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

Hong Kong's leader John Lee has pledged to "pursue accountability" over faulty construction works at the Queen Mary Hospital, specifically concerning misaligned lift shafts. Speaking at a press conference ahead of a meeting with the Executive Council, Lee emphasized the need to correct the issue promptly, given the critical importance of healthcare services and the upcoming commissioning of the new hospital building.

Lee stated that accountability measures would be taken against contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and other professionals involved in the faulty construction. If civil servants played a role, they too would be held accountable. The Development Bureau, overseeing the hospital works, has been mandated to submit a comprehensive report on the incident within a month, according to Lee.

The issue came to light after it was revealed that the external walls of the building's elevator shafts contained structural "errors," as confirmed by Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn. Linn noted that these errors may have resulted in inadequate space for the elevators to function properly, with some lift components reportedly installed "improperly."

Linn added that the government would review whether the Architectural Services Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the two departments directly responsible for the incident, need to enhance their inspection and acceptance procedures.