Fourth Block Found in Tung Chung Housing Concrete Investigation
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Housing Department announced on Tuesday that an additional residential block at the Tung Chung Area 42 public housing development has been found to have substandard concrete samples, bringing the total affected blocks to four. The discovery came during a proactive review conducted in mid-September, following initial findings of non-compliant concrete cube test results at Blocks 3, 4, and 5. The contractor, Amber Empire Engineering Co. Ltd., has been ordered to suspend concrete pouring work at affected locations pending investigation.
Key Points
- Four blocks (Blocks 2, 3, 4, and 5) at the Tung Chung Area 42 development are now implicated in the concrete quality issue
- Initial problems were detected during routine concrete testing between late August and early September at Blocks 3, 4, and 5
- Block 2 was identified during a proactive follow-up investigation conducted in mid-September
- The first batch of 12 concrete core strength test results (approximately 17 percent) all passed, exceeding design standards by 23 to 66 percent
- All samples were collected from the problematic area on the fifth floor of Block 5
- The contractor Amber Empire Engineering Co. Ltd. was immediately ordered to halt concrete pouring at affected locations
- Full concrete core strength test results are expected by September 25
- The Housing Department assesses the impact on overall project progress as minimal
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the effectiveness of Hong Kong's routine quality inspection mechanisms in detecting construction defects before they compromise structural integrity, with the first batch of core tests confirming that the concrete strength in the affected areas meets required standards . The Housing Authority's strict supervision system will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring that any necessary remediation measures are properly implemented before construction resumes on the affected blocks .
This incident highlights the effectiveness of Hong Kong's routine quality inspection mechanisms in detecting construction defects before they compromise structural integrity, with the first batch of core tests confirming that the concrete strength in the affected areas meets required standards . The Housing Authority's strict supervision system will continue to monitor the situation, ensuring that any necessary remediation measures are properly implemented before construction resumes on the affected blocks .