The Hong Kong Buildings Department (BD) today ordered the immediate suspension of work at 30 private construction sites across the city, citing severe safety management concerns primarily linked to excessive fire risks observed in recent projects. The sweeping directive affects 28 projects where Wing Yip Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. (Wing Yip) serves as the registered contractor, alongside two additional maintenance sites found using banned plastic sheeting to cover windows. Officials stated that a lack of confidence in Wing Yip’s ability to ensure site safety, highlighted by a recent major fire, was the catalyst for the unprecedented action.
The suspension, announced Friday, follows a robust investigation into a recent multi-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The fire exposed critical shortcomings in safety protocols, notably the extensive use of flammable foam board materials to seal windows during façade repair work. The BD, operating under Section 23(1)(b)(iii) of the Buildings Ordinance, immediately ordered Wing Yip to cease all operations where it is the principal contractor. This includes 11 private building maintenance projects and 17 addition and alteration schemes.
Contractors Must Prove Safety Before Restarting Work
The two non-Wing Yip related sites ordered to stop involved ongoing maintenance at Fortune Garden in North Point and China Travel Service Building in Central. Registered contractors for these projects—Fulin Engineering Fabrication Co., Ltd. and Yuen Fat Engineering Co., Ltd., respectively—were also instructed to immediately remove plastic sheeting used to cover windows. The BD is currently seeking legal advice regarding potential penalties for these contractors.
Crucially, none of the 30 suspended projects will be permitted to resume until the assigned contractors complete rigorous, independent safety audits and submit comprehensive improvement plans approved by the Buildings Department.
“The decision to issue these work suspension orders is designed to better safeguard the well-being of both construction workers and the public,” a BD spokesperson stated. “We must be assured that they possess an effective safety management system before considering allowing any resumption of work.”
For Wing Yip, the suspension mandates a thorough review of its entire safety management apparatus. The speed at which projects can restart now hinges on how quickly and convincingly contractors can implement safety upgrades that satisfy the department’s stringent requirements.
Wider Safety Sweep Underway Across Hong Kong
The suspensions are part of a broader, intensified safety crackdown prompted by growing concerns over construction site compliance. As of today, the Buildings Department has inspected approximately 250 buildings currently undergoing external façade work. Inspectors are actively sampling site netting and hoarding materials to ensure they meet non-combustible standards.
The department warned that any discovery of further use of foam or plastic panels to cover windows, or any non-compliant fire-retardant materials, will result in immediate follow-up enforcement action, with the BD promising public disclosure of all findings and ensuing measures.
This unprecedented move highlights Hong Kong’s zero-tolerance policy following incidents that endanger public safety in densely populated urban areas, placing significant pressure on construction firms to prioritize regulatory compliance and worker safety above all else. Project progress will remain secondary until safety integrity is definitively proven.
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