Hong Kong's Buildings Department has rejected the license renewal of contractor Aggressive Construction, effective June 20, removing it from the official register and prohibiting it from undertaking any construction work under the Buildings Ordinance. Chief Executive John Lee addressed the decision today (May 27), reaffirming the government's "zero tolerance" for safety lapses after the firm was linked to three fatal accidents that claimed five lives since 2022.
"Safety is non-negotiable," Lee stated ahead of the Executive Council meeting, emphasizing that workplace safety is a "shared responsibility" among the government, contractors, and workers. The contractor, now barred from operations, was overseeing three public housing projects and a government building development, all of which are being transferred to new firms under the coordination of the Housing Authority, Labour Department, and Architectural Services Department. Authorities aim to minimize delays, particularly for public housing, to avoid further strain on the housing supply.
Lee outlined steps to bolster construction safety, including mandatory adoption of Smart Site Safety Systems for all public works contracts exceeding HK$30 million. The government is also promoting technologies like Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to reduce risks. Subsidies will be offered to private projects to incentivize the use of these innovations.
While acknowledging potential delays, Lee pledged "full efforts to recover lost progress and ensure housing supply remains on track." He stressed that the government will intensify inspections and enforcement to balance development needs with "absolute priority" for worker safety. The move signals Hong Kong's tougher stance on industry accountability amid public scrutiny over recurring construction accidents.
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