Scaffolding collapses at Kai Tak construction site: 1 person still in critical condition

Eleven people were injured in a scaffolding accident at the new acute hospital site in Kai Tak yesterday (Jan. 13) afternoon. One person is still in critical condition and is hospitalized at Queen Elizabeth Hospital; another five are in stable condition and the remaining five have been discharged from the hospital.

This morning (Jan. 14) the scaffolding involved in the incident has been dismantled, and workers will remove them one by one. Uniformed police officers remained at the scene until about 11:00 a.m. when the Kowloon East Police returned to the site to understand and assist in the investigation of the incident.

In response to the incident, the Chief Executive, John Lee, told reporters this morning that the Labour Department had immediately stopped the scaffolding work at the construction site and will conduct a full-scale investigation into large-scale scaffolding projects.

"The investigation will be comprehensive, in-depth and swift, and any unlawful measures will be investigated in accordance with the law."

He called on operators, especially site management staff, to strictly enforce site safety measures in accordance with statutory guidelines, and for any staff to report to the government in the first instance if they find any problems involving work processes, arrangements, etc. at construction sites.

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