Hong Kong's new building maintenance system has received a positive response from the industry, with a pre-qualification list for works contractors attracting 350 applications, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Saturday (Oct. 31).
The government established the Building Maintenance Support and Services Council in response to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The bureau will handle tasks including tendering, bid evaluation and supervision, and is expected to prepare three pre-qualification lists by the end of the year, covering building inspection consultants, supervision consultants and works contractors.
Speaking on a radio programme on Oct. 31, Linn said the pre-qualification lists for building inspection consultants and supervision consultants had each received about 150 applications so far, while the list for works contractors had attracted 350 applications. She said the response reflected the industry's confidence in the new system.
Linn added that, in its first phase, the bureau would prioritize 1,800 projects under the Urban Renewal Authority's "Smart Tender" programme that have yet to appoint works contractors.
Of these projects, about 600 have not yet undergone building inspections. They will be given the highest priority, with building inspection consultants assigned as soon as possible to initiate the maintenance process.
Most of the remaining 1,200 projects have already appointed supervision consultants. These consultants will continue to prepare tender documents for the appointment of works contractors.
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