On the second day of evidential hearings into Hong Kong's deadliest fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, senior counsel Victor Dawes revealed how residents were misled into selecting a convicted contractor amid widespread bid-rigging and corruption in construction tenders.
The inquiry into the November blaze at Wang Fuk Court—which killed 168 and left nearly 5,000 homeless—continued on Friday with revelations of procurement irregularities in the estate's renovation project. Building on Thursday's focus on safety oversight failings, leading counsel Victor Dawes highlighted suspicious connections between the selected contractor, a convicted firm, and five competitors during the tender process, suggesting under-the-table relationships. 'The information received from law enforcement is consistent, that such practice is widespread and common in the market,' Dawes said. Hearings also addressed allegations that an engineering consultant accepted a monthly stipend to rubber-stamp tender evaluations, including recommending the most expensive contractor option for Wang Fuk Court. Involved parties include Will Power Architects Company, Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit, China Status Development and Engineering, Fire Services Department, and Prestige Construction and Engineering Co.
