The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government is proceeding with the investigation into the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire and territory-wide building regulation checks in parallel. On Wednesday night (Dec. 3), Secretary for Security Chris Tang announced that flame-retardant test certificates for scaffolding nets at Chai Wan Fung Wah Estate and Fortress Hill Fortress Garden are suspected fakes, involving the use of false instruments. The case is now with the Hong Kong Island Crime Unit.
To ensure public safety, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn ordered all buildings under major renovation in Hong Kong to remove exterior scaffolding nets by this Saturday (Dec. 6). The move affects over 200 private buildings and about a dozen public housing estates or government buildings.
The Buildings Department aims to issue a new code of practice next week, requiring on-site sampling and pre-installation testing of all net materials.
Tang told media the certificates claimed nets from Shandong Chenxu Chemical Fiber Rope Co., Ltd. passed tests by the National Quality Inspectionand Testing Centrefor Labour Protective Equipment or the Binzhou inspection and testing center.
Police found the first center did not issue the certificate, and the second could not be contacted. All company contacts were invalid. "No matter who breaks the law, we will definitely pursue it to the end," Tang said. The government has contacted the mainland authorities for cooperation and is tracing the supplier and other sites using the suspect nets.
Nets removed at Richland Gardens, remain at Fung Wah Estate
A Wen Wei Po reporter saw nets removed at Fortress Garden Wednesday night, but Fung Wah Estate remained wrapped.
Linn stated that, based on the latest situation, there are suspicions of document forgery. To ensure public safety and alleviate concerns for property owners and residents, the government believes that a strict approach should be taken. It has been announced that all buildings currently undergoing major renovations across Hong Kong, including both public and private properties as well as government buildings, must have their scaffolding removed immediately if it is present on the exterior walls.
The relevant departments responsible for inspections will promptly contact the respective contractors, instructing them to complete the removal of scaffolding within the next three working days, by this Saturday or earlier. If any individual cases cannot be completed on time, the relevant review departments must be notified in advance to assess whether there are reasonable grounds for any extension. It is estimated that there are over 200 private buildings undergoing major renovations and featuring scaffolding across Hong Kong, along with more than ten cases involving public housing or government buildings.
The government later said four Home Ownership Scheme Courts – Sha Tin Sui Wo Court, Sham Shui Po Ching Lai Court, Sham Shui Po Yee Kok Court, and Kwun Tong On Kay Court– are removing nets. Fung Wah Estate (contractor suspected of forging scaffolding certificate) has started. Nets at 15 public housing estates are to be fully removed today.
The Buildings Department To Require That Scaffolding Must Meet Standards Before It Can Be Erected
She pointed out that the request to remove scaffolding is made with the aim of ensuring public safety, hence a strict approach is preferred. This does not imply that the scaffolding is non-compliant; the specific situation will be determined after test results are received. In addition, the Buildings Department will strive to issue new operational guidelines next week, requiring that all scaffolding materials must undergo on-site sampling upon delivery to the construction site. Only those that pass inspection by designated testing laboratories will be allowed to be erected. The Buildings Department has already discussed the details of these guidelines with industry representatives.
Furthermore, Bernadette Linn noted that following the major fire at Wang Fuk Court, various departments, including the Buildings Department, the Housing Bureau's independent review team, and the Buildings Department, have been sampling buildings involved in large-scale renovation projects. Over 300 buildings have been sampled, with the Buildings Department sampling 300 private buildings. Each building is rigorously examined both at the upper, middle, and lower levels, including high positions, and thousands of samples are being collected by scaffolding workers. These samples are being sent to designated laboratories for testing.
If test reports indicate that the scaffolding does not meet standards, the government will pursue accountability and follow up in accordance with the Building Ordinance and other related criminal statutes, she emphasized.
(Source: Wen Wei Po, English Editor: Wynnea Tian, Kiki)
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