A spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said today (March 22) that the Government attaches great importance to construction site safety. In response to the fatal industrial incident at the construction site of Kwai Chung Hospital Phase 2 Redevelopment yesterday (March 21), the DEVB, being the party to procure services for public works, has suspended the contractors concerned from tendering for public works contracts pursuant to the regulating regime. 

     The spokesman said that the contractors concerned were under the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works (the List). The DEVB issued notifications to the contractors concerned today to suspend them from tendering for public works contracts in the buildings category with immediate effect. The contractors concerned have to conduct an independent safety audit to review their safety management system. Taking cognisance of the outcome of the independent safety audit, the contractors are required to submit an improvement action plan and implement improvement measures, with a view to demonstrating that they have an effective safety management system before uplifting of the suspension from tendering can be considered. The suspension from tendering is not only confined to future tender exercises, but is also applicable to tender exercises with procedures initiated but not concluded.

     Relevant government department is investigating this industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law. Subject to the investigation findings, the DEVB will impose further regulating actions on the contractors concerned later on, including extension of the period of suspension from tendering for public works contracts and even removal from the List.

Ends/Friday, March 22, 2024
Issued at HKT 19:33

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