Taiwan-Japan Elevator Firm Under Criminal Probe Over Missing Fire Door Frames in 48 HK Estate Elevators
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Registered elevator contractor Taiwan-Japan Elevator (HK) Ltd has been referred to police after allegedly installing only fire-resistant doors without their matching frame components in 48 elevators across Kwun Tong's Tsui Ping North Estate and Sha Tin's Pok Hong Estate. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) described the incident as possible serious negligence, fraud, and false misrepresentation. Experts say the missing components create fire safety risks, though no immediate danger exists to passengers.
Key Points
- Taiwan-Japan Elevator (HK) Ltd replaced 48 elevators across two public housing estates but installed only fire doors without matching frame assemblies
- EMSD stated on October 15 that the violations may involve serious negligence, fraud, and false statements, referring the case to New Territories South Regional Crime Unit
- Professor Ho Wing-yip from Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Electrical Engineering explained that the frame components secure fire doors to walls to prevent smoke and fire from entering elevator shafts
- The missing components mean fire-resistant materials could shift over time due to repeated door operations, creating gaps for smoke and flames
- Experts estimate each elevator requires one to two days for frame installation, with all 48 units potentially fixable within one month
- Residents in both estates expressed concern, with some learning of the safety issue only through news reports rather than management notifications
- One Tsui Ping North Estate resident worried he may have "voted wrong" when choosing the elevator contractor at a owners' meeting
Why It Matters
The incident exposes gaps in Hong Kong's elevator maintenance oversight system, as registered engineers conduct only final inspections rather than on-site supervision during installation. With over 9,000 elevators citywide, the government faces pressure to implement comprehensive checks while residents in affected estates await reassurance about their daily commute safety .
The incident exposes gaps in Hong Kong's elevator maintenance oversight system, as registered engineers conduct only final inspections rather than on-site supervision during installation. With over 9,000 elevators citywide, the government faces pressure to implement comprehensive checks while residents in affected estates await reassurance about their daily commute safety .