Criminal liability fears hit Hong Kong engineering sector after MTR construction scandal
Tightening of procedures for approving project redesigns in wake of rail giant fiasco could slow construction and deter professionals from taking on responsibility, experts say
Members of Hong Kong’s top engineering body have expressed fears that industry professionals could face criminal sanctions over revisions to project designs amid the fallout from a construction scandal at the city’s rail operator.
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) on Wednesday convened a special meeting to discuss the risk of procedures being tightened and criminal liability being spelled out for engineers seeking government approval for alterations. Experts said such a tightening could hit the industry hard.
The deliberations by the institution’s governing council come in the wake of a shoddy work scandal at the MTR Corporation which has sent shock waves through the sector.
The body will decide on Friday whether to press the government to clarify procedures for revising project designs as well as the accompanying criminal liability. But some members have voiced concerns that such a change could slow the process significantly and deter engineers from requesting revisions.
“The Buildings Ordinance says that for minor changes we don’t have to submit the revised plans to the department, but there is a lack of a clear definition. This will be a disaster for the construction sector if we have to wait two to three months for every design change,” warned Peter Wong, a former HKIE president.
