Editor’s note: The HKSAR government on Thursday released the Independent Committee’s report on the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November, and introduced comprehensive reforms based on its recommendations. The report spans 1,013 pages across two volumes in its Chinese version, divided into 16 chapters, nine annexes, and 120 proposed measures.

Here are the report’s key points and the government’s key reform measures:

Key points of the report’s findings

• The suspected substitution of fire-retardant scaffolding nets with non-fire-retardant ones, the use of non-fire-retardant foam boards and other flammable materials during the works, as well as such acts as creating access openings in the escape staircases for convenience led to the rapid spread of the fire and the high number of casualties.
• The long-standing regulatory system for building maintenance and renovation relies heavily on the integrity and professional conduct of industry professionals and contractors in fulfilling supervisory or management responsibilities. However, certain professionals and contractors are suspected of abandoning their responsibilities, rendering the supervision and management effectively non-existent.
• There were deficiencies and failings in the relevant SAR government departments (the Independent Checking Unit, the Buildings Department, the Fire Services Department and the Labour Department) with regulatory duties. The report detailed the deficiencies and failings of four relevant departments.
• As building maintenance and renovation projects involve substantial sums of money, they have become target of triads and criminals seeking illicit gain. These triads and criminals form syndicates to rig bids and monopolize the market through intimidation, fraud and corruption.

Key considerations of govt’s reforms

• Bid-rigging is the root of the problems in building maintenance and renovation.
• The Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme has deficiencies that need to be addressed through reform.
• Support services for building maintenance and renovation provided to the public must be impartial and reliable.

Govt’s reform measures

• Legislate to prohibit bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation projects.
• Establish a cross-departmental task force to combat crimes relevant to bid-rigging.
• Establish a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council.
• Reform the operation and regulatory system for building maintenance and renovation.
• Reform the structure of regulatory departments.
• Establish a centralized data system and reform the complaint mechanism.
• Establish a steering committee led by the chief secretary for administration.

Priority reform measures announced in the 2026 Policy Address

• Implement a comprehensive smoking ban on construction sites after legislative amendments to the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and related anti-smoking legislation.
• Embark on the amendment of the Fire Services Ordinance to enhance regulation on fire service installations and equipment and their contractors, introduce the fire service installations responsible persons' regime, raise penalties and expand the enforcement powers of the Fire Services Department, with an aim to submit relevant proposals to the Legislative Council this year.
• Expand the scope of amendments to the Buildings Ordinance, including the enhancement of the statutory control regime for major building maintenance works, imposing more stringent regulation and heavier penalties, and tightening the disciplinary mechanism for professionals and contractors to impose stringent penalties on non-compliance. The relevant proposals will be submitted to the Legislative Council this year.
• Take forward legislative amendments to the Building Management Ordinance to impose a higher attendance requirement and voting threshold for decisions on large-scale maintenance procurement, improve the system for proxy instruments and optimize the system for declaration of interests. The relevant public consultation has been completed, with the target of submitting the proposal to the Legislative Council this year.
• Conduct a legal study on the criminalization of bid-rigging in major building maintenance works and submit the relevant proposal to the Legislative Council this year.
• Initiatetender invitation and evaluation services for owners in engaging consultants and contractors.
• Establish more rigorously vetted "pre-qualified lists" of consultants and contractors to complement owners' support services, including conducting background checks by law enforcement agencies.
• Look into feasible options to better assist members of the public in handling matters involving professional knowledge in major building maintenance.