Lessons to be learned in wake of scandals at public works projects
- Cases of safety papers going missing at a rail link and being submitted late at the mega bridge have dealt a blow to Hong Kong’s international reputation and the confidence of the public
Hong Kong’s reputation as a showcase of world-class civil engineering marvels has been dealt another blow. Following the “missing safety papers” scandal at the city’s most expensive rail project, the records of the bridge linking the city with Macau and Zhuhai, the world’s longest sea crossing, have also been called into question. Although officials are adamant safety has not been compromised, the supervision of public works by the government is certainly far from desirable. An overhaul of the mechanism is needed to restore public confidence.
It amounted to dereliction of duty when the government allowed a contractor to submit retrospectively thousands of safety inspection forms for a connecting road at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, nearly two years after the problem of overdue papers was brought to its attention by a consultant. The rush to finish the project, officials said, was to blame for the delay. But it does not explain why the irregularity was kept under wraps until recently, when public works safety has come under scrutiny.
Lam orders review of checks for mega bridge after papers scandal
Transport minister Frank Chan Fan sought to dismiss safety concerns. Unlike the Sha Tin-Central rail link in which the relevant records to ascertain quality and safety at a key station went missing, Chan said the problem with the mega bridge concerned the delayed submission of papers. An independent consultant, appointed at the extra cost of HK$2.3 million, confirmed that most of the relevant work had been conducted under supervision.
Given the recent spate of controversies over the city’s infrastructure projects, the public may be excused for not being convinced by the government’s assurance. The papers in question should have been submitted before work proceeded to the next stage, raising serious questions on oversight and compliance, if not safety.
Thankfully, no safety issues have been reported since the mega bridge opened late last year. Earlier, a steel cable at another structure, the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, snapped, an incident described as “unusual” by officials. Part of the Hong Kong side of the bridge was closed for emergency repairs as a result.
The incidents have called into question the supervisory role of the government. While the authorities in charge of the construction of the railways and the sea crossings have direct responsibilities over the projects concerned, the accountability, ultimately, rests with the government. The public is entitled to ask whether the construction sector has long been marred by such irregularities.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has rightly asked for a review of the existing monitoring mechanism. At stake is the city’s image and reputation. Lessons must be learned.
