New legislation to enhance lift and escalator safety

The Lifts and Escalators Bill has been gatted to further enhance lift and escalator safety in Hong Kong.

The Bill contains a series of enhancement measures on the regulation of lift and escalator engineers, contractors and workers.  It will replace the existing Lifts and Escalators Ordinance.

 Under the enhanced registration regime, the Bill will require all engineering professionals in the industry to be registered professional engineers of relevant disciplines with at least two years' experience before they can be considered for registration as lift or escalator engineers.

The Bill will introduce a registration system whereby qualified lift or escalator workers may apply for registration as registered lift or escalator workers based on their academic attainment, training and experience.

As for lifts and escalators contractors, the Bill will introduce a five-year registration renewal system to provide a mechanism for continual compliance checking.

In addition to the new measures above to strengthen the registration regime, the Bill will increase penalties for safety-related offences from $10,000 to $200,000 to achieve a greater punitive and deterrent effect.

The Bill will also extend coverage of the legislation to the Government and the Housing Authority, and extend lift or escalator owners' obligations and responsibilities to other persons involved in the management or control of lifts or escalators. Measures will also be introduced to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness in enforcing the regulatory measures.

 "Following several lift incidents that have given rise to public concern, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has adopted various measures to improve lift safety. These include the enhancement of the existing code of practice, disclosure of contractors' performance, stepping up inspections and enhancing publicity," said the spokesman.