Residents back housing reforms after fatal fire, minister resigns
Hong Kong lawmakers and residents support government reforms to public housing oversight, including a new building control unit, after a fatal fire at Wang Fuk Estate. Housing Bureau Minister Ho Wing-yin resigned over the incident, which residents say showed accountability despite being a belated ap
Hong Kong lawmakers and residents have backed government reforms to improve public housing oversight after a fatal fire at Wang Fuk Estate, with Housing Bureau Minister Ho Wing-yin resigning over the incident.
The Housing Bureau said it would set up a Public Housing Building Control Unit next month to replace the existing Independent Inspection Unit. Lawmaker Leung Kwong-kwong told RTHK's Millennium programme that the former unit and the Buildings Department had unclear responsibilities, and that the reform should fix the problem. He said the authorities must step up random inspections and surprise checks on top of requiring professional self-regulation.
Lawmaker Chan Hok-fung said the government's planned Building Maintenance Support and Services Bureau could sever the ties between contractors, consultants and individual owners, and let third-party professionals handle the process, thus preventing graft. He also backed a steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to review and implement recommendations from an independent committee.
Mr Lee, a Wang Fuk Estate resident who called in to RTHK, said he agreed with the government's series of measures after the release of an independent report on the blaze, and appreciated that Ho Wing-yin had resigned over the incident. He said it showed she took responsibility, and although it was a belated apology it showed some care for residents.
He said the fire at Wang Fuk Estate had revealed many shocking things and he hoped they would not be repeated. He also raised concerns about the continuity of the government's measures and called for their effective implementation.
