Hong Kong security chief pledges support for lawful mourning, vows to tackle building repair bid-rigging
Hong Kong's security chief says authorities will assist lawful mourning for victims of a fire in Tai Po. He also outlines measures to combat bid-rigging in building maintenance, including criminalising anti-competitive behaviour and setting up a joint task force.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Siu-keung, said on 5 November that the government fully understands that family members and friends of residents affected by a fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po may wish to hold mourning activities in the coming days. He stated that any such activities, as long as they are handled according to the law and in accordance with legal procedures, the authorities will certainly provide assistance.
Mr Tang made the remarks after attending a meeting of the Fight Crime Committee. He also addressed an independent committee's report on the Wang Fuk Court incident, saying the Security Bureau would follow up on its findings.
To prevent bid-rigging from happening again, Mr Tang said the authorities would pursue a multi-pronged approach, focusing on three areas: amending legislation, coordinating law enforcement, and frontline prevention.
The government plans to introduce legislation to prohibit and crack down on bid-rigging in building maintenance works. The proposed amendments would criminalise four types of serious anti-competitive behaviour, Mr Tang said.
In addition, a cross-departmental joint task force will be established, along with a special operational mechanism targeting bid-rigging syndicates, to step up enforcement against illegal activities in building maintenance, he added.
