The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) has initiated a police investigation and a sweeping internal review after uncovering a suspected forgery involving calibration certificates for vibration monitoring equipment used across multiple public hospital construction sites. The HA reported the incident on Tuesday, confirming that a document submitted by a subcontractor, Novo Engineering Company, certifying the accuracy of crucial monitoring instruments, was confirmed fraudulent by the certifying body listed on the document. The certificates were initially provided to the main contractor, China Railway Construction Group Ltd., for the expansion project at Princess Margaret Hospital’s Lai King Building.
The discovery has prompted the HA to immediately suspend Novo Engineering Company from all ongoing work and compel the main contractor to conduct a full and rigorous investigation. The authority stated it reserves all legal rights against breaches of construction contracts.
Wider Implications Across Hospital Projects
Novo Engineering Company’s activities extend beyond the Princess Margaret Hospital site. The firm was also retained, under various main contractors, to provide real-time noise and vibration monitoring services at four other major hospital sites: Kwong Wah Hospital, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, Grantham Hospital, and North District Hospital.
In response to the evidence of deceit, the HA announced a comprehensive audit. This review will meticulously scrutinize all engineering services provided by Novo Engineering Company and verify the authenticity of every calibration certificate the firm has submitted across all hospital construction projects to date.
The issue came to light following a series of checks initiated after the HA was notified in late October by the sensor provider, Beiwei Sensor Technology, that its contract with Novo Engineering had been terminated. This prompted the HA to demand that all main contractors re-examine the performance and documentation from Novo Engineering and ensure rigorous supervisory oversight.
Timeline and Assessment of Risk
The suspected forgery was officially confirmed on December 8, after the HA contacted Guangdong Zhongzheng Hang Metering and Testing Co. Ltd., the laboratory listed on the calibration certificates. The laboratory confirmed it had not issued the documents. The certificates in question, submitted by Novo Engineering to the main contractor for the Princess Margaret Hospital project, bore suspicious calibration dates spanning from November 2024 to October 2025.
Hospital construction projects rely on vibration monitoring equipment to ensure nearby medical operations and patient care are not disrupted by structural movement. These instruments are typically calibrated annually.
Despite the serious nature of the fraud, the HA assured the public that an initial assessment indicates no adverse impact on current patient safety or medical services. An HA spokesperson emphasized that monitoring instruments are precautionary and that main contractors are currently deployed to use handheld monitoring devices as an interim measure.
“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy against fraudulent behavior,” the spokesperson stated, adding that any confirmed instances of fraud would result in police referral and aggressive pursuit of damages.
Authorities stress that no hospital services have been halted due to construction-related vibrations reported in the last six months. The HA further noted that contract standards govern acceptable vibration levels, and any feedback from medical staff suggesting disruption, regardless of measured magnitude, warrants an immediate temporary cessation of construction activity to prioritize patient care.
As the investigation progresses, the HA has ordered all main contractors to immediately hire qualified professional testing centers to verify and submit updated calibration certificates for all vibration monitoring equipment. The ongoing audit will review historical monitoring data and the data upload process to reaffirm compliance across all affected sites.
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