Since early February 2020, measures to contain Novel Coronavirus (commonly known as “”) have been implemented in Hong Kong and Mainland China. These measures significantly affected the construction industry.Covid-19

To say the least, workers were infected with Covid-19, construction sites were closed down, material supplies were suspended, health and safety measures were tightened, statutory approvals and consultant’s review, preparation and approval of design submissions were slowed down.

These hindrances impacted on the timely approval and completion of construction projects. Contractors sought extensions of time to shield themselves from being hammered by liquidated damages and consultants and architects fought their ways through the drawings and designs to ensure that adequate details were issued to the contractors to maintain the work progress.

All these result in additional time and costs to the contractors, the consultants, architects and the employers. Parties strive to preserve their contractual entitlements under the construction contracts by scrutinizing…