Taizoom board member arrested after elevator installation scandal

The police arrested a board member of Taizoom Elevator Company along with two registered engineers after the company failed to install fire-resistant door frames in accordance with existing requirements.

Authorities also suspect Taizoom had submitted bogus reports on the installations.This as the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department believe the company was not simply being negligent, adding it found elevators in more than 30 housing estates were also missing components.

Police arrested a board member and two engineers, reportedly aged between 63 and 82-years-old, this afternoon.

During an earlier spot check, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) discovered 48 elevators in Kwun Tong's Tsui Ping (North) Estate and Sha Tin's Pok Hong Estate were missing essential components.

The department also suspected the company in charge of the installations had submitted a bogus report on elevator tests.

Speaking in an interview, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Poon Kwok-ying said Taizoom was involved in elevator installations at more than 380 housing estates. He believes the company was not simply being negligent in the latest incident, with the department discovering similar missing elevator components at more than 30 other estates on its first day of inspections.

As for why relevant permits were still granted to the Taizoom elevators despite the missing components, the EMSD chief said his department and engineers tend to inspect more important elevator components, which do not include fire-resistant door frames.

Meanwhile, some engineers emphasised there could be serious consequences if elevators are not installed with fire-resistant door frames if there is a fire.

Representatives in the sector said the frames serve as seals for gaps in the elevator, adding that their absence could speed up the spread of flames and smoke in the building.