Hong Kong labour department probes fatal Tung Chung construction accident
Hong Kong's Labour Department has launched an investigation into a fatal workplace accident in Tung Chung on 7 October 2026. The department issued a stop-work order to the contractor and will release a safety alert to prevent similar incidents.
Hong Kong's Labour Department said on 7 October that it is investigating a fatal workplace accident in Tung Chung, with officials having visited the scene and issued a stop-work order to the contractor involved.
A spokesperson said: "Upon learning of the accident, the department immediately sent officers to the scene to start an investigation. We have issued a 'suspension of work notice' to the contractor, stopping them from erecting, altering, dismantling and using working platforms on the building's external walls until we are satisfied that the contractor has taken appropriate measures to eliminate the hazards."
The department said it is working to determine the cause of the accident, identify the legal liability of those responsible and propose improvement measures. If violations are found, the department said it will take legal action.
To prevent workers falling from height when dismantling working platforms, the Labour Department reminded contractors to take sufficient fall-prevention measures, including providing each worker with a suitable full-body safety harness that is continuously attached to a suitable and secure anchorage point, independent lifeline or fall-arrest system, and ensuring workers use the equipment correctly.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, employers must provide a safe work environment, work equipment and systems. Violations carry a maximum fine of HK$10 million and two years in prison.
The Labour Department will issue a safety alert through its "OHS 2.0" mobile app, website and email to inform stakeholders, unions and professional safety organisations about the accident and remind the industry to take preventive measures. The department will also urge the employer to fulfil its compensation obligations under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and assist the victim's family with compensation claims. For families with financial difficulties, the department will help them apply for suitable emergency relief funds and, depending on the family's needs, contact the Social Welfare Department for assistance.