HONG KONG -- Hong Kong officials on Wednesday proposed expanding oversight of building maintenance projects and stronger fire safety steps after a blaze in November killed at least 161 people and displaced thousands.The blaze that spread across seven towers in an apartment complex raised questions about corruption, negligence and government oversight in the city's building maintenance projects, piling pressure on Hong Kong leader John Lee’s administration and Beijing’s “patriots-only” governance system for the city.
In the newly elected legislature's first meeting, Lee said the fire exposed the need for reform and pledged that the investigation by law enforcement agencies and a judge-led independent committee would be thorough.“We will fairly pursue accountability and take disciplinary action based on facts against anyone who should bear responsibility, regardless of whether they are from within or outside the government, or whether they are junior or senior staff,” Lee said.To combat bid-rigging, Lee's administration proposed that the Urban Renewal Authority play a greater role in helping homeowners choose contractors for building maintenance projects.
Officials planned to set up a preselected list of consultants and contractors based on official background checks and past reviews from homeowners.The authority would facilitate homeowners in tendering and bid evaluation more.
Popular ReadsState Department warns US citizens to leave VenezuelaJan 11, 10:28 PMMinneapolis ICE shooting updates: Protests remain peaceful despite arrestsJan 10, 11:20 PMFBI releases images of seized motorcycles as search for Ryan Wedding continuesDec 30, 4:51 PMThe government also suggested requiring big renovation projects to hire a third-party professional to supervise the work, necessitating fire department's approval before shutting down major fire safety installations, and banning smoking on any construction site.Proposals for law changes linked to the smoking ban were e...