The Labour Department seeks to improve safety and health at the workplace through legislation, law enforcement, promotion, education and training. Through the concerted efforts of all parties concerned, including employers, employees, contractors, safety practitioners and the Government, Hong Kong's safety performance has improved since 1998, with the number of occupational accidents and the accident rate per thousand workers falling steadily.

In 2004, however, the overall number and rate of occupational accidents rose slightly compared with 2003. The increase was largely attributed to the rebound of the local economy which generated more economic and business activities than during the severe economic downturn caused by the outbreak of SARS in early 2003. As a result, 2003 provided a significantly lower base for comparison. Comparing the figures of 2004 to those of 2002, which was a normal year, there was sustained improvement in the overall performance. It is particularly noteworthy that despite a slight increase in occupational injuries in 2004, the safety performance of the construction industry continued to make noticeable improvements.