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A deadly fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court has raised questions about contractor safety and regulatory oversight. Documents reveal residents were wrongly assured that Prestige Construction had a clean safety record, despite multiple past violations. Homeowners repeatedly raised concerns over fire hazards and rising renovation costs, attempting to revoke the contract. Following the blaze, Prestige and consulting firm Will Power are under manslaughter and anti-corruption investigations. Authorities report that substandard scaffolding mesh and flammable foam boards contributed to the fire, which claimed at least 159 lives, marking Hong Kong's deadliest incident since 1948.
Homeowners at Wang Fuk Court were assured by the consulting firm Will Power Architects that Prestige Construction, hired for the estate's renovation, had no safety violations. However, records from Hong Kong's Labour Department show that Prestige had been fined more than a dozen times between 2016 and 2019 for workplace safety breaches, including improperly installed scaffolding and faulty electrical work. Advertisement
Prestige won a HKD 330 million (USD 42.4 million) renovation contract based on Will Power's recommendation. Residents, many with construction experience, expressed repeated concerns about workers smoking on-site and the use of flammable materials. They attempted to revoke the contract, but legal advice and corporate procedures prevented immediate action.
Investigations following the Nov. 26 fire, which killed at least 159 people, revealed that scaffolding mesh and window-protection foam boards did not meet fire-safety standards. Authorities stated that contractors had mixed substandard material with certified mesh to mislead inspectors. Both Prestige and Will Power are now facing manslaughter and anti-corruption probes, and several personnel from both firms have been arrested.
Wang Fuk Court, built in the 1980s, consists of eight government-subsidized towers with approximately 2,000 small units, primarily occupied by blue-collar workers and senior citizens. Renovation work included exterior cladding refurbishment, fire-safety upgrades, and pipe replacements. Initially, Prestige's bid ranked highly among 57 submissions, supported by the consultant's claim of a spotless safety record.
By early 2024, the project's cost had more than doubled from the initial HKD 150 million (USD 19.3 million). Residents submitted petitions to replace the homeowners' board and cancel Prestige's contract, citing high costs and safety concerns. The board initially questioned the petitions' validity. A special meeting during a typhoon in September 2024 installed new leadership, but the contract was not revoked after legal counsel warned of potential liability for owners.
The new board actively monitored the project, forming volunteer teams to review fire-safety risks and oversee construction. Residents documented possible safety violations with photographs and videos, including meetings with Prestige to clarify material safety. Despite these efforts, individual homeowners still took additional precautions. One retired electrician and plumber personally replaced foam boards with fire-retardant materials and kept scaffolding moist, though his efforts could not prevent the disaster.
Past records also indicate that Prestige faced fines totaling HKD 309,000 (USD 39,700) for 15 workplace safety violations and additional penalties of HKD 139,000 (USD 17,850) for misconduct in earlier projects. The Buildings Department barred the company from specific projects for four months, reflecting a history of regulatory non-compliance.
Source Reuters
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