Hong Kong's newly elected lawmakers will discuss a government motion to strengthen support for residents affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire at their first chamber meeting next Wednesday, but will skip a regular question session for officials. The meeting will also debate a lawmaker's motion calling for a review of the city's building maintenance system and a crackdown on bid rigging in renovation projects. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will give an opening speech.
Hong Kong's Legislative Council announced its agenda in the late hours of Friday for the first chamber meeting of the newly elected lawmakers, who assumed their posts on January 1. The meeting, set for next Wednesday, will discuss a government motion titled “support and rebuilding work after the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po,” presented by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki. This will focus on strengthening support for residents affected by the fire.
The catastrophic blaze at the residential complex in Tai Po started on November 26 and lasted 43 hours, claiming at least 160 lives and displacing nearly 5,000 residents. The estate had been undergoing renovations since July last year and was covered in scaffolding and mesh. Some scaffold net samples collected after the fire failed fire-retardant tests.
The chamber meeting will also debate a lawmaker's motion calling for a review of the city's building maintenance system and a crackdown on bid rigging in renovation projects. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will deliver an opening speech.
Notably, the session will skip the regular question time for officials, marking the first such arrangement for the new Legco. The fire has highlighted urgent needs in building safety and maintenance, with the lawmaker's motion aiming to drive systemic reforms.
