HONG KONG, CHINA | Ombudsman announces results of direct investigation operation into Government’s regulation of occupational safety and health in construction industry

On 16 April 2025, the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan announced the completion of a direct investigation operation into the Government’s regulation of occupational safety and health (“OSH”) in the construction industry, with 40 major recommendations for improvement made to the Labour Department (“LD”), the Buildings Department (“BD”) and the Development Bureau (“DEVB”).

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In recent years, from large-scale public works, housing development and building repairs to small-scale flat renovation works, fatal industrial accidents in the construction industry have occurred frequently. The situation has attracted widespread public concern. During the six-year period from 2018 to 2023, the construction industry recorded a total of 108 fatal industrial accidents, accounting for more than 80 per cent of fatal industrial accidents in all industries.

Mr Chan said, “This direct investigation operation is by far our largest and most comprehensive direct investigation operation in many years. During the investigation, investigation staff of the Office has scrutinised over 90,000 pages of documents, including about 70 individual cases in 40 boxes, and conducted multiple in-depth site visits of different types to examine the issue thoroughly and from different perspectives.

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Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of Hong Kong, China