Hong Kong to classify 1,800 building repair projects under new scheme
Hong Kong's Development Bureau says about 1,800 building repair projects under the tender scheme will be classified and handled with help from a new support service office. More than 600 projects have not started inspection and will be prioritised.
Development Bureau Director Lin Hao said the Urban Renewal Authority still has about 1,800 building repair projects that were previously part of the tender scheme. These will be classified and handled with the help of a new building repair support and services office to be set up by the government.
Speaking on a radio programme, Lin said after analysing the projects, more than 600 have not yet started building inspections. These will be transferred to the new support services office, which will help assign inspection consultants and provide full assistance.
The remaining projects are more complicated. Some have already been inspected, or owners have signed contracts with consultants hired through the earlier tender scheme. The authority believes it is unnecessary to terminate those contracts under transitional arrangements. If the hired supervision consultant meets the standards on the government's pre-approved list, owners can continue using them and seek contractors. The new office can help with tendering and evaluation, offering three bids for owners to choose from.
If the supervision consultant is not on the pre-approved list, owners can discuss whether to replace them, even if a contract exists. The support office can help with replacement, and even if the consultant is not replaced, the office can still provide monitoring assistance. Lin said she hopes the new office, once established, will first handle the more than 600 projects that have not yet begun inspections.
Lin stressed that the reform is not just about administrative support but also involves legal enforcement. Therefore, the Buildings Ordinance must proceed in parallel with support services, complementing each other. The Buildings Department is responsible for enforcement, and amendments to strengthen the ordinance will soon be submitted to the Legislative Council. Once the amendments are passed, regulation of registered professionals and contractors involved in building repairs and other construction sectors will be strengthened.