HONG KONG, October 30 — Just days after a devastating five-alarm blaze in Tai Po tragically killed 146 people—an incident widely attributed to suspected irresponsible smoking by construction crew—a startling video shared online today showed a worker openly smoking while conducting netting removal at another construction site in Chai Wan, sparking immediate public outcry and reigniting serious concerns over job site safety compliance across the territory. The footage, captured amid intense public scrutiny following the deadly fire at Hong Fuk Court, highlights what critics are calling a blatant disregard for heightened fire risk protocols.
The video surfaced on social media platform Threads and shows a laborer, reportedly wearing the uniform of a contractor associated with major construction projects, dismantling scaffolding protective netting at a ground-level location outside the Cheung Wai Industrial Building in Chai Wan. Despite the fresh tragedy in Tai Po, where preliminary reports suggest construction crew smoking during major renovation work may have ignited the fatal fire, the worker was filmed casually smoking a cigarette while on the job.
Heightened Risk Ignored by Workers
“Mr. Hing Wah,” the proprietor of a nearby business who witnessed and filmed the incident around 2:30 p.m. local time, expressed disbelief at the worker’s behavior. Speaking to local media, he acknowledged that smoking among construction workers is common but emphasized the severe lack of judgment given the circumstances. “It’s truly outrageous. With the immense public focus on fire safety right now, they should be observing elementary caution, yet they act as if nothing happened,” Hing Wah stated, calling for greater safety awareness among construction teams.
The deadly Tai Po fire, linked to a massive renovation project at Hong Fuk Court, brought allegations from residents that workers on site had habitually ignored pleas to stop smoking. The scale of the Hong Kong tragedy has amplified calls for stricter implementation of no-smoking policies on and around active construction zones.
In the wake of the disaster, certain contractors have responded with extremely punitive measures, reportedly implementing immediate termination—not just fines—for any worker caught smoking on site, an action many online commentators argued should have been standard practice long ago.
Public Demands Accountability
The newly shared footage quickly drew sharp condemnation online, with many users directly linking the Chai Wan incident to the earlier catastrophe. Critical comments flooded social media platforms, with users labeling the smoker a “scumbag” and arguing that such reckless behavior endangers innocent lives. “Is it really that difficult not to smoke while working?” one netizen questioned. Others demanded that the identified contractor, reportedly Chevalier Construction, take immediate disciplinary action against the employee, suggesting viewers call in complaints and share the video evidence.
However, a minority of online users argued the criticism was excessive, pointing out that the worker was smoking on the street and not strictly within the confines of the enclosed construction zone, implying no legal violation occurred. Safety experts strongly disagree, noting that highly flammable materials like protective netting, even at ground level, pose significant risks when exposed to open flames, especially in crowded urban environments.
The incident underscores the persistent challenge regulatory bodies face in enforcing crucial safety protocols within Hong Kong’s vast and busy construction sector. Public safety advocates are urging the government to mandate more frequent, unannounced inspections and significantly increase penalties for contractors and workers who flout fire safety regulations, ensuring that the tragic lessons learned in Tai Po lead to lasting behavioral changes across all construction sites.
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