Workers' compensation for non-fatal accidents: review of Hong Kong court cases

Hong Kong is notorious for her high construction accidents rates. Although the accidents rate has dropped from 350 per 1000 workers in mid 1980 to 60 per 1000 workers in 2007, it still accounted for nearly one-fifth of all the industrial accidents in Hong Kong. Contractors were economically pressed and battered by exorbitant compensation over the years. This paper presents a comprehensive study of non-fatal accidents compensation court cases from 2004 to 2008. Although approximately one-third of the cases with injured persons aged between 47 and 56, the percentage of court cases over construction employees by age group was highest in age group 17-26. In terms of trade of workers, General laborers/causal workers stood the highest, then came electrical technicians and painters/decorators/plasterers. The highest rates of injury were falling from height and hitting by falling objects. Increasing from HK$10,997,637 in 2004, the total compensation reached the peak of HK$39,643,353 in 2006. The heaviest compensation was HK$13,800,000 among 101 cases. Most of the victims were compensated under loss of earnings and Pain Suffering and Loss of Amenities. While general labourers marked the highest number of cases, less than one-fourth of them were awarded compensation which exceeded HK$1,500,000. Four out of seven steel benders who filed court cases, however, received compensation greater than HK$1.5 million for each case. Those who were struck by objects had relatively the highest chance to be compensated with a huge sum of money.published_or_final_versio

Paradigm shift: a case study of transnational collaboration for a high-profile design competition in Shanghai, China

This conference is organised in conjunction with the Design and Construction Management Students Day and Competition (Organised in collaboration with BuHU, CIB TG53 and CIB W104), Design and Construction Management Industry Day (Organised in collaboration with BOSS RE&H students society)The topic of this paper centers on the paradigm shift in transnational design collaboration for high-profile design competitions which are fiercely contested in major Chinese cities. In view of the fact that most writings on design competitions prefer some successful stories rather than the equally instructive ones telling why others fail, this paper will look at the issues from a different perspective by providing an unusual case of collaboration. The intention is to offer some original insights into understanding the emerging situation which probably constitutes one of the future trends in design competitions. By reviewing the current performance of design competitions which greatly influence the development of collaboration paradigm, this paper investigates a collaboration case with an emerging form, a controversial process and mixed outcomes. Questionnaire survey and case study are used in this study. Despite a single case investigation, there are strong reasons to believe that it serves as a precursor of a major shift over the coming decades in the evolution of transnational collaboration in high-profile design competitions in China.postprintThe International Conference on Changing Roles, New Roles; New Challenge, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 5-9 October 2009. In CRO9 International Conference on Changing Roles, New Roles; New Challenges, 2009, p. 131-14

Safety Training and Education for the Construction Industry in Hong Kong

Proceedings of Asia Pacific Region 3rd Annual Conference of Construction Safety and Health Organization, p. 12-1

Falsework collapses: analysis and case studies

CPD Event of Society of Registered Safety Officers, Hong Kongpostprin

Procurement innovation: perspectives from Chinese international construction companies

The international construction business is witnessing a trend that companies deliver projects through the adoption of innovative procurement systems (e.g. Building Operate Transfer, Public Private Partnership). By devising innovative procurement systems, it is possible to realise construction projects that are difficult for traditional procurement methods, to develop competitive advantages for companies, and ultimately, to deliver value to the society. Notably, Chinese companies are making impressive inroads into the international construction market through enhancing their competitiveness. However, little we know about how Chinese international construction companies (CICCs) perceive procurement innovation and how it relates to their recent success. This research aims to capture their perspectives towards procurement innovation by interviewing nine key decision-makers of CICCs and experts in this area. It is found that CICCs are gradually adopting procurement innovation as a competitive strategy. Unlike the traditional life-or-death competition, competing through procurement innovation can make more projects possible; the emergence of CICCs, in particular their strengths, can be encouraged to deliver more projects and value in the international construction market. This research not only provides CICCs with insights into the procurement innovations in the construction sector, but also enables other companies to know CICCs with which they might compete or collaborate in the near future.published_or_final_versio

Sharpening Competitive Edge through Procurement Innovation: Perspectives from Chinese International Construction Companies

