Dozens of construction workers involved in a major infrastructure project at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port staged a protest on December 8, 2025, demanding immediate payment of months of overdue wages. Over 20 ironworkers employed by a third-tier subcontractor gathered outside the arrivals hall of the vast transport hub, alleging they are owed substantially more than HK$2 million in total back pay after up to six months on the job. The demonstration highlights pervasive issues of wage security and oversight within complex, multi-tiered subcontracting structures on large-scale public works.
Subcontractor Dispute Escalates at Major Hub
The wage dispute centers on the Smart Car Park Project B site, where workers claim delayed or nonexistent payments stretching back several months. According to one protesting worker, while on paper payments are due, the contractors consistently employ a “delay and partial pay” cycle. “They always delay two months, then pay just one,” the worker explained, illustrating the ongoing financial strain.
The protesters explicitly targeted the layers of responsibility above their immediate employer, displaying large banners pleading for intervention from the site owner, the Airport Authority (AA), which manages the Hong Kong Port logistics. Banners decried the situation, with messages reading, “Used and discarded—sweat but no pay” and “We demand Airport Authority intervention to resolve this.”
Alleged Systemic Payment Failures
A site foreman, identified as Mr. Mak, shed light on the dispute’s broader scope, claiming the payment failures extend beyond the manual workers. Mr. Mak specified that while some site workers are owed approximately two months’ wages, clerical staff face significantly worse arrears, reportedly waiting four to six months for their salaries. Furthermore, financial obligations to the fabrication plant are also in default, with an outstanding balance of roughly HK$1.5 million, alongside unpaid material costs.
Mr. Mak reported that complaints had been formally lodged not only with the main and second-tier contractors but also with the AA and the Labour Department. He claimed the main contractor was attempting to coordinate with the Labour Department for a resolution, yet alleged that the second-tier contractor had “disappeared,” compounding the difficulty of securing payment.
Police and Airport Authority Mediate
Police responded to a report filed at 4:02 p.m. concerning the protest. Officers engaged with the group gathered outside the facility, urging the workers to lower their banners while assuring them that authorities would contact AA representatives and the contracting companies to facilitate discussions. The incident was classified by law enforcement as a “request for police assistance.”
Shortly after the police arrived, the Airport Authority dispatched staff to the site to mediate the dispute formally.
This demonstration underscores critical vulnerabilities concerning worker rights and financial protection on large infrastructure projects, particularly when multiple layers of subcontractors are involved. For infrastructure owners like the Airport Authority, the incident raises immediate questions about contractual due diligence and the enforcement mechanisms necessary to ensure timely, full compensation for all personnel involved in AA-commissioned work. While mediation is underway, the resolution of the alleged HK$2 million debt and the prevention of similar disputes remain top priorities for affected workers and labor regulators.