A 39-year-old expatriate engineer has been charged with manslaughter in relation to a fatal industrial accident on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2017. The case was brought before the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (28th).
The incident occurred in March 2017 during the construction phase of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge when a temporary work platform collapsed, resulting in the deaths of two men and injuries to three others.
Following an extensive investigation and examination of relevant reports, the police believe that the cause of the accident was attributed to serious negligence by the expatriate engineer, who was employed by a contractor during the construction period.
After the incident, the engineer left Hong Kong and was subsequently wanted by the police on suspicion of manslaughter. On the 26th, the engineer entered HK via the Hong Kong International Airport and was immediately arrested by the police, who have now filed charges against him.
Dragages Hong Kong, China Harbour Engineering Company, and VSL Hong Kong, the project's three principal contractors, each entered a guilty plea in February 2019 to nine summonses including 27 violations of occupational safety.
The three enterprises were each fined HK$264,000, HK$214,000, and HK$136,000, totaling HK$614,000.
Their violations included exceeding the safe working load with lifting equipment, failing to set up and maintain a secure work environment, and failing to provide the required safety-related information, instruction, training, and supervision.
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