Three groups of visitors called off trips to the new Tamar government headquarters this month, despite official pledges that the complex has been thoroughly disinfected after the discovery of potentially fatal bacteria.
The groups dropped their plans to see the new Legislative Council building in Admiralty after the contamination was made known.
They were among 12 tours scheduled for the seven days from Thursday, according to Legco. The cancellations came despite an assurance from the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, that all disinfection work was completed on Thursday and the headquarters were safe to work in.
Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria that causes legionnaires' disease, was found at 12 locations in the HK$5.5 billion complex, which opened in August.
The shock discovery has puzzled health experts. 'It is quite abnormal to find the bacteria in a new building, as it is usually found in old buildings and water pipes,' said a spokesman for Majestic Engineering, the pipe installation contractor for Tamar.
He said the design of the pipes was 'very common and normal', in response to Chow's comments that health experts would examine the design of the pipes.