Hong Kong’s rail giant the MTR Corporation has suspended foundation works for the overhead cable at its Oyster Bay station project on Lantau Island due to signs of “upheaving”. The government said on Thursday that movement was recorded at the site two days earlier, prompting staff from the Buildings Department and the Electrical and Mechanical…
Hong Kong authorities should appeal against the “light” penalties imposed on two property owners for erecting illegal structures at their luxury Redhill Peninsula homes, experts have said, warning that the fines are not hefty enough to deter offenders. The specialists weighed in after the two property owners were told to pay more than HK$110,000 (US$14,015)…
Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority will examine whether legislation should be introduced requiring landlords to create periodic maintenance plans for their blocks and ensure sufficient funds for the work. The study would also cover the possibility of creating a new statutory body to supervise building restoration and maintenance, according to the authority’s retiring head, Wai…
Hong Kong industry leaders have called on new contractors to rehire workers and subcontractors from a local construction company that will lose its operating licence, to minimise delays in building 7,100 public homes. One construction sector leader also warned against a loophole that permits companies to re-register simply by changing the authorised person. Chau Sze-kit,…
A CK Asset residential project in Hong Kong is in the spotlight after the anti-corruption agency arrested 10 suspects and uncovered subcontractors allegedly offering incentives to site supervisors in exchange for lax oversight of subpar steel reinforcement work. The latest bribery scandal is not the only hiccup for the project in Kwun Tong, which had…
A bribery scandal involving a 10 per cent shortfall of steel rebar in a residential project under Hong Kong real estate giant CK Asset is the result of collective and wilful oversight at the construction site, independent engineers have warned. While describing the incident as rare, they agreed that the government should step up inspection…
Hong Kong’s government watchdog has urged the authorities to step up random checks on construction sites after its largest investigation in years found staff signing off on safety documents without carrying out actual inspections. The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday also called on authorities to speed up investigation procedures and take more rigorous disciplinary…
Only a quarter of homeowners at three upmarket Hong Kong estates exposed by a Post investigation have ceased occupying public land a year after the findings were published, while about 10 per cent have demolished their unauthorised structures. Experts said owners could have reasonable excuses for the delays, as they might be in the appeals…
Hong Kong authorities will speed up the approval of private construction projects and related foundational works that have already been allocated funding to prevent the industry from shrinking. The government announced the new measures on Friday amid concerns from the construction and architectural sectors that repeated failed land bids had prompted some firms to lay…