One month after the Wang Fuk Court fire, Hong Kong’s construction industry grapples with a scaffold net safety regime halting repairs on over 200 buildings. In the third part of a series, Edith Lin and Vivian Au report on calls for certified suppliers, expedited testing and a broader accountability overhaul. Here’s part one and two.
Hong Kong’s construction industry has been thrown into uncertainty under a new scaffold net inspection regime introduced after the deadly fire in Tai Po, prompting representatives to call for an official list of suppliers to ensure product quality and a wider overhaul to strengthen accountability.
The Development Bureau told the Post on Saturday that it would consider amending a law to strengthen supervision over external works in major building repairs, including adding a requirement for certified professionals to submit design and supervision plans.
Advertisement
Major maintenance work on more than 200 buildings has come to a halt for over three weeks as protective meshes were removed following the fire in Wang Fuk Court that killed at least 161 people.
Repairs will remain suspended until the new scaffold nets pass local laboratory tests for fire-retardant performance and are installed.
Advertisement
While authorities work to implement the new arrangement, aiming for the nets to be ready by next month, thousands of workers have been left without jobs, according to Chau Sze-kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union.
Citing official estimates, he said that around 5,000 workers involved in plastering, painting, pipe work and other facade repairs might not be able to return to their jobs until February or even March.