Hong Kong drainage project suspended after worker struck by chain hoist dies

Director of drainage services asked contractor to provide appropriate assistance to victim’s family after expressing his deepest condolences

Hong Kong authorities have suspended a drainage replacement project in Kowloon after a contractor’s worker died in an industrial accident.

The worker, 68, was struck by an electric chain hoist at a site on Yen Chow Street in Sham Shui Po on Wednesday afternoon. He was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in critical condition and later died at about 11.30pm.

A government spokesman said on Thursday that Ringo Mok Wing-cheong, director of drainage services, had asked the contractor to provide appropriate assistance to the victim’s family and expressed his deepest condolences.

The department also instructed the contractor to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, suspend related works and carry out safety checks.

The incident follows other industrial deaths in Hong Kong this month, including a lift technician struck by falling metal while working inside a shaft on May 4 and an air-conditioner repairman who fell from a building on May 19.