The Hong Kong authorities on Thursday proposed a raft of reforms to crack down on bid-rigging, tighten the regulation of building maintenance and improve departmental operations following the release of a report by the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court last year.
The special administrative region government will set up a high-level mechanism to ensure the reforms are implemented.
On Nov 26 last year, a blaze ripped through Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, killing 168 people. A judge-led independent committee was formed shortly after the disaster to review and examine its causes.
After 10 months’ work, the panel submitted its final report to the government on Oct 22, outlining its analysis of the cause of the fire, the deficiencies it found during the inquiry, and the committee’s recommendations to improve the system.
At a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government will launch comprehensive reforms on the basis of the report’s recommendations.
Lee said the authorities will criminalize bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation, which has long been considered by the authorities to be the root cause of many problems on such projects.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said the effort would involve changes to several laws, including the Competition Ordinance and the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, with proposed maximum penalties for the new offense being 10 years in prison and a HK$10 million ($1.27 million) fine.
The government will also authorize law enforcement agencies through amendments to conduct questioning, freeze assets and confiscate criminal proceeds in probes related to the new offense, while empowering the courts to hand down heavier sentences where warranted.
A cross-departmental task force, comprising members of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Competition Commission, has been established to crack down on crimes relevant to bid-rigging.
To help housing estates navigate building renovation, the authorities have proposed setting up a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council to provide independent, reliable and professional services to property owners at reasonable charges.
The new council will also take over services related to building maintenance that are currently provided by the Urban Renewal Authority, with the aim of commencing operations by the end of this year.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said HK$300 million has been reserved for the body’s operation: HK$100 million as its startup capital and HK$200 million as cost subsidies for property owners who use the service.
The government will also tighten building maintenance regulations and restructure several departments to strengthen supervision.
The Buildings Department will establish two divisions — the New Buildings Division and the Existing Buildings Division — to strengthen leadership and coordination.
The Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit will be replaced by a Public Housing Building Control Section that is expected to implement a new regulatory regime by operating on a project basis.
The Fire Services Department will establish a Major Fire Prevention and Control Command tasked with formulating contingency plans for high-risk scenarios, monitoring and controlling fire risks in buildings undergoing major maintenance and renovation works, and coordinating technology applications.
Meanwhile, the government has also proposed establishing a cross-departmental centralized data system to document information about building maintenance and renovation works, thereby enhancing data-sharing among departments.
The system will also use artificial intelligence to sift through information and flag recurring complaints for the attention of officials.
A new steering committee headed by the chief secretary for administration will be established to drive reforms, review implementations, and submit proposed legal amendments to the Legislative Council.
Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com
