Contractor failed to supervise smoking workers, residents say in Tai Po fire hearing
Residents testify workers smoked at site, Competition Commission may sue firms for alleged bid-rigging.
A critical public hearing into the Tai Po fire tragedy, which claimed 168 lives at the Wang Fuk Court estate, continued with damning resident testimony on its fourth day. Multiple residents described a scene of negligence, reporting that workers for the renovation contractor were regularly seen smoking on the premises and that piles of rubbish accumulated outside the building. One resident explicitly linked this to "a huge problem with the contractor’s supervision." Additional testimony revealed alarming emergency response delays, with one witness stating she waited "for a long time" before getting through to the police hotline to report the blaze.
In a significant parallel development, the Competition Commission's executive director for legal services announced the body is considering legal action against two key firms involved in the estate's renovation. The commission may sue Will Power Architects Company, the project consultant, and Prestige Construction and Engineering, the main contractor, for alleged bid-rigging. This allegation suggests possible corruption in the procurement process for the renovation work. The hearing follows earlier sessions where government lawyers rejected claims of a conspiracy to conceal flammable materials, arguing the contractor lacked time to plan such a deception before a crucial inspection.
- Residents testified that contractor Prestige Construction failed to supervise workers, who were regularly seen smoking at the Wang Fuk Court renovation site.
- The Competition Commission may sue consultant Will Power Architects and contractor Prestige Construction for alleged bid-rigging related to the project.
- The independent committee's hearing is investigating the causes of the fire that killed 168 people, with testimony pointing to multiple systemic failures.
Why It Matters
The hearing exposes potential links between contractor negligence, procurement corruption, and one of Hong Kong's deadliest fires, driving accountability.