The Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Hong Kong Tai Po Wang Fuk Yuen fire held its second round of hearings on April 2nd. Four individuals testified, including Tang Qinglin, a plumber from the Hong Tai Fire Engineering Co., Ltd., director and engineer Chung Kit Man, director Leung Ping Kei of China Development Engineering Co., Ltd., and Assistant Director (Licensing and Approval) Jiang Shiming of the Fire Services Department.
Tang Qinglin testified that he joined Hong Tai Fire in 2015 and, after the annual fire inspection at Wang Fuk Yuen last October, he and two other employees were sent to conduct repairs, including changing fire hose nozzles. They had to go to the rooftop to close the fire tank water valve to prevent accidents from water rushing out during repairs. It was found that the tanks in Wang Yan House, Wang To House, and Wang Sun House had no water.
During his testimony, Tang claimed that worker Cai Jinlong closed the valves for the three buildings. However, Commission representative and barrister Li Shuhuan questioned Tang’s written statement, which indicated that he had closed the valves himself. Tang then changed his statement to say that he had closed the valves.
Tang further testified that after discovering the tanks were empty, he sought instructions from company director Chung Kit Man. Chung asked him to inquire with the estate’s project officer Lam Man-Yan, who explained that the tanks were empty due to maintenance. Chung then asked Tang to check with Lam for the “tag paper” (fire device shutdown notice), to which Lam responded that it had been tagged.
Tang Qinglin admitted he only saw the tanks in the three buildings were empty, while he did not personally check the other five buildings. When asked why the valves needed to be reopened after repairs if there was no water, Tang explained it was part of the procedure, “I closed it, so I have to reopen it.”
Government-appointed senior barrister Sun Jingqian questioned why Tang Qinglin did not mention the inquiry about the “tag paper” in his earlier testimony, to which Tang claimed he had forgotten.
Director Chung Kit Man of Hong Tai Fire testified for the second time today. Barrister Li Shuhuan presented a “Fire Device and Installation Certificate” showing a broken upper water pipe and empty tank in Wang Fuk Yuen in April last year. Chung stated that upon inspection and reviewing photos, they believed it was a natural breakage.
Previously, the hearing revealed WhatsApp messages between the management company of Wang Fuk Yuen and Chung Kit Man. Chung was concerned that the tanks were empty, stating that testing completion couldn’t be confirmed without water. The response was that water had been replenished.
On November 21st last year, Zheng Zhiying sent 15 photos to Chung Kit Man, who forwarded them to the work group of Hong Tai Fire, but it was discovered that the photos were from August and no further action was taken.
Li Shuhuan pointed out that Chung Kit Man was absent during the annual inspection in March, the pipe burst in April, and the repairs in October and November last year, criticizing him for relying on employees to relay what had happened. He questioned whether this was a responsible approach for a registered fire device contractor. Chung admitted it was not ideal and attributed it to being too busy.
Furthermore, Chung Kit Man claimed that on November 21st last year, he had a phone call with Zheng Zhiying to request the “tag paper” and the “remove tag paper” (certificate for restoring the fire system), but Zheng denied it. Call records showed a missed call from Chung that day.
Senior barrister representing ISS, Hui Wai-keung, showcased phone records indicating a brief conversation lasting about 9 seconds, to which Chung mentioned the short call and stated Zheng had responded, and they were in the process of obtaining the relevant call records.
The fire device contractor China Development Engineering Co., Ltd., employed by the main constructor of the major repair project, stated that it had submitted the “Fire Device Shutdown Notice” for Wang Fuk Yuen to the Fire Services Department 16 times. Director Leung Ping Kei of China Development testified today. Senior barrister Du Gankun, representing the Independent Commission, mentioned that China Development had been delisted for three weeks by the Disciplinary Committee of Registered Fire Device Contractors for not notifying the Fire Services Department of shutting down the fire sprinkler system without authorization.
Leung Ping Kei stated that another director was responsible for the project. When asked if they had reviewed internal systems due to this issue, Leung mentioned that since the new regulations in 2021, only projects on one floor didn’t require tagging.
Du Gankun also cited Leung Ping Kei’s testimony, stating that China Development only provided fire extinguishers and submitted the “tag paper” to the fire department without inspecting the devices at Wang Fuk Yuen. Du likened China Development to a rubber stamp, to which Leung agreed, stating, “Hong Yip asks, and we deliver.”
Leung further testified that it was believed that the fire systems in the eight buildings of Wang Fuk Yuen would be shut down in batches for a year during the project, and the quote included applying for a year of Temporary Fire Water Supply (SDN) for Wang Fuk Yuen.
During the hearing, an SDN form filled out and signed by China Development for Hong Sheng House was shown, lacking the option “the fire system shutdown is no longer the responsibility of this company for the project.” Leung agreed that it led the Fire Services Department to believe that China Development was responsible for the project.
Du Gankun pointed out that China Development had submitted a total of 85 SDNs for Hong Yip under the instruction of Hong Yip, likening it to a “mechanical operation” with submissions every 14 days until completion.
It was revealed during the hearing that Leung had urged Hong Yip in a WhatsApp group to expedite the project completion and mentioned that the Fire Services Department required adding a “Fire Device and Equipment Certificate” (FS251) to each SDN promptly, stating they couldn’t delay submitting to the department for too long. Leung admitted this was in violation of the Fire Services Department’s requirements.
Moreover, Leung mentioned that Hong Yip claimed someone was handling the fire device and that the management office prevented China Development’s personnel from entering the pump room. Du questioned the plausibility of this claim, to which Leung agreed it was absurd but did not inform Hong Yip that their actions were unlawful.