Crane's alarm may have been impeded

Failure to use stabilisers on a crane that collapsed and killed a police officer last Saturday might have handicapped its alarm system, initial investigations have indicated.

But it is understood that engineers have so far found no mechanical problems with the crane, which killed Constable Kong Wing-fat, 38.

'The crane functions are okay. But more tests will have to be done on the alarm system,' a source said.

He said the alarm system might not work properly if stabilisers were not used while the crane was loading an item.

'The alarm is activated if the system finds the loading, the radius and angle of the jib exceeds a certain level. The machine will automatically be stopped if the alarm system finds the problematic loading conditions persist.

'But if no stabiliser is used, the alarm may not be activated even if the relevant readings have reached a certain level,' the source said.

Police have admitted no stabilisers were used when Kong was trapped and killed underneath the falling jib of the crane, which was being used to lift a sampan at a Sai Kung marine police base.