In a surprising turn of events, a new construction firm, rather than Hong Kong's current aggressive one, has managed to clinch three public housing contracts.
In a significant move, Hong Kong's Housing Authority has reassigned the construction works of three public housing projects from Aggressive Construction Company to China Overseas Building Construction Limited. The decision was likely due to Aggressive Construction Company's safety violations and the resulting workplace deaths.
Before their removal, Aggressive Construction Company was managing three housing contracts for the Housing Authority, which is the city's largest public housing builder. The three affected public housing projects are:
- The development of about 1,000 public housing flats at Tuen Mun Area 29 West.
- An underground link in Pak Tin Estate redevelopment Phase 10.
- The Public Housing Development at Tung Chung Area 100, which involves the construction of approximately 5,200 homes.
The crane collapse that led to Aggressive's removal occurred in 2022 and resulted in the death of three workers. This incident followed another tragic event at a Kowloon Bay construction site in 2020, where a worker was electrocuted[2].
The Housing Authority's building committee and tender committee approved the replacement of Aggressive Construction Company with China Overseas Building Construction Limited. The replacement was announced on Thursday[3]. China Overseas Building Construction will take up the remaining works of the three affected projects.
The Housing Authority subsequently terminated the three housing contracts originally managed by Aggressive Construction Company. The authority had previously removed Aggressive from the government's registered list of contractors in May due to safety violations[4].
This move is expected to ensure the safety and quality of the public housing projects, which are crucial for the city's residents.
[1] The projects concerned include the Public Housing Development at Tung Chung Area 100, the Public Housing Development at Tuen Mun Area 29 West, and an underground link in Pak Tin Estate redevelopment Phase 10.
[2] The electrocution incident at the Kowloon Bay construction site occurred in addition to the crane collapse that led to Aggressive's removal.
[3] The replacement was announced on Thursday.
[4] Aggressive Construction Company was removed from Hong Kong's registered list of contractors in May due to safety violations.
- The 'fitness-and-exercise' regimens introduced in the workplace-wellness initiatives of some businesses in the industry could aid in enhancing the health-and-wellness of employees, potentially reducing the risk of tragedies like the ones that led to Aggressive Construction Company's removal.
- With the replacement of Aggressive Construction Company by China Overseas Building Construction Limited, the 'finance' sector may experience increased investment in Hong Kong's public housing projects, given the renewed focus on safety and quality.
- The 'general-news' reporting on Aggressive Construction Company's safety violations and subsequent removal has raised questions about the accountability and safety standards in the construction industry, prompting calls for stricter regulations and oversight.
- In the aftermath of the crane collapse at one of Aggressive Construction Company's sites, therapies-and-treatments were provided to the bereaved families and survivors, as part of the city's efforts to support the mental health of those impacted by workplace accidents.
- The ongoing case of Aggressive Construction Company's safety violations and the subsequent legal proceedings involving crime-and-justice aspects are expected to have implications for the entire construction industry, encouraging a culture of safety and transparency.
