Hong Kong housing authorities cancel contracts with firm linked to 5 site deaths

Hong Kong housing authorities have terminated three public estate contracts with a construction company linked to five workplace deaths in three accidents, despite the court suspending a ban on its operating licence.

The move means all six projects managed by Aggressive Construction Company have been taken over despite the suspension order.

The Housing Authority said on Monday that the contractor’s performance on three public housing estates was “far below” contract requirements. A spokesman said it had served a “notice of re-entry” to the company on the same day, indicating the sites would be taken over.

The three affected projects are the underground link of the Pak Tin Estate redevelopment phase 10, the development of about 1,000 public housing flats at Tuen Mun Area 29 West, and about 5,200 homes at Tung Chung Area 100.

In May, authorities said Aggressive would be delisted from the government’s registered list of contractors starting June 20 due to safety concerns following five fatalities across three accidents – including a 2022 crane tower collapse that killed three workers. The decision was expected to impact construction on thousands of public housing flats.

Aggressive later filed an appeal and secured a temporary suspension of the decision from the court last Wednesday. A two-day hearing on its application for a stay of execution and the appeal is scheduled for next month.