HK may ban smoking at building sites

Hong Kong developers are considering a total smoking ban at construction sites following the fatal blaze in Tai Po last week, which claimed at least 159 lives. Thirty-one people are still missing.

The fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Nov 26 also left 79 people injured. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday evening that all patients are out of danger. Thirty remain hospitalized, with six in serious condition and 24 stable. Forty-nine others have been discharged.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged on Friday to continue strengthening psychological support for those affected by the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, after inspecting the operation of the government-run 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline.

He said he hoped that society would extend mutual support to help residents return to normal life as soon as possible, while reiterating that assistance for the victims would not cease and that efforts would be continuously scaled up.

The disaster has raised public concern about smoking at construction sites. Residents have reported seeing workers repeatedly smoking at the site during the major renovation project.

Since the fire, no-smoking notices have been posted at some construction sites, warning that anyone in violation of the order faces a fine of HK$5,000 ($642), immediate expulsion from the site, and possibly being permanently barred from employment in construction.

Stewart Leung Chi-kin, chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong, said he and almost all members of the association agree that smoking should be officially banned at construction sites. He added that contractors should bear responsibility for the ban's implementation. If the association reaches a consensus, guidelines will be issued to all developers, Leung said.

A spokesperson for CK Asset Holdings Ltd said that smoking has always been strictly prohibited at its construction sites and that it provides designated smoking areas for workers.

In an ongoing push to enhance construction safety standards in the wake of the Tai Po fire, several Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government departments have intensified regulatory inspections and enforcement measures related to building maintenance and construction sites.

As of Thursday, the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau had visited four Home Ownership Scheme housing estates — Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin, Ching Lai Court and Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, and On Kay Court in Kwun Tong — as well as Fung Wah Estate in Chai Wan, under the Tenants Purchase Scheme, to oversee contractors' compliance with an order to remove exterior protective netting from buildings undergoing major maintenance.

The Housing Department reported on Thursday that it had completed the removal of netting across 15 public housing estates, following a directive from the Development Bureau for the removal of all nets by Saturday.

The checking squad, together with structural engineering experts and professionals from the Housing Department, will also extract concrete core samples from Wang Fuk Court next week for detailed structural analysis. Further support works in damaged units will be carried out with emergency maintenance contractors, the Police Force, and the Fire Services Department.

Edward Chan Sai-cheong, deputy chairman of the structural discipline advisory panel at the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, said temporary reinforcement measures can ensure a building is free from immediate danger, after which further repairs need to be carried out as required.

Regarding the judge-led independent committee to be established by the government to probe the tragedy, the president of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Roden Tong Man-lung, said that its effectiveness can only be assessed after the government clearly defines its scope of work.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen swiftly provided relief supplies to Hong Kong, including rescue equipment and medical supplies, and quickly established green channels for round-the-clock customs clearance of those supplies to ensure their smooth transportation, according to the Emergency Management Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.