A raft of reforms to overhaul Hong Kong’s building maintenance sector has been hailed as a bold first step in tackling bid-rigging and other deep-rooted problems, but observers said its success would depend on the determination and persistence to implement them to restore public trust.
They said the reforms signalled a departure from the government’s long-standing reliance on the self-discipline of industry professionals, but highlighted a notable absence of measures to tackle falsified authorisation letters and blacklist unscrupulous contractors via a transparent system.
Among the measures announced by the government on Thursday, several directly addressed calls from professional groups and lawmakers. These included setting up an independent body to support homeowners in renovation projects and criminalising bid-rigging. Other measures involve legal reforms and enhancements of oversight in the industry.