The Hong Kong authorities have proposed making it mandatory to hold briefings before incorporated owners' meetings on major renovation projects, which, they say, should boost attendance and enable homeowners to make informed decisions, the secretary for home and youth affairs said on Saturday.

Speaking at a media session after attending a radio program, Alice Mak Mei-kuen said the changes – coming as a means to curb bid-rigging in the wake of the deadly Tai Po fire – would also enhance transparency.

Investigation and public hearings into the Nov 26 fire, which tore through seven of the eight buildings of the Wang Fuk Court residential complex, killing 168 people, laid bare major oversight flaws in building management and maintenance, and suspected bid-rigging attempts in the sector.

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Talking about the proposed amendment to the Building Management Ordinance on Saturday, the secretary said, “We have introduced our five major directions in amending the Building Management Ordinance. One of the directions is to enhance the transparency and to let the owners have more information on the maintenance and repair works that will be carried out.”

Under the current practice, owners' committees can organize or hold briefing sessions for the owners before the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) or Annual General Meeting (AGM) at their discretion, which is more voluntary, she said.

“But from our experience, if there are briefing sessions held before the EGM or AGM, owners will have more information about the works that will be carried out, and that will encourage owners to attend the EGM or AGM, and to make sensible and reasonable decisions for their buildings,” said Mak.

The use of technology to allow homeowners to attend and vote in meetings even when they are not in Hong Kong was becoming the standard practice, she added.

Asked about the allegation of forging of signatures in Wang Fuk Court owners’ petitions, Mak said the Home Affairs Department has already received several complaints from the residents and has already referred the case to the law enforcement body and the statutory bodies for further investigation.

“I'm sure that the law enforcement body and the statutory bodies will carry out thorough investigation,” she added.