'Most Lifts, Escalators Breach New Safety Standards'

The Ombudsman said on Thursday that its preliminary inquiries showed more than 60,000 lifts and escalators in Hong Kong do not meet the latest safety standards.

This comes as the watchdog announced it would launch an investigation into regulatory work carried out by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) after a series of lift and escalator incidents in recent years resulting in injuries and deaths.

In one of the most serious cases, 18 people were injured when an escalator went into reverse at the Langham Place shopping mall in 2017.

In 2018, a woman was killed at a residential building in Sheung Shui when she was trapped by a malfunctioning lift which sent her plunging into the shaft.

The watchdog said Hong Kong had more than 66,000 lifts and 9,300 escalators as of the end of 2017. It said 80 percent of lifts and 90 percent of escalators do not meet the latest safety standards.

It said all new lifts and escalators, including their safety components, must satisfy the standards set out by the EMSD at the time of installation.

With technological advancements, new components have been integrated into the design of lifts and escalators to improve safety.

However, the watchdog’s preliminary inquiries found that a majority of the lifts and escalators have not been installed with components that meet the latest safety standards.

It also said that more than 20,000 lifts and escalators are more than 30 years old.

The Ombudsman, Winnie Chiu, said lift accidents in recent years have aroused public concern.

“In Hong Kong, high-rise buildings are everywhere and lifts and escalators are frequently used in our daily lives. Periodic examinations and proper maintenance to ensure their safe operation are of paramount importance,” she said.

The watchdog will look into the laws governing the maintenance of lifts and escalators, as well as the EMSD's regulatory work.