Tuen Mun Public Housing Workers Fired After Illegal Waste Dumping from Heights

On the evening of August 17, a disturbing 19-second video surfaced on social media showing workers at the Tuen Mun Hing Po Road public housing construction site throwing construction waste from high-rise floors directly to the ground, creating loud crashing sounds that alarmed nearby residents 123. The Buildings Department immediately contacted the main contractor after becoming aware of the footage, discovering that workers from a subcontracting company had violated safety guidelines by disposing of waste from the third tower's mid-to-upper floors using an unauthorized method 123. District councillor Lai Ka-man stated that the main contractor had provided clear guidelines requiring elevators for waste transport, but the subcontracted cleaning workers ignored these rules for convenience 5. The contractor reported the incident to police around midnight and dismissed the two involved workers 5. No injuries or structural damage were reported 123. The Buildings Department issued a warning letter to the main contractor, On Lee – Chun Wo Joint Venture, and demanded a thorough investigation and safety retraining for all workers 12. This is not the first serious incident at the site. On June 8, a 33-year-old male worker died after falling approximately 40 meters from the exterior scaffold of the 12th floor while performing sealing work 23. The Labor Department had issued a temporary suspension notice in June but lifted it after the contractor implemented safety measures 123.

The incident raises serious concerns about construction site safety management at a government-funded public housing project. With the Tuen Mun project expected to provide 5,600 units this year, ensuring compliance with safety protocols is critical to protecting both workers and nearby residents while meeting housing delivery targets 12.