The leader of the Construction Site Workers General Union, Chan Pat-kan, has described the recent deaths of two construction workers as “mass murder”, claiming deadlines were being given priority over worker safety.
Speaking at a protest held outside the Hong Kong legislature on Wednesday, Mr Chan said, “I have seen many instances where the engineering department rejected safety suggestions by the safety department on the basis that they had deadlines to meet,” according to the Hong Kong Free Press. “Work progress is always the priority.”
Lawmaker Lau Siu-lai added that workers called it the “bridge of death” and were scared that they could die while at work.
His comments came during Wednesday’s special meeting of the legislature in which government officials offered their condolences for the accident, saying they deeply regretted the workers’ deaths. However, they also defended safety efforts, claiming the Labour Department had carried out 1,380 inspections, made 329 prosecutions and issued over 280 suspension or improvement notices since 2011.
“Unfortunately we have done so much, but fatalities still occur,” said Labour Commissioner Chan Ka-shun.
The Bridge is due to open by the end of 2017.
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