The Labour Department has brought prosecutions against companies involved in the concert incident at the Hong Kong Coliseum in July last year.

The department has completed investigations into the accidents that occurred during the preparation and performance of the concert in respect of occupational safety and health as well as employees' compensation.

The investigation revealed that the relevant occupiers and employers, ie Engineering Impact, Hip Hing Loong Stage Engineering Company and Studiodanz Company, were suspected of breaching the Occupational Safety & Health Ordinance and the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.

The offences include failure to provide the employees with safe plant and systems of work, and failure to notify the Commissioner for Labour of accidents and to take out employees' compensation insurance for workers.

Having consulted the Department of Justice, the Labour Department has initiated a total of 15 prosecutions against the companies. It applied to the court on January 17 for issuing the summonses and the case has been scheduled for fresh hearing at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 27.

The Labour Department said it will not tolerate the illegal acts, and will strictly enforce the law and do its utmost to protect the occupational safety and health as well as statutory rights of employees.