Hong Kong authorities plan major reforms including criminalising bid-rigging and overhauling fire safety and property management laws after concluding an inquiry into the city’s deadliest fire in decades.
The inquiry examined the November 26 fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. Substandard materials used in a HK$336 million maintenance project accelerated the blaze, and investigators identified at least two bid-rigging syndicates potentially linked to the tender.
The Competition Commission aims to submit proposals to criminalise bid-rigging as early as September, allowing legislative amendments by year end. The committee report, originally due sooner, will now be delayed until late October because of extra document review time.
Political observers expect senior officials including ministers to take accountability once the report is submitted.
