Lawmakers flag gaps in proposed changes to building management rules after Tai Po fire

Hong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns about potential implementation difficulties in a government plan to strengthen oversight of building maintenance following the Tai Po fire. The proposal, announced alongside a second wave of raids by the Competition Commission into a bid-rigging case, includes five major amendments to the Buildings Management Ordinance.

Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu expressed worry over whether the new proxy vote regulations would cover other issues beyond large-scale maintenance projects, such as management company switches and elections for incorporated owners. Tang suggested authorities should consider the relationship between owners and proxies, and whether owners could authorize non-family members or other owners to vote on non-maintenance matters.

The proposed amendments introduce a three-tier system for quorum formation and in-person voting thresholds at owners' meetings, with stricter attendance and voting requirements for high-value projects. Critics, including lawmaker Chris Ip Ngo-tung, argued that limiting proxy holdings may not address underlying issues and could be difficult to enforce, particularly in older buildings.

The Competition Commission has intensified enforcement efforts, conducting raids on 12 premises related to the ongoing bid-rigging case involving 28 estates and HK$500 million in contracts.