Government suspends 30 projects after safety concerns

A safety audit will be required before resumption of operations.

The Buildings Department (BD) ordered immediate temporary suspension of works on 30 private building projects amidst safety concerns, according to a press release. 

The suspension affects 28 projects where Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, Limited (PC&E) is the registered contractor, plus two additional maintenance projects where plastic sheeting was found to be used. 

The decision followed a recent fatal fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which exposed serious deficiencies in site safety management by PC&E, notably the extensive use of foam boards to seal windows during repairs.

PC&E-managed projects include 11 private building repairs and 17 additions or alterations works. For the two other suspended maintenance projects, the contractors, Fulam Construction Engineering Company Limited and Yuen Fat Construction Engineering Limited, have been directed to remove plastic sheeting and may face legal penalties under the relevant ordinance. 

BD required the affected contractors to conduct independent safety audits, submit improvement plans, and implement corrective measures before any works may resume.