The Eighth Legislative Council recently held its first meeting, passing a government motion on follow-up and support work related to the Wang Fuk Court fire, demonstrating a new phase of positive executive-legislative interaction. Multiple government departments and relevant units have swiftly implemented targeted improvement measures across various sectors. Among them, the independent committee established by the government to investigate the Wang Fuk Court fire visited two construction sites in Siu Sai Wan and Kwun Tong yesterday morning to observe the practical use of traditional bamboo scaffolding and metal scaffolding.
Later that afternoon, the Construction Industry Council announced that, commissioned by the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, 50,000 flame-retardant safety nets had been collectively procured for the industry in a one-off initiative. The first batch of 3,000 nets arrived in Hong Kong on Jan. 8 of this month and has completed testing. Distribution to 11 contractors began yesterday, with the nets to be used in 19 building maintenance projects. Representatives explained that these safety nets comply with both national and Hong Kong flame-retardant testing standards. Additionally, each safety net is embedded with an RFID chip and QR code, recording every step from production to on-site delivery and allowing access to its flame-retardant test report. This effectively prevents non-compliant materials from entering the market, ensuring "traceability for every single net."
50,000 Traceable Safety Nets Distributed in Batches
Efforts to standardize the safety of construction materials continue to progress. Earlier, commissioned by the Development Bureau, the Construction Industry Council conducted a one-off collective procurement of flame-retardant safety nets and tested their flame-retardant effectiveness. The first batch of safety nets began distribution to pre-ordered contractors yesterday afternoon. Ir Albert Cheng, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Hong Kong, stated that this procurement covers 418 buildings across Hong Kong, involving 89 contractors. The remaining batches are expected to be distributed to relevant contractors in early February based on project completion dates.
Cheng further explained that the collectively procured safety nets have undergone dual flame-retardant testing. The nets first completed the first phase of flame-retardant testing at the manufacturer's location in mainland China and obtained a compliance certificate. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, they were sent to qualified laboratories for a second phase of testing. Only after all batch samples passed the tests were they supplied to contractors. To enhance traceability management, each safety net is equipped with an RFID tracking system tag, recording key information such as the production location, batch, production date, two-phase test reports, contractor details, and usage sites, enabling full lifecycle traceability.
A Wen Wei Po reporter scanned the QR code label on a safety net using a mobile phone, revealing that the flame-retardant safety net was manufactured by Hongchang Plastic Net Factory, with a total production batch of 3,010 units and a delivery date of Jan. 7 of this month. The page provides comprehensive tracking of its journey, from material production and completion of the factory flame-retardant performance test report to shipment to a Hong Kong warehouse and subsequent sampling in a Hong Kong laboratory, with every step clearly documented.
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