Journalist's Hands-On Experiences | Arcade over elevators: Shocking misconduct in HK's elevator industry

The elevator industry in Hong Kong is grappling with a severe manpower shortage, but issues of misconduct persist. Recent investigations by Ta Kung Pao journalists revealed shocking behavior among elevator workers. In one case, a worker clocked in at the company only to spend the entire day at an arcade playing games without touching a single elevator.

Workers Avoid Duties, Raising Safety Concerns

Over several days, journalists visited various elevator companies to observe workers' behaviors. On September 28, at a company in Cheung Sha Wan, workers began clocking in at 8:15 AM and receiving their assignments. By 8:30 AM, about 10 uniformed workers left in pairs. However, some workers changed into casual clothes and dispersed shortly afterward. When followed, one group stopped for breakfast for 40 minutes and then loitered in an alley smoking before splitting up.

One worker was followed further. After taking a bus to Sung Wong Toi, he stopped at a convenience store and entered an arcade on Nga Tsin Long Road around 10:10 AM. The arcade featured mostly gambling machines, and the worker sat down at a fishing game machine, playing without interruption until 6 PM, skipping lunch. The funniest thing is, according to industry norms, elevator workers typically work from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Union: Neglect Could Lead to Serious Accidents

Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong General Union of Lift and Escalator Employees expressed concern over the situation, describing it as a serious breach of professional ethics. "Neglecting daily maintenance is equivalent to deceiving property owners and residents," Kwok said. "Such behavior compromises safety and could result in severe accidents, for which the worker would be held accountable."

The Vice Chairman emphasized that with the current shortage of skilled workers, such incidents are especially troubling. He urged workers to fulfill their duties diligently, warning that negligence could lead to irreversible consequences.

EMSD Reports 254 Non-Compliant Cases Since Last Year

In response to inquiries, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) revealed that elevators over 30 years old often lack modern safety features and require biannual "special maintenance." The department has established a dedicated inspection team and hired independent consultants to enhance monitoring under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance.

From 2023 to September, EMSD conducted over 20,000 inspections, uncovering 41 non-compliance cases this year, in addition to 213 cases in 2023. EMSD stressed that elevator owners and managers are responsible for ensuring proper maintenance and safe operation. While no mandatory maintenance hours exist, the department enforces the ordinance through regular and surprise inspections.

EMSD also noted that violations are handled based on severity, with penalties ranging from warnings to criminal prosecution. Since September 2023, two registered engineers have been convicted of ordinance violations and sentenced to 240 hours of community service each. EMSD urges the public to report any violations, promising strict action against offenders.

(Source: Ta Kung Pao)

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