LCQ18: Construction safety for building maintenance works
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ18: Construction safety for building maintenance works Having consulted the HB, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, our consolidated reply to various parts of the question is as follows: In the past three years, the number of paper audits and site inspections conducted by the departments responsible for carrying out regulatory actions under the BO (namely the BD and ICU of the HB) in respect of the aforementioned building repair works are set out in tables 1 to 3 by repair works under MBIS and other minor works respectively. Due to time limitation, statistics on follow-up action related to the stated paper audits and site inspections have not yet been compiled.
Table 1: Relevant figures concerning cases that have completed the phase of building inspection under MBIS
YearTable 2: Relevant figures concerning cases that have completed building repair works under MBIS
YearTable 3: Other relevant figures on minor works that involve repair of external wall
Year Furthermore, in the past year, the relevant regulatory departments (namely the BD and ICU of the HB) conducted a total of about 370 on-site inspections on buildings undergoing repair works in response to public reports received.
The statistics on the prosecution and disciplinary actions taken under the relevant provisions of the BO against registered building professionals and registered contractors over the past three years that involved building repair works are tabulated below:
Year(2) From 2023 to 2025 (as of June), the Home Affairs Department (HAD) received 265, 408 and 102 complaints respectively concerning building management, totalling 775 cases. The HAD, BD and ICU of the HB do not maintain a breakdown of statistics on complaints involving works consultants of major building repair projects.
If contravention of the BO by registered building professionals and registered contractors is identified, the BD will initiate prosecution against the parties concerned based on the evidence and circumstances of individual cases. Registered building professionals or registered contractors involved in misconduct or negligence may also be subject to disciplinary action.
In early 2025, the Development Bureau proposed legislative amendments to the BO, amongst which it was proposed to enhance regulation of registered building professionals and registered contractors, including increasing maximum penalties against contraventions and enhancing the registration and disciplinary systems. Subsequent to the fire incident at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, we will introduce further legislative proposals, including upgrading major building repair works from mostly Class II minor works at present to Class I minor works, such that third-party professionals will be required to submit prescribed plans and supervision plans. Furthermore, the BD will step up audit checks and enforcement actions on a risk basis.
The HAD and its District Offices have been assisting owners of private buildings in handling issues related to building management and maintenance. When enquiries or complaints regarding building management or maintenance are received, the HAD will provide appropriate advice and assistance in the accordance with the relevant provisions of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344). If the subject matter involves professional aspect, such as supervision of works consultants, the HAD will refer the case to relevant professional department or institute for follow-up.
(3) Under the existing legislation, owners are required to appoint a RI to carry out mandatory building inspection and supervise prescribed repair works conducted by a registered contractor. The appointed RI assumes certain statutory duties, including submission of certificate of building inspection and certificate of building repair. In respect of the properties regulated by the ICU of the HB under the BO based on the authorisation by the Director of Buildings, its Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme Team will carry out paper audits and site inspections on a random basis, and conduct follow-up investigation in light of complaints and reports received. The LD will from time to time review and revise, if necessary, the existing codes of practice and guidance notes on a risk-based approach. The LD administers occupational safety and health legislation to safeguard the occupational safety and health of employees at work. The aforesaid requirements on protective materials such as scaffolding nets can also help safeguard the safety of employees. Besides, the LD is reviewing codes of practice related to scaffolding, setting out the material requirements for toe boards to ensure the materials used are of sufficient strength to prevent workers and objects from falling from scaffolds, as well as being able to reduce the fire risk. Issued at HKT 15:12