Chief Executive says Buildings Department investigating One Stanley construction and supervision

Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday (October 6) that the Buildings Department was investigating the One Stanley case in Stanley to determine whether it involved construction quality issues and whether site supervision had been adequate. The Government would deal with any breaches strictly in accordance with the law. He had asked the Development Bureau to monitor the investigation and review construction standards across the industry, while raising regulatory requirements and penalties.

The remarks concern construction quality and supervisory responsibility in Hong Kong's residential and building works. Lee said the investigation would examine whether the professionals involved in the project had properly discharged their supervisory duties and whether the contractor had carried out works in breach of regulations. The Development Bureau will submit proposals this year to amend the Buildings Ordinance, covering tighter regulation and stronger disciplinary measures and penalties. Regulation of professionals and contractors will be a key focus.

Lee said the investigation was still under way and he would not comment on the details of the case at this stage. But he stressed the importance of construction quality in Hong Kong and said: “The Government will certainly enforce the law strictly.”

He said he had asked the Development Bureau to strengthen statutory regulatory requirements and penalties for the construction industry as a whole, ensuring that the law had sufficient deterrent effect and that those in breach would be punished severely. He reiterated that the Government had earlier said the bureau would submit proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance this year, adding that it would press ahead with the work at full speed.

A reporter referred to several recent construction quality issues and asked about claims that the Buildings Department had confirmed that One Stanley had floor slab reinforcement that did not match the approved plans. The claim was part of the reporter's question; the Government press release did not include any announcement by the Buildings Department on the matter【To be verified: whether the Buildings Department issued an announcement and its contents】.

At the same press briefing, reporters also asked about the accountability arrangements and timetable following the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire. Lee did not directly respond to whether the accountability mechanism had entered its next stage, nor did he provide a timetable. He reiterated that, after the fire, the Government had set up three task forces and an independent committee to establish the facts of the incident, prevent a recurrence and pursue accountability. After the committee submits its report, the Government will implement comprehensive reforms and pursue accountability as soon as possible in the short term, based on the report's contents, and announce the details at that time.

Lee also noted that the Policy Address delivered on September 16 had announced seven priority reform measures, including banning smoking on construction sites, strengthening disciplinary action and penalties for professionals and contractors, and studying the criminalisation of bid-rigging. He said the relevant improvement measures must be implemented as soon as possible.

What happens next: The Development Bureau will submit proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance this year, although the press release did not provide a specific date. It also did not say when the independent committee's report on the Wang Fuk Court fire would be submitted. The Legislative Council will hold a three-day joint debate from October 7 on the motion on Hong Kong's first five-year plan and the motion on the 2026 Policy Address.