The Development Bureau said today that it has issued a notification to the contractor involved in a fatal industrial incident at a private development project construction site in Tai Po on September 30, suspending it from tendering for public works contracts in the site formation category with immediate effect.

The contractor was on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works. As the party to procure services for public works, the bureau stressed that it attaches great importance to safety at all construction sites under the purview of contractors on the list.

It explained that the contractor has to conduct an independent safety audit to review its safety management system, submit an improvement action plan, and then implement improvement measures with a view to demonstrating that its safety management system is effective. A lifting of the suspension from tendering can be considered once these steps are taken.

The suspension from tendering is not only limited to tender exercises within the suspension period, but is also applicable to tender exercises which have been initiated but not concluded.

The Labour Department is investigating the industrial incident and will handle it in accordance with the law.

Subject to the investigation findings, the bureau may carry out further regulating actions against the contractor, which may include extension of the suspension period and even removal from the list.