Queen Mary Hospital Elevator Failures Linked to Crooked Shafts, Sources Say
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Architectural Services Department confirmed on August 14 that installation defects and damaged electronic equipment have plagued the elevators at Queen Mary Hospital's new Clinical Block 1, with repairs expected to continue into the fourth quarter of this year. Media reports on September 3 indicate the problems may extend beyond mechanical issues to crooked elevator shafts, potentially requiring replacement of at least four elevator units. The HK$13.5 billion hospital redevelopment project has experienced repeated elevator failures since partial opening, raising serious concerns about patient safety and operational readiness.
Key Points
- The 28-elevator Clinical Block 1 has suffered chronic operational failures since its phased opening in November 2025, with only four units functioning at one point
- Media sources report that at least four elevator shafts may be structurally tilted, resembling a "Leaning Tower" scenario, making standard installation impossible
- Engineering teams attempted adjustments by thinning and cutting rail brackets to accommodate the shaft structure, but the problems remain unresolved
- Seven reportable elevator incidents occurred between July 2025 and June 2026, including six cases of passengers trapped and four cases of passengers feeling unwell
- The entire HK$13.5 billion Phase 1 redevelopment project remains delayed, with clinical services yet to commence despite the original target of late 2025
Why It Matters
The elevator failures at Queen Mary Hospital's new clinical facility highlight serious construction quality concerns in one of Hong Kong's major public hospitals, directly affecting patient access and safety. With the Architectural Services Department citing ongoing compensation negotiations as a reason to withhold details, transparency and accountability in government construction projects are called into question. The delays to clinical service deployment, already postponed from the original schedule, further impact Hong Kong's public healthcare capacity.
The elevator failures at Queen Mary Hospital's new clinical facility highlight serious construction quality concerns in one of Hong Kong's major public hospitals, directly affecting patient access and safety. With the Architectural Services Department citing ongoing compensation negotiations as a reason to withhold details, transparency and accountability in government construction projects are called into question. The delays to clinical service deployment, already postponed from the original schedule, further impact Hong Kong's public healthcare capacity.