New buildings body to recruit about 90 staff: Linn

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn announced that the Building Maintenance Support and Services Council plans to hire approximately 90 individuals in the first phase. Following the tragic Wang Fuk Court fire last year, the government established this new body to assist homeowners with building maintenance and renovation tasks.

The council is set to launch by year-end, providing paid services for tendering and evaluation on behalf of property owners. Linn told a TV show that the new staff will comprise professionals, technical staff, support personnel, and administrative workers. The objective is to commence recruitment now, enabling the new hires to join phases and become fully operational between the start and middle of next year.

Regarding the two-envelope approach for projects, Linn suggested it could be utilized for more intricate projects, asserting that it does not necessarily increase costs. Linn emphasized that penalties, spot checks, and potentially a demerit points system would be stepped up to ensure quality control. Additionally, she revealed that over 1,000 training-related applications have been approved under the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund as of September.

Launched in 2018, the fund, overseen by the Construction Industry Council, provides financial support for construction technology training programs to businesses and organizations. Linn highlighted that the fund's total allocation reached HK$50 million, benefiting more than 400 companies and organizations. As of now, over 4,500 people have enrolled in courses offered by the Construction Industry Council during the past three years.

Linn pledged that her bureau will persist in fostering local training and harnessing technology to enhance overall construction productivity.