Chief Executive John Lee delivered the new Policy Address today (Sept. 16). Lee said that after the Wang Fuk Court fire, he set up an independent committee to investigate the cause of the blaze and its rapid spread, and made clear that responsibility would be pursued. To date, the police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have jointly charged seven individuals and two companies with a total of 25 offences, including suspected manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The Labour Department has also brought a total of 25 prosecutions against contractors and engineering consultants for suspected breaches of occupational safety and health legislation. The Buildings Department has brought a total of 259 prosecutions against four individuals and two companies, including for the suspected use of non-compliant materials.
Lee said some reforms should be given priority. The government has already taken forward a number of strengthening measures, tightening regulatory enforcement and initiating legislative amendments, including:
(i) Implement a comprehensive smoking ban on construction sites after legislative amendments to the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and related anti-smoking legislation.
(ii) Embark on the amendment of the Fire Services Ordinance to enhance regulation on fire service installations and equipment (FSI) and their contractors, introduce the FSI responsible persons' regime, raise penalties and expand the enforcement powers of the Fire Services Department (FSD), with an aim to submit relevant proposals to the LegCo this year.
(iii) Expand the scope of amendments to the Buildings Ordinance, including the enhancement of the statutory control regime for major building maintenance works, imposing more stringent regulation and heavier penalties, and tightening the disciplinary mechanism for professionals and contractors to impose stringent penalties on non-compliance. The relevant proposals will be submitted to the LegCo this year.
(iv) Take forward legislative amendments to the Building Management Ordinance to impose a higher attendance requirement and voting threshold for decisions on large-scale maintenance procurement, improve the system for proxy instruments and optimise the system for declaration of interests. The relevant public consultation has been completed, with the target of submitting the proposal to the LegCo this year.
(v) Conduct a legal study on the criminalisation of bid-rigging in major building maintenance works and submit the relevant proposal to the LegCo this year.
(vi) Launch, for the first time, tender invitation and evaluation services for owners in engaging consultants and contractors.(vii) Establish more rigorously vetted "pre-qualified lists" of consultants and contractors to complement owners' support services, including conducting background checks by law enforcement agencies. Invitation for applications will begin in September this year, and the lists will be available, progressively, from the end of 2026.
In addition, the government is studying feasible options to better assist residents in handling the professional issues involved in large-scale maintenance works. The independent committee is also examining and analysing a large volume of written statements, reports, and evidence, and will submit its report by the end of October. The government will actively study the report and follow up on its recommendations, carry out reforms, and announce the details.
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