HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday stressed the importance of conducting a comprehensive investigation into the cause of a manhole gas accident in Sha Tin that led to the deaths of two workers on Monday night.

Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, the chief executive extended his condolences to the bereaved families and said the authorities will provide as much assistance as possible to the families.

The Drainage Services Department said the two men were employed by a contractor to clean sewers at Yuen Wo Playground, but they should not have been required to enter the manhole, according local media reports.

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We will wait for the results of the investigation before taking follow-up action. It is our responsibility to ensure work safety. Operators, site owners, management of contractors and construction companies all have a role to play.

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive

Firefighters were called at around midnight after the workers became ill after apparently inhaling toxic gas while working three to four meters underground.

The Labour Department immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is conducting an investigation to look into its cause, a spokesperson for the government said in a statement earlier on Tuesday.

“We will wait for the results of the investigation before taking follow-up action. It is our responsibility to ensure work safety. Operators, site owners, management of contractors and construction companies all have a role to play,” Lee said.

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There was an order to suspend the work at the site and other similar works until safety measures were put in place, he said, adding that it is important to develop a culture that everyone was aware of work safety.