The Hong Kong government, spurred by the worst apartment fire disaster in Nov. last year, has taken the drastic step of imposing a total smoking ban at construction sites and tightening oversight of renovation. The move is intended to reexamine construction site safety rules from the ground up to prevent a repeat of a major disaster that left more than 160 dead.
According to local media including Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK on the 19th, Chris Sun, Hong Kong Director General for Labour and Welfare, has begun amending the law to mandate a complete smoking ban at all construction sites. The existing rule allowed labor officials to order no smoking only after inspections in specific areas where flammable substances were present. Director General Sun said, "The current approach falls short of public expectations," adding, "We plan to prohibit smoking areas on site altogether."
Monitoring and penalties will also be significantly strengthened. Employers must install cigarette storage lockers at site entrances and put in place CCTV monitoring systems. Workers caught possessing or smoking cigarettes will be immediately expelled from the site. The Hong Kong Federation of Registered Construction Trades Unions said, "Workers caught will face tough sanctions, including a ban on working at all sites operated by the contractor in question."
The measure was directly prompted by the fire that broke out on Nov. 26 last year at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po. The blaze, which burned through seven apartment blocks and claimed 168 lives, is believed to have started on scaffolding erected for renovation work. Residents testified that cigarette butts were often seen on various parts of the scaffolding. To make matters worse, the safety nets and Styrofoam materials installed at the site fell short of fire-retardant standards, which fueled the flames.
Beyond simple on-site control, entrenched industry practices such as bid rigging and lax supervision have also been put on the operating table. Chief Executive John Lee signaled sweeping reforms, saying, "We will hold people strictly accountable based on facts, regardless of rank." To block bid-rigging, the Hong Kong government proposed allowing the Urban Renewal Authority to directly intervene in the process of selecting contractors on behalf of apartment owners.
At the same time, third-party expert supervision will be mandatory for large-scale renovation projects. In response to criticism that fire alarms did not function, a new rule will require approval from the Fire Services Department whenever key fire safety systems are temporarily shut off. Authorities also plan to compile and publish a list of vetted consultants and contractors based on past homeowners' reviews and official background checks.