On September 7, 2022, one of three tower cranes tumbled onto several container offices at a construction site on Anderson Road in Sau Mau Ping, resulting in the death of three male workers.

Two died at the scene after resuscitation attempts, while another was taken to the hospital in a coma and died later that day. The six injured male workers included the tower crane operator.

The Labor Department said it had completed an investigation into the fatal incident and found that a welded joint had been pulled apart, causing the crane to fall.

The department said after consulting the Department of Justice, it had initiated 67 prosecutions against contractors, subcontractors, and several individuals, under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.

In an interview, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Society James Chan Yum-min refused to comment on the incident as legal proceedings have begun, but he confirmed that the same tower crane contractor would continue their work on site.

He said that the foundation of the cranes on site had been replaced, while the cranes, having ceased operation on the day of the incident, would resume operation shortly.

Chan assured that the Housing Society placed great importance on the safety of the construction sites. He added that in addition to the safety measures required by law, they have also hired independent engineering consultants to verify the design of the tower cranes.

The accident scene was part of a massive construction site for a subsidized public housing project that aimed to create 19,000 homes. Due to the accident, about 1,400 flats’ finish date will be delayed by one year, with the entire project expected to be completed in 2025/26, Chan said.