Recap | Hong Kong building disasters, from Happy Valley stand collapse and inferno, to construction site tragedies
These were some of Hong Kong’s most tragic construction disasters, from the 1918 Happy Valley racecourse inferno to deadly lift crashes, highlighting the critical need for improved safety standards
Hong Kong’s history is scarred by tragic accidents, from the devastating Happy Valley racecourse stand collapse fire in 1918 to the 1993 lift crash that led to the territory’s first corporate manslaughter conviction.
Revisit these five stories from the South China Morning Post archives and learn how they shaped Hong Kong’s safety regulations and construction practices.
1. When 600 people were killed in Happy Valley racecourse stand collapse and inferno 100 years ago
The catastrophic collapse of temporary stands at Happy Valley racecourse, constructed of flammable materials such as bamboo and matting, led to a huge fire that claimed hundreds of victims. The 1918 disaster is one of Hong Kong’s most tragic events and an inquiry was later highly critical of safety standards and the police negligence.
2. When a block of flats being built in Hong Kong collapsed, killing 6 construction workers, trapping 25
In 1953, a deadly building collapse happened without warning in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district and claimed the lives of six construction workers. An inquest revealed defective construction methods, particularly in concrete mixing, as the cause.
3. Construction workers killed when a lift cable snapped and they plummeted 7 floors to their deaths
In 1979, a tragic accident at Hong Kong’s Telford Gardens construction site claimed the lives of six workers when a lift cable snapped. The devastating accident, caused by a suspected motor malfunction, highlighted the dangers faced by construction workers and underscored the importance of safety regulations in the industry.
4. 100 injured as towers collapse at Cheung Chau Bun Festival, leading to the event being banned for 27 years
The 1978 Cheung Chau Bun Festival ended in disaster when two 60-foot bamboo towers collapsed, injuring 100 people. The event, which involved participants scaling the structures to grab lucky buns, was subsequently banned for 27 years due to safety concerns.
5. Chris Patten’s plea after lift crash left 12 dead and led to Hong Kong’s first corporate manslaughter conviction
In 1993, a horrific lift crash in Hong Kong claimed the lives of 12 construction workers after the overloaded elevator plummeted 17 floors when its brakes failed. Governor Chris Patten famously declared, “We can’t build Hong Kong on fatalities” after the incident.
Part of this article was produced with the assistance of generative AI