The international construction business is witnessing a trend towards the delivery of projects through the adoption of innovative procurement systems, which allow companies to gain competitive advantages and to potentially deliver enhanced value to society. Notably, Chinese companies are making steady inroads into the international construction market by enhancing competitiveness. However, we know little about the extent to which Chinese international construction companies (CICCs) perceive procurement innovation and how this factor may relate to their recent success. This research aims to fill the void based on interviews with nine CICC key decision‐makers and experts in this area, and the capturing of their perspectives. It is found that CICCs are gradually adopting procurement innovation as a competitive strategy. Although procurement innovation is conducive to competitive advantage in the long run, CICCs have to pay the cost of entering the new market. Thus a “wait‐and‐see” attitude exists in respect of a long term vision. Unlike the traditional win‐lose competitive bidding system, competing through procurement innovation can lead to larger, more suitable market presence. By succinctly describing the CICC story in the international market this research not only provides CICCs themselves with insights into current procurement innovations existing within the construction sector, but also enables other companies to understand the nature of CICCs with which they might compete or collaborate in the near future.postprin

Substitution at Aspartic Acid 1128 in the SARS Coronavirus Spike Glycoprotein Mediates Escape from a S2 Domain-Targeting Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent for the infectious disease, SARS, which first emerged 10 years ago. SARS-CoV is a zoonotic virus that has crossed the species barriers to infect humans. Bats, which harbour a diverse pool of SARS-like CoVs (SL-CoVs), are believed to be the natural reservoir. The SARS-CoV surface Spike (S) protein is a major antigenic determinant in eliciting neutralizing antibody production during SARS-CoV infection. In our previous work, we showed that a panel of murine MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (mAbs) that target the S2 subunit of the S protein are capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV infection IN VITRO (Lip KM et al, J Virol. 2006 Jan; 80(2): 941–50). In this study, we report our findings on the characterization of one of these mAbs, known as 1A9, which binds to the S PROTEIN at a novel epitope within the S2 subunit at amino acids 1111–1130. MAb 1A9 is a broadly neutralizing mAb that prevents viral entry mediated by the S proteins of human and civet SARS-CoVs as well as bat SL-CoVs. By generating mutant SARS-CoV that escapes the neutralization by mAb 1A9, the residue D1128 in S was found to be crucial for its interaction with mAb 1A9. S protein containing the substitution of D1128 with alanine (D1128A) exhibited a significant decrease in binding capability to mAb 1A9 compared to wild-type S protein. By using a pseudotyped viral entry assay, it was shown that the D1128A substitution in the escape virus allows it to overcome the viral entry blockage by mAb 1A9. In addition, the D1128A mutation was found to exert no effects on the S protein cell surface expression and incorporation into virion particles, suggesting that the escape virus retains the same viral entry property as the wild-type virus.published_or_final_versio

Consumption of dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida (hawthorn) suppresses high-cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats

Author name used in this publication: Mabel Yin-Chun YauAuthor name used in this publication: Peter Hoi-Fu Yu2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Human coronavirus NL63 infection and other coronavirus infections in children hospitalized with acute respiratory disease in Hong Kong, China

Background. Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) is a recently discovered human coronavirus found to cause respiratory illness in children and adults that is distinct from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus and human coronaviruses 229E (HCoV-229E) and OC43 (HCoV-OC43). Methods. We investigated the role that HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-229E played in children hospitalized with fever and acute respiratory symptoms in Hong Kong during the period from August 2001 through August 2002. Results. Coronavirus infections were detected in 26 (4.4%) of 587 children studied; 15 (2.6%) were positive for HCoV-NL63, 9 (1.5%) were positive for HCoV-OC43, and 2 (0.3%) were positive for HCoV-229E. In addition to causing upper respiratory disease, we found that HCoV-NL63 can present as croup, asthma exacerbation, febrile seizures, and high fever. The mean age (± standard deviation [SD]) of the infected children was 30.7 ± 19.8 months (range, 6-57 months). The mean maximum temperature (± SD) for the 12 children who were febrile was 39.3°C ± 0.9°C, and the mean total duration of fever (± SD) for all children was 2.6 ± 1.2 days (range, 1-5 days). HCoV-NL63 infections were noted in the spring and summer months of 2002, whereas HCoV-OC43 infection mainly occurred in the fall and winter months of 2001. HCoV-NL63 viruses appeared to cluster into 2 evolutionary lineages, and viruses from both lineages cocirculated in the same season. Conclusions. HCoV-NL63 is a significant pathogen that contributes to the hospitalization of children, and it was estimated to have caused 224 hospital admissions per 100,000 population aged 6 years each year in Hong Kong. © 2005 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

Evaluation of anti-oxidant capacity of root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, in comparison with roots of polygonum multiflorum thunb and Panax ginseng CA Meyer

Author name used in this publication: Jian-Hong WuAuthor name used in this publication: Alice Lai-Shan AuAuthor name used in this publication: Peter Hoi-Fu Yu2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe