Immediate measures taken to enhance lift safety

In response to media enquiries today (November 23) about the public procession by the Hong Kong General Union of Lift and Escalator Employees, a spokesman for the Development Bureau reiterated that the Government was determined to further enhance lift safety in Hong Kong.

Following the recent lift incidents, the Government has taken immediate measures to strengthen the existing regulatory framework on lifts and escalators.

Firstly, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) will consult the contractors and workers representatives through an existing working group on reviewing the existing Code of Practice with a view to strengthening safety requirements for lift maintenance, such as the frequency and duration of specified maintenance procedures. The working group meeting will be held tomorrow (November 24).

Secondly, EMSD will step up random inspections and spot checks of lifts in private buildings in the coming three months.  The longer term inspection plan and the permanent resources required will be assessed in light of the findings of the investigation into the recent lift incidents and the effect of the other measures.

Thirdly, the Government will enhance public awareness on lift safety, in particular the knowledge of owners' corporations or owners' committees about lift maintenance and procurement for lift maintenance services. EMSD will also provide a sample tender document with the requisite scope and specification for lift maintenance service to facilitate building owners and management agencies to procure the service.

Regarding the 'bunching approach' in procuring lift maintenance services, i.e. a contractor will be required to take up the maintenance services for different brands of lift through one single contract, the spokesman said that the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund would discontinue such practice in future tendering for lift maintenance contracts for Government buildings.

Ends/Sunday, November 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:54

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