HONG KONG — Authorities in Hong Kong are investigating a sophisticated scheme involving the alleged use of fraudulent fire-retardant safety certificates for temporary scaffolding netting on major building renovation projects across the city, sparking widespread alarm among property owners and highlighting significant safety lapses in the construction sector.
The probe follows a devastating Category 5 fire that ripped through the Wan Fung Court housing complex in Tai Po, where investigators discovered a dangerous mixture of certified and non-compliant scaffolding nets had been deployed. This discovery has led to a sweeping criminal investigation, focusing on six distinct renewal projects citywide, police confirmed.
The investigations are currently centered on six residential developments: Bagua Villa in the Western District, Fung Wah Estate in Chai Wan, City Garden in North Point, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, Ching Lai Court in Cheung Sha Wan, and Man Ko Garden Building in Hung Hom. The cases are officially classified as “requests for police investigation” and are being handled by the Regional Crime Unit for Hong Kong Island. No arrests have been made in connection with the fraudulent certification scheme as of the latest update.
Mixed Scaffolding Exposed After Tai Po Blaze
The catalyst for the broader inquiry was the Wan Fung Court fire, which underscored the deceptive practices allegedly employed by contractors. Following the blaze, police arrested 15 individuals, including executives from the main contractor, engineering consultancy, and sub-contractors responsible for the scaffolding and exterior wall repairs, on suspicion of manslaughter.
Subsequent forensic analysis of 20 scaffolding net samples taken from the Wan Fung Court site revealed alarming inconsistencies. Seven of these samples failed to meet mandatory fire-retardant standards. Crucially, the non-compliant nets were predominantly located in areas that were difficult for inspectors to access, suggesting a deliberate attempt to evade official scrutiny. Samples taken from easily accessible locations generally passed the required flammability tests.
Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki previously condemned the practice, stating publicly that the individuals involved cunningly mixed standard and substandard safety netting specifically “to escape government inspection,” describing the actions as premeditated.
Fraudulent Documents Trigger Specific Investigation
Further raising concerns about systemic fraud, police recently launched a specific investigation into the Man Ko Garden Building project in Hung Hom. Last Thursday, police received a report alleging that the inspection certificate for the scaffolding enclosure netting at Block B of the building was fabricated.
As part of that inquiry, investigators seized a fire-retardant compliance report reportedly issued by the Binzhou Inspection and Testing Center. Authorities are now working to verify the authenticity of this and potentially other documents being used across the implicated sites.
The findings have cast a long shadow over the quality assurance measures in place for construction materials in Hong Kong. Property owners across the Special Administrative Region who are currently undertaking or planning façade repair work are now advised to demand rigorous verification of all fire-safety certification documentation for scaffolding materials.
Verification of necessary safety documents, particularly certificates related to flame resistance, is becoming an essential due diligence step for building owners to safeguard against potentially disastrous safety breaches and contractor misconduct during large-scale renovation projects. The investigation remains active and is expected to expand as authorities trace the origins of the allegedly fabricated inspection reports.
Leave a Reply