The government said problems with lifts in Queen Mary Hospital's redevelopment project delayed the launch of clinical services there.

Officials said they reserve the right to seek compensation from the contractors.

According to a Ming Pao report, clinical block 1 began operating in phases last year, but the lift system has been plagued by problems.

Only four of the 28 lifts were working, the newspaper reported.

In a joint statement, the Architectural Services Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Hospital Authority confirmed that lift installation and operation have not met contractual requirements.

A spokesman said the contractors have been ordered to complete rectification work as soon as possible, with a target finish by the fourth quarter of this year.

The clinical building is part of a 10-year, HK$13.5 billion redevelopment project at Queen Mary Hospital.

The spokesman said only non-clinical facilities, including a restaurant, a convenience store and laboratories, are currently in use.

According to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, there were seven reports of lift failures at the clinical building involving the contractor, Anlev Elevator Limited, between July 2025 and June this year. These included component faults that resulted in passengers being trapped.

In a fatal incident in July last year, a technician was trapped in a lift shaft at the building and later died in hospital.


Edited by Edmond Fong