Last month, a tragic fire at the Wah Fung Building claimed the lives of five individuals, revealing that the building had long failed to comply with mandatory inspections and orders. The Building Ordinance has been criticized for its inadequate enforcement. Wan Po-mei, Director of Buildings Department, stated that legislative amendments will be proposed within this year for public consultation. The proposed amendments aim to streamline prosecution procedures to lower the threshold for prosecution while strengthening penalties, covering mandatory inspections, window inspections, and unauthorized building works.
During a meeting at the Central and Western District Council, Wan Po-mei mentioned that last year’s Policy Address proposed a review and amendment of the Building Ordinance. The department will enhance cooperation with the Fire Services Department to improve fire safety in older buildings, including issuing fire safety instructions promptly. She mentioned that the department has conducted over 1,300 inspections in the Central and Western District, issuing over a thousand fire safety instructions. Future inspections will be further intensified.
Some council members expressed concerns about poorly handled old unauthorized building works leading to the emergence of new unauthorized constructions. Some contractors have been uncooperative, causing delays in fire safety works in certain buildings. Suggestions were made to establish a blacklist for such contractors. Wan believes that this issue is partly due to insufficient public education and plans to amend the legislation to allow for immediate prosecution when unauthorized building works are discovered, enhancing deterrence. She also welcomed district councilors to report uncooperative contractors for follow-up actions.
In response to a suggestion from council members about making the “Building Renewal Mega Campaign” a regular initiative, Wan Po-mei clarified that while many residents hoped for government subsidies to address building safety issues, property owners still bear the responsibility to maintain their properties. She raised concerns about the long-term consumption of public resources, questioning if constantly reassuring residents that the government will take care of repairs is sustainable. She emphasized the need for all stakeholders to contemplate these issues.
Addressing concerns raised by council members, the Water Leakage Investigation Office received 45,000 cases for assistance last year, with 60% categorized as non-investigable. Some residents reported difficulties in reaching the office for assistance despite multiple attempts over a week.
Wan Po-mei explained that the increase in non-investigable cases in recent years is primarily due to a significant rise in minor water leakage cases, indicating a shift in public tolerance towards water leakage. Lowering the threshold for acceptable water leakage levels makes it more challenging to identify the source of the issue. The department will explore more effective solutions to handle complaints.