Abstract

Many metropolises, including railway station, are increasingly constructed with high-rise buildings in which the lifts and escalators are essential facilities for numerous end users. In a late different year, unfortunately, a spate of shocking lift incidents occurred in many sectors, which triggered the government to put forward for consultation a range of amendments to the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance for enhancing lifts and escalators safety. Supports to separate provisions of maintenance and examination services for lifts and escalators and appointment of a third party for assuring service quality, nevertheless, were only fair. Further to analyzing the factors affecting such responses and the costs and benefits of the amendments, the judgments for two relevant precedents were reviewed, which revealed the importance of observing not only the statutory requirements but also the common law safety and principles which are intricate yet influential to deciding liability for improper maintenance or use of lifts and escalators.

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