Hong Kong’s Housing Department will tighten declaration-of-interest rules after a surveyor arrested on suspicion of manslaughter failed to disclose his role at the fire-ravaged estate where he worked as a service provider. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November killed 161 people. Industry leaders have warned that undeclared interests could create conflicts and undermine public confidence.
Hong Kong is set to tighten declaration-of-interest rules following the discovery that a surveyor arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over a deadly fire failed to disclose his role at the affected estate to the Housing Department, where he served as a service provider, the Post has learned.
The move by the Housing Department to bolster oversight comes after the arrest of 68-year-old Steve Wong Chung-kee in connection with the fatal blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November. The fire killed 161 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents.
Industry leaders have warned that failing to declare interests could create conflicts and undermine public confidence in the government. A department spokesman said in response to the Post: “Our existing contracts with service providers already stipulate that all engaged personnel must declare any conflicts of interest and sign an undertaking to comply with the law, confidentiality requirements and terms of appointment.” However, “during the period in which Wong was assigned to the department, he did not make any declarations.”
This incident highlights potential gaps in oversight for public housing maintenance, particularly in large estates like Wang Fuk Court.
