Crime probe intensifies over workers 'locked inside' pipe

Special crime squad officers are probing possible negligence and criminal liability after two repair workers were found dead, locked in an underground pipe of MTR Corp's Elements mall on Austin Road West.

They are also searching for a subcontractor who hired the two victims, Lau Ho-cheung, 63, and Kwok Fo-kee, 61.

This comes as a project manager and an employee of the project's main contractor, Raft (E&M) Engineering, were yesterday taken to the site to assist police.

Acting chief executive Eric Chan Kwok-ki ordered a probe if workers' safety laws were violated.

The two workers went missing for 14 hours and were locked inside the 200-meter-long pipe, six meters below the ground, on Saturday. They were found unconscious on Sunday morning and later confirmed dead from sewer gas poisoning.

Sources said the two were hired by a subcontractor, surnamed Shum, of Raft (E&M) .

It is understood that the project manager arrived at the construction site at 4pm on Saturday and called Shum as he did not find any workers there. Shum said he would find out the workers' whereabouts and the project manager then left.

Sources said another worker also came to the site at 6pm and found the pipe entrance locked. He left as he assumed the workers had left safely.

The two staff have given statements to police.

"Was this industrial accident an actual accident or was it caused by human negligence, as some people failed to follow the guidelines and the law?" Chan said.

"There is no evidence ... contractors had complied with the law, including asking an eligible person to conduct a risk assessment, put the assessment report in a visible area at the workplace, and ensuring workers have received appropriate training and wore suitable protective gear.

"I believe the incident would not have happened if the contractors followed the instructions."

Chan added: "I have required police to investigate the case thoroughly ... I hope all employers can obey the law and follow instructions."

He said the contractors and MTRC will provide HK$500,000 for each family.

Chan has also asked the Labour Department to inspect construction sites across the city and examine all confined sites in operation.

"The department will step up inspections immediately. We will enforce the law strictly if any contractor fails to comply with the law," he said.

Officers of the Yau Tsim Mong crime squad visited the site at noon yesterday with an MTRC employee assisting in the investigation. They stayed for an hour.

They returned to the site with a manager, a staffer, and a lawyer of Raft (E&M) again in the afternoon and left at around 4pm.

Sources said a preliminary investigation showed the contractors failed to conduct a safety assessment and to ensure the workers wore protective gear, the pipe had enhanced ventilation and that all workers had left the pipe.

Pipe veteran Wong King said personnel like the project manager and safety manager are responsible for ensuring workers' safety, while the law also requires trained personnel to maintain frequent communication with workers in underground pipes.

Lau's youngest daughter said she was angry that the "ridiculous accident" was caused by negligence. Crying, she said her father would not be able to attend her university graduation ceremony.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com

Editorial: In the dark over yet another tragedy