Will Tai Po fire reforms wipe out collusion in Hong Kong’s building maintenance industry?

AI Summary

Hong Kong’s proposed reforms to the building maintenance sector are intended to curb bid-rigging and other entrenched misconduct after the Tai Po fire. Observers say restoring public trust will depend on sustained implementation, and note the proposals do not address falsified records.

A raft of reforms to overhaul Hong Kong’s building maintenance sector has been hailed as a bold first step in tackling bid-rigging and other deep-rooted problems, but observers said its success would depend on the determination and persistence to implement them to restore public trust. They said the reforms signalled a departure from the government’s long-standing reliance on the self-discipline of industry professionals, but highlighted a notable absence of measures to tackle falsified...