Builder banned after killer beam plunge

Five residential and commercial projects will have to look for a new contractor as the government yesterday banned Aggressive Construction Engineering from conducting any construction work.

The move came after a 55-year-old worker died from being hit by a falling giant H-beam at the contractor's construction site in Yau Tong in December.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said yesterday a decision was taken not to renew its registration as a general building contractor and that it would be removed from the registry on November 16.

"Starting from November 16, it will no longer be allowed to take any construction projects. This means it has a month to wrap up its business starting today," she said yesterday.

The company's five private apartment and commercial development projects at the moment involve 4,900 residential units.

Nearly 1,700 uncompleted flats at three projects have already been sold and the flats are supposed to be completed by the end of next year or in 2025, she said.

Affected are phases one and two of The Coastline in Yau Tong, Larchwood in Tai Kok Tsui, Grand Jete phases one and two in Tuen Mun, and projects on Eastern Street in Sai Ying Pun and Anderson Road in Kwun Tong.

Linn said the firm is also the contractor for a small construction project for a leisure facility.

"The denial of the license renewal application will bring inconvenience to the projects. But the government must strike a balance between safety and the progress of the projects," she said.

"As long as the developers and people involved make good use of the coming one month and find other contractors to take over the projects as soon as possible, the impact will be under control."

Linn said 900 workers are affected but believes they can find another job easily as the sector is short-handed at the moment.

The company's license expired in December. The Buildings Department then referred its renewal application to the Contractors Registration Committee to conduct interviews and assessments.

Asked why it could still take over projects after its license expired, Director of Buildings Clarice Yu Po-mei said as long as contractors apply for a renewal before the expiry date, they can still practice.

A staffer of Great Harvest Group - parent company of the contractor - yesterday refused to comment.

In the December 14 incident, 55-year-old construction worker Luk was hit by a 13-foot-long H-beam and died.

Luk's widow said revoking the license cannot ease the family's pain. "My husband can never be brought back even if justice is served. Contractors should enhance safety measures as we can never ensure there won't be another accident in future," she said.

Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident head Victims Siu Sin-man said the punishment sends a warning to the industry.

"The purpose of a heavy punishment is not to 'kill' a company, instead, it aims to remind the industry to improve workplace safety and make sure no workers will be harmed," she said.

Another contractor under Great Harvest Group, Aggressive Construction, was also involved in industrial accidents since 2020, including a crane collapse in the Anderson Road site last September that killed three and injured six and the death of an electrician at a Yau Ma Tei site this month.

Linn said its license also expired in April and its renewal application is being handled.