Queen Mary Hospital New Building Elevator Failures Under Scrutiny; Contractor Ordered to Complete Repairs
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
The Architectural Services Department has issued a directive to contractors to accelerate repairs following persistent elevator malfunctions at Queen Mary Hospital's newly reconstructed Clinical Block 1, where sudden drops have trapped staff and a technician died in a shaft accident. Of the building's 28 elevators, merely 4 remain operational as the facility has yet to commence clinical services due to ongoing testing and rectification works. The government has explicitly reserved its right to seek compensation for project delays.
Key Points
- Queen Mary Hospital's Clinical Block 1, rebuilt under a HK$13.5 billion project initiated in 2014, has experienced widespread elevator failures since phased opening began last year
- Only 4 of the building's 28 elevators are currently functional, with the remaining units undergoing maintenance or reinstallation
- The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department recorded 25 elevator machinery fault reports between July last year and June this year, with 7 cases involving contractor Onrite Elevator Company Limited
- One incident involved a sudden drop that trapped hospital employees inside a malfunctioning elevator car
- A电梯 technician died after becoming trapped in a Clinical Block 1 elevator shaft on 1 July last year, highlighting serious safety concerns
- Onrite Elevator Company Limited operates as a subsidiary of ONC Engineering Group, the firm responsible for the elevator installation contract
- The Architectural Services Department confirmed the facility cannot provide clinical services until final elevator testing and acceptance procedures are completed
Why It Matters
With only 4 of 28 elevators operational in a hospital building that cost HK$13.5 billion to reconstruct, patient care delivery remains significantly compromised while the facility cannot fully serve the community it was designed to support. The government's stated intention to pursue compensation underscores the seriousness of these engineering failures in critical hospital infrastructure, setting a precedent for accountability in public healthcare construction projects .
With only 4 of 28 elevators operational in a hospital building that cost HK$13.5 billion to reconstruct, patient care delivery remains significantly compromised while the facility cannot fully serve the community it was designed to support. The government's stated intention to pursue compensation underscores the seriousness of these engineering failures in critical hospital infrastructure, setting a precedent for accountability in public healthcare construction projects .