Following the deadly November 26 Tai Po fire that killed 161 and displaced 5,000 at Wang Fuk Court, Hong Kong's Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho pledged stricter building safety laws, vowing no leniency for construction sector loopholes and government takeover of risky renovations.
On Saturday, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, speaking on a radio programme, called for a 'thorough review of the existing system with a heavy hand' amid public scrutiny of construction practices after the 43-hour blaze.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had earlier committed to systemic reforms. Linn warned of unscrupulous property owners infiltrating owners’ corporations for illegal maintenance schemes. New post-fire inspection rules have delayed some renovations posing safety risks, prompting government intervention to prioritize public safety and prevent recurrences.
