Hong Kong construction project manager arrested for alleged manslaughter over 2022 fatal crane collapse

Hong Kong police have arrested a construction project manager on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with a fatal tower crane collapse in 2022 that left three workers dead. Police also listed a structural engineer as wanted in the case.

falling crane anderson road sau mau ping — The site of the industrial accident in Sau Mau Ping on Sept. 7, 2023. Photo: 建築業揸機手足 via Facebook.

The deadly industrial incident on Anderson Road, Sau Mau Ping on September 7, 2022 was reclassified as manslaughter and a 35-year-old man was apprehended in Ngau Tau Kok on Tuesday in connection with the case, police said.

“He is being detained by the Police and will be charged with manslaughter later,” the Force said in a statement.

The fatal incident involved the collapse of a 65-tonne crane at a construction site on Anderson Road. The crane crashed onto nearby temporary container offices, killing three men and injuring six.

Engineer wanted

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun had described the incident as “rare,” saying it was one of the most serious industrial accidents in Hong Kong in more than a decade.

Hong Kong Police — Photo: Candice Chau/HKFP.

The man arrested on Tuesday was the then-project manager of the principle contractor. The 72-year-old who was wanted was an outsourced registered structural engineer.

Last September, the Buildings Department laid nine charges against the registered general building contractor and its authorised signatory, relevant sub-contractors and individuals directly concerned with the Anderson Road construction project.

The prosecutions were initiated under the Buildings Ordinance, which stipulates that anyone linked with building works in a matter causing ‘injury to any person or damage to any property’ could face up to a fine of HK$1 million and imprisonment for three years.

Hong Kong’s Labour Department also brought more than 60 prosecutions against the contractor, subcontractors and individuals involved in the industrial incident in March last year.