'Revolutionary change aimed for building maintenance'

Government officials in Hong Kong are seeking to bring about a significant transformation in the building maintenance industry following a tragic incident at the Wang Fuk Court. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam stated that the government's goal is to effect "a revolutionary change" to the entire sector. He made this statement while authorities prepare to present legislative amendments to the Legislative Council during the current year.

These changes aim to reform the building maintenance and renovation system, as well as tackle bid-rigging activities.

Lam expressed concern over the current state of the market, noting that "the fat of the meat" is too rich, and the market has become almost monopolized by dishonest contractors. He emphasized that "bad money drives out good," leading to a situation where genuinely decent maintenance workers and professionals are unwilling to participate in the market. This, Lam suggested, has left people with no choice but to deal with bad actors.

To address this issue, Lam proposed that the first step should be to drive out the bad actors from the market, creating an environment where highly professional and honest individuals would be willing to re-enter. He also emphasized that authorities should assist homeowners in finding suitable contractors and professionals, ensuring that construction works are carried out safely and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau discussed the complexities of bid-rigging, which includes price-fixing and market sharing. Yau believes that criminalizing such activities would grant the authorities greater powers to combat bid-rigging, expressing hope that the legislative amendments could be approved by April of the following year.