Key facts
- Hong Kong's planned renovation monitoring body could be liable for poor oversight.
- Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho issued the warning.
- Reforms aim to curb malpractice in major building repairs.
- A deadly fire in November killed 168 people and displaced thousands.
- Housing Secretary Winnie Ho resigned following the fire investigation.
- Substandard materials and inadequate supervision contributed to the fire's spread.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, has warned that a planned renovation monitoring body could face liability for inadequate oversight of consultants and contractors. This statement comes as officials detail broader reforms to combat malpractice in major building repairs. The reforms follow a devastating fire in November that killed 168 people and displaced thousands, exposing significant regulatory failures. An investigation found deficiencies in multiple government departments, leading to the resignation of Housing Secretary Winnie Ho. Proposed measures include criminalizing bid-rigging and establishing a new organization to support residents during maintenance projects.