Workers protest over unpaid wages for renovation linked to Tai Po fire contractor
At least 15 workers hold banners and chant slogans outside Baguio Villa in Hong Kong’s Pok Fu Lam, with two scaling scaffolding
Hong Kong construction workers have staged a demonstration for unpaid wages at an upscale Hong Kong residential estate that hired the contractor linked to the Tai Po fire to carry out renovations, with two climbing up scaffolding as part of the protest.
At least 15 scaffolding workers held banners and chanted slogans outside Baguio Villa in Pok Fu Lam at around 9am on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union said they were owed several months’ wages amounting to millions of Hong Kong dollars for the renovation project, which had Prestige Construction & Engineering Co Limited as the main contractor.
In a video sent to the Post by the union, two workers can be seen climbing up the scaffolding at Baguio Villa. One of them goes up to the seventh floor, while the other positions himself on the second floor.
Police said they had received reports and that the incident, which was classified as a labour dispute, had not affected traffic.
The Fire Services Department deployed personnel to the scene after receiving a report of two workers located in dangerous positions who could potentially jump. Officers set up a rescue cushion beneath the scaffolding as a precaution.
The pair later returned to the ground in the afternoon and were sent to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam for a medical check-up. Firefighters left the scene at around 4pm.