The family of a 26-year-old lift technician killed in a fatal industrial accident in Stanley broke down in grief on Tuesday (May 5) as they attended a morgue to identify his body.
The incident occurred on Monday (May 4) at Block 4 of Pacific View in Stanley during the replacement of elevator steel cables. The victim, surnamed Miu, died at the scene after sustaining severe head injuries.
On Tuesday, his family, accompanied by members of an industrial safety concern group, arrived at the Victoria Public Mortuary in Sai Wan to complete identification procedures. His mother and aunt were seen embracing and crying uncontrollably.
The deceased, the youngest son in his family, was unmarried and worked as an elevator maintenance technician. He lived with his parents in Tin Shui Wai's Tin Shui Estate, while his elder brother resides in the mainland and occasionally visits Hong Kong using a two-way permit.
It is understood that Miu was the family's main breadwinner. His father had reduced working capacity due to a traffic accident in earlier years, while his mother works at a traditional Chinese medicine shop. He also had a girlfriend with whom he had reached the stage of discussing marriage. The sudden fatal accident has left his family and partner devastated.
Speaking to reporters outside the mortuary, the victim's uncle said Miu had worked at his current elevator company for about four years. Although the company had contacted the family after the incident, it had not provided details of the accident or any compensation arrangements.
He recalled rushing to the scene after being notified, only to find his nephew's body had already been moved and placed on the 8th floor. The family later learned that Miu had been replacing elevator cables when he was struck on the head by a falling object, believed to have dropped from height. However, it remains unclear what the object was or from which floor it fell.
According to available information, a colleague had been working with Miu but had left the lift shaft to go to the restroom at the time of the incident. The uncle urged the company to clarify the cause of the accident as soon as possible and to assist the family through the difficult period. He added that family members had been in deep distress and had not eaten or rested for more than 20 hours since the incident.
Representatives from an industrial safety concern group called on the Labour Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to conduct a comprehensive investigation, disclose the cause of the accident, and require the employer to fully support the victim's family. They also urged a review of working procedures to identify and address any safety loopholes.
The accident took place at around 2 p.m. on Monday, when Miu and a colleague were working inside a lift shaft on the 8th floor. During the colleague's absence, Miu was suspected to have been struck on the head by a falling metal angle bar, leaving him critically injured and unconscious.
A worker in the lift machine room on the 38th floor reported hearing the sound of falling objects from the shaft. Attempts to contact Miu via intercom and phone were unsuccessful. The colleague later returned to the 8th floor and found Miu lying on the ground with severe head injuries before calling police. Paramedics confirmed his death at the scene.
Police have classified the case as an "industrial accident" and have referred it to the West District Crime Squad for follow-up investigation.
(Reporter: Xiao Jingyuan)
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