Family of 2023 Fatal Construction Accident Victim Sues Contractors After Three Years
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Three years after a fatal industrial accident at the Elements shopping mall construction site on Austin Road West in West Kowloon, the family of one of the two workers who died has filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensation. The two workers, who were performing underground pipe work, were suspected to have died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning in a confined space. The main contractor and sub-contractor involved in the incident face the lawsuit filed by Mak Lai-hung, relative of the 61-year-old deceased worker Kwok Ho-kay.
Key Points
- The fatal accident occurred on September 24, 2023, at a construction site at 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, where underground pipe work was underway
- Two male workers were suspected to have inhaled hydrogen sulfide while working in a confined underground pipe space, leading to their deaths
- Main contractor Shum and Company Construction Limited and sub-contractor Shuaijian Engineering Company Limited face the lawsuit filed in District Court
- Mak Lai-hung, plaintiff and relative of 61-year-old deceased worker Kwok Ho-kay, is seeking compensation including loss of accumulated wealth, loss of companionship damages, and interest
- Both the main contractor's and sub-contractor's engineering managers were charged with manslaughter in connection with the incident
- The case (DCPI 3523/2026) is scheduled for a checklist hearing on March 15, 2027
Why It Matters
The lawsuit highlights ongoing accountability concerns for workplace safety in Hong Kong's construction industry, particularly regarding confined space operations. The three-year gap between the incident and the civil compensation claim underscores the lengthy legal process victims' families must navigate to seek justice and financial relief after industrial fatalities .
The lawsuit highlights ongoing accountability concerns for workplace safety in Hong Kong's construction industry, particularly regarding confined space operations. The three-year gap between the incident and the civil compensation claim underscores the lengthy legal process victims' families must navigate to seek justice and financial relief after industrial fatalities .