There are plenty of things that make people think of Hong Kong: dim sum, red taxis, triad movies, and towering buildings clad in bamboo frames. The list goes on, but unfortunately, it looks like the last item might be going the way of the dodo, as the Hong Kong government announced plans to replace the ancient practice of bamboo scaffolding with metal.
Citing safety concerns, the Development Bureau announced on Monday, March 17, that they will “drive a wider adoption of metal scaffolds in public building works”, replacing bamboo with a sturdier material. A bureau official further laid out in a memo that bamboo is liable to deteriorate over time and is combustible. According to quoted official figures, 23 people have died from bamboo scaffold-related accidents since 2018.
However, bamboo has long been the favoured material for framing constructions and building repairs, dating as far back as the Great Wall of China. In our city, this particular wood is preferred for being lightweight, easy to transport and store, as well as faster to set up and take down, even in tight spaces. It is estimated that almost 80 percent of building scaffolds in Hong Kong are made of bamboo.
Officials have now decided that at least half of the city’s new government constructions will utilise metal scaffolds instead. The Development Bureau’s memo further stated that using metal is already the industry norm in mainland China and other advanced economies. On Tuesday, March 18, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims announced their support of this government decision, urging private projects to follow suit in decreasing the use of bamboo scaffolding.
As one of the most iconic sights in Hong Kong, the art of bamboo scaffolding has already been listed as part of the city’s intangible cultural heritage. There is almost nowhere else in the world – apart from our neighbouring Macau – that still utilises this craft. Much of our world-famous cityline owes its construction to this pliable, fast-growing wood. It would be a damn shame if we couldn’t marvel at the sight of construction workers deftly climbing the sides of skyscrapers on these rickety-looking frames any more.
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