HONG KONG - An engineer and an escalator worker have got their licences suspended by the authorities in the wake of an escalator malfunction at a busy Hong Kong shopping mall that left 18 people injured.

The incident was a result of "human negligence" said the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of the Hong Kong government on Friday (June 9), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

A 45m escalator at the Langham Place shopping mall in Mong Kok suddenly reversed direction on March 25, sending dozens of people tumbling down the moving stairway with some of them piling up at the foot.

The two employees, who were suspended for six months, were hired by escalator manufacturer Otis. Two Otis employees were arrested in March following the incident, but a person familiar with the matter told the SCMP they were not the suspended employees.

The EMSD said investigations were continuing to determine whether any criminal offences were involved.