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Edith Lin

Hong Kong authorities will hold construction firms and government personnel accountable for faulty lift installation work at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block, the city’s leader has said, as he tasked the Development Bureau with submitting a report within a month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the problem should be rectified “very, very quickly”, adding that he had instructed the bureau, which had given him a preliminary briefing, to “thoroughly investigate the matter and report within a month”.
“We will pursue accountability, including contractors, subcontractors, engineering personnel and professionals. And if there are government personnel involved, we will pursue their accountability as well,” he said ahead of his meeting with the key decision-making Executive Council. “We also need to identify where and whether the system has any inadequacies and rectify them.
“To consider what further action we will do, we must fact-find very clearly about what happened, where are the inadequacies, and whether any person who should be held accountable, we should pursue their accountability. After we have found out the facts, then we will decide what further steps we shall take.”
Lee’s comments came a month after defective work at the hospital – the largest on Hong Kong Island – came under scrutiny, with 24 of the 28 lifts in its new 34-storey clinical block deemed unfit for use.
Sources previously told the South China Morning Post that Li Pak-yee, a chief project manager at the Architectural Services Department (ASD) who oversaw the development, had been asked to resign and left her post over the scandal.
The department denied that there had been any “forced resignation”, saying Li had quit for “personal reasons” after giving three months’ notice.

Lee did not directly address the SCMP’s questions about whether the resignation would affect the investigation and why the government had not invoked its “Heads of Department Accountability System”, proposed in his policy address last year to improve governance.
He stressed that medical services were important to the public and that the new block should open as soon as possible.
Widespread installation defects, revealed last month, have delayed the full commissioning of the hospital’s new HK$13.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) block by up to a year, raising serious concerns over project oversight and civil service accountability.
The delay has prevented medical departments from moving into the block, although its blood bank and restaurants remain open.
Construction began in 2018 and was largely completed last year. Health authorities had previously said that hospital staff had begun using the building, but that it had not yet been formally handed over by the ASD.
Clinical services had originally been expected to begin relocating there from the end of last year.
Last month, the ASD said the main contractor, a Paul Y Engineering Group joint venture, and lift subcontractor Anlev Elex Elevator would be required to bear all remedial work costs.
But on September 4, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said her bureau had also instructed the ASD and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department – both of which it oversees – to submit internal review reports assessing their handling and supervision of the project.
Lawmakers and political observers have called for transparency and explanations from authorities over the scandal. Some also criticised the handling of civil service management lapses following Li’s departure, saying it had bypassed the established disciplinary mechanism.


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Hong Kong leader vows accountability over faulty lifts at Queen Mary Hospital

A government investigation will examine contractors, engineering professionals and public officers over faulty lifts at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu says contractors, professionals and government staff could be penalised over the lift defects. Photo: Karma Lo

Senior civil servant asked to resign over defective lifts at Queen Mary Hospital

Tuesday Li previously served as a chief project manager at the Architectural Services Department. Photo: Development Bureau

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn. Photo: Edmond So

Lawmaker Rebecca Chan has suggested the government launch a formal investigation into the matter. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong reserves right to seek compensation over faulty hospital lift work

Queen Mary Hospital’s new block has been delayed by up to a year after defects left 24 of its 28 lifts unfit for use. Photo: Sam Tsang

Development minister Bernadette Linn says contractors will bear the cost of remedial work, ensuring public expenditure on the project will not increase. Photo: May Tse

The new block is designed to house accident and emergency, emergency medicine and inpatient services, diagnostic radiology, a perioperative centre, cardiac catheterisation laboratories and intensive care units. Photo: Karma Lo

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John Lee orders report within a month over defective lift installation and says those responsible, including officials, will be held responsible


John Lee orders report within a month over defective lift installation and says those responsible, including officials, will be held responsible.


Hong Kong society

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Development Bureau

Hong Kong leader vows accountability over faulty lifts at Queen Mary Hospital

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}John Lee orders report within a month over defective lift installation and says those responsible, including officials, will be held responsible

John Lee orders report within a month over defective lift installation and says those responsible, including officials, will be held responsible