A deadly fire that destroyed a residential complex in Hong Kong has revealed major safety violations by the contractor responsible for renovating the building’s façade, according to Reuters.
Apartment owners were wrongly informed that the contractor selected for the renovation had a clean safety record. This incorrect guarantee was provided by the consulting firm Will Power Architects, which had been hired by the owners’ association to evaluate bids for the renovation project.
In reality, the contractor who won the job — Prestige Construction & Engineering Co. — had been penalized more than a dozen times over the past seven years by city safety authorities, according to official records. Violations included improper scaffolding installation and faulty electrical wiring.
The fines were issued for breaches of industrial safety laws between 2016 and 2019, according to documents from the Ministry of Labour.
This discovery raises serious questions about how Prestige secured a €36 million renovation contract following Will Power’s recommendation.
Both companies are now under investigation for manslaughter by negligence and corruption after the fire that killed at least 159 people.
Residents some with construction experience had repeatedly complained about workers smoking on-site and the use of highly flammable materials by Prestige, particularly on scaffolding. They also tried unsuccessfully to revoke the company’s contract.
Authorities confirmed that parts of the netting used by Prestige on the scaffolding did not meet fire safety standards, and the foam boards placed over windows during renovation were extremely flammable.
