Authorities to ‘pursue accountability’ over faulty lifts at Queen Mary Hospital – leader John Lee

Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee has pledged to "pursue accountability" over construction faults that caused misaligned lifts at the redeveloped Queen Mary Hospital, according to a statement made at a press conference on Tuesday. Lee emphasized the urgency of rectifying the situation to ensure the smooth operation of healthcare services, as the new hospital building is set to be commissioned soon.

The Development Bureau, which is overseeing the hospital works, has been tasked with submitting a comprehensive report on the incident within a month. Lee confirmed that he has received an initial incident report from the bureau and added that accountability will be sought from various parties, including contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and professionals. If civil servants are implicated, they too will face accountability measures.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn disclosed last week that the architectural and electrical components of the elevator shafts' external walls contained significant structural errors. These errors could potentially have left inadequate space for elevators to function properly, and some lift components were installed incorrectly.

Linn also stated that the government will examine the inspection and acceptance procedures of the Architectural Services Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the two government departments responsible for overseeing the incident.