the accident and urged authorities to review safety management system at construction sites.

Lawmaker Aron Kwok Wai-keung accused the contractor of trying to shirk responsibility by blaming the accident on its subcontractor, Shum Development.

"Not only should the employer of the workers take responsibility [but] the main contractor should be held accountable as well. If they can shirk responsibility because the work was assigned to a subcontractor, the whole punishment system is in vain," Kwok said.

Emotional family members of the victims identified their bodies at Kwai Chung Public Mortuary yesterday morning.

It is understood that Raft (E&M) assigned the underground pipe work to Shum Development, whose person in charge, surnamed Shum, has been missing since the workers were found dead.

The workers were supposed to drain the pipe within 10 meters of the entrance, but were later found unconscious between the 100- and 200-meter marks.

Kwok's widow said Shum had told her not to call police after her husband had gone missing. A security guard of the subcontractor's Kwai Chung office said the company is not accepting visitors.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com