Embroiled in controversy, Leighton Contractors (Asia) has been a familiar name in many of Hong Kong’s big infrastructure projects of recent decades

Leighton Contractors (Asia) may have been making headlines for the past eight months as the main firm behind shoddy construction work on the Sha Tin-Central link, but the company has been a prominent name in the city for some time, involved in a number of major construction projects in recent decades.

The firm was established in Hong Kong in 1975 as a branch of Australian company Leighton Holdings.

Since the 1980s, Leighton Asia has taken part in large scale projects, such as the building of residential complex Discovery Bay and reclamation in Tuen Mun.

It was also responsible for building hospitals and school campuses in Hong Kong.

Recently, the company was awarded tenders mostly related to transport infrastructure projects.

In 2015, Leighton Holdings was renamed CIMIC group, which is currently listed in Australia.

It is owned by German firm Hochtief, which is itself a subsidiary of Spanish company ACS Group.

Last October, the government suspended Leighton from bidding for tenders for a year because of its role in the construction scandal on an expansion of Hung Hom station.

Three other contractors involved in defective work at other stations on the link were given shorter bans of up to four months.

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Here are some of the current and past projects in the city Leighton Asia has been involved in:

1. Sha Tin-Central link (ongoing)

In 2012, the Hong Kong government commissioned the MTR Corporation to build the HK$97.1 billion (US$12.4 billion) rail link under an entrustment agreement.

Of some 50 major contracts the railway firm had signed, Leighton Asia was involved in four, including the first and third most valuable bids.

Together with China State Construction, Leighton Asia was awarded a HK$5.8 billion contract to build Exhibition station and auxiliary facilities.

As a sole contractor, Leighton Asia took up another HK$5.2 billion contract to expand the existing Hung Hom station by building new platforms and a facility for parking trains.

The rail link is Hong Kong’s most expensive railway project to date.

Originally slated to partially begin operation in mid-2019, the recent scandal is likely to delay the opening, say officials.

2. Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin tunnel (ongoing)

In 2016, Leighton bagged a HK$8.7 billion contract in a joint venture with China State Construction to build a 2.2-km tunnel and related facilities to ease congestion in another tunnel nearby.

The Transport Department said last month the new tunnel was expected to be in operation in 2021.

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3. Haven of Hope Hospital (ongoing)

First opened in 1955, the hospital in Tseung Kwan O underwent its second redevelopment in 2016.

Leighton Asia was responsible for demolishing existing blocks and replacing them with new buildings to provide 216 beds.

According to the Hospital Authority, work to redevelop the hospital will be completed in 2021.

4. Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (completed)

A new section of express rail connected Hong Kong to mainland China’s high-speed rail grid when it opened in September last year.

Leighton Asia was involved in four of the 43 major contracts – worth more than HK$50 million – the MTR Corp awarded on the HK$84 billion express rail project.

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In a joint venture with Gammon Construction, Leighton won the most expensive contract to design and build the northern part of the express rail terminus in West Kowloon at a cost of HK$8.9 billion.

Work at the terminus included constructing train platforms, immigration facilities and departure halls inside the 400,000 square metre complex.

5. North Lantau Hospital (completed)

The hospital was built to meet demand from a growing population following the development of North Lantau.

Leighton Asia and Able Engineering were tasked with building a seven-storey main building for the new hospital at a cost of HK$1.9 billion.

The hospital now provides accident and emergency as well as 180 inpatient beds.

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6. Australian International School (completed)

The school’s campus in Kowloon Tong was completed in 2001.

It features a 10-storey building which houses 27 classrooms, as well as a swimming pool and a football pitch.