Key facts
- The Buildings Department is investigating the One Stanley luxury residential project in Hong Kong.
- A complaint alleged that insufficient steel bars were used in construction, with one owner's analysis showing a 41% to 75% reduction in main steel bars in some areas.
- The department found a beam's protective layer lacked steel mesh and some floor slabs' steel bar configuration did not match approved plans.
- Previous inspections by the department had not identified any imminent danger.
- The department is analyzing test data and will prosecute any professionals or contractors found to have violated regulations.
Hong Kong's Buildings Department has initiated a probe into the construction quality of the luxury residential development One Stanley in the Southern district following a complaint from an owner. The owner alleged that insufficient steel bars were used in the construction of their unit, with an analysis commissioned by the owner indicating a significant reduction in the number of main steel bars and deviations in their spacing compared to approved plans. The developer, K&K Property, has stated that the construction strictly followed approved plans and applicable standards, and that non-destructive testing methods used by the owner's consultants may lack precision.
The Buildings Department confirmed it received the complaint in January 2024 and conducted on-site inspections in March and multiple times between June and September. During these inspections, the department found that a beam's protective layer lacked steel mesh as per the approved drawings, and the steel bar configuration in some floor slabs did not match the plans. While these issues were not deemed to pose an immediate danger, the department emphasized the need to address construction quality and is currently analyzing the collected data. The department has also requested the project's registered structural engineer to submit a report and relevant material test certificates. If the investigation reveals violations of the Buildings Ordinance by any construction professionals or contractors, the department stated it would pursue prosecution and/or disciplinary actions.