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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Hong Kong must address the systemic lapses behind hospital lift failures

Authorities must determine how multiple layers of checks failed to stop substandard construction work before it spiralled into a public scandal

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Only four of the 28 lifts in the 34-storey new clinical building of the Queen Mary Hospital are working. Photo: Sam Tsang
SCMP Editorial
Editorials represent the views of the South China Morning Post on the issues of the day.
Faulty lifts are not uncommon in a high-rise city like Hong Kong, but it’s not every day such problems escalate to its top leader for attention. The 24 malfunctioning lifts at a newly commissioned clinical building at Queen Mary Hospital require not only prompt mechanical repairs but also a thorough investigation and punishment for those responsible.
The saga first came to light in mid-August when the full commissioning of the hospital’s new HK$13.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) block was delayed by the defective lifts. Only four of the 28 lifts in the 34-storey building were working, resulting in delays in moving clinical services into the building, which was originally scheduled to start from the end of last year.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set the right tone by tasking the Development Bureau to investigate the bungle and submit a report within a month. Commenting on the incident for the first time last week, Lee promised to identify and rectify all systemic inadequacies. He vowed to hold those responsible accountable – including contractors, subcontractors, engineering professionals and government officers – but stopped short of responding to why the government had not invoked its “heads of department accountability system” introduced to improve governance and accountability.

Hong Kong must ask how, despite the layers of checks, substandard construction work could have snowballed into a scandal that warrants top-level intervention by the government.

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