Following a major blaze that ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, concerns regarding fire safety measures involving external construction scaffolding have intensified across Hong Kong, prompting residents of other estates undergoing refurbishment to demand immediate clarity and action. This increased scrutiny reached a pivot point on Thursday evening at Sui Wo Court in Fo Tan, a large private complex undergoing extensive, multi-million-dollar renovation, where residents convened an emergency meeting with management and contractors to address compliance standards, net removal timelines, and critical evacuation protocols.
The situation reflects growing public anxiety over construction zone hazards, especially concerning the materials used for protective netting. Sui Wo Court, which consists of nine 36-story residential towers, began its comprehensive overhaul in 2023, a project budgeted at over HK$388 million. While full scaffold removal was initially projected for early April of next year, the recent fire incident in Tai Po has fueled residents’ immediate fears, causing them to question the safety standards of the works underway.
Residents Challenge Netting Safety and Operation Protocols
During the contentious meeting, residents expressed agitation over conflicting reports regarding the materials used in the external protective mesh. Social media posts had circulated showing contradictory results from purported homeowner tests—one claimed the netting spread flames rapidly upon contact with a lighter, while another showcased footage suggesting a sample was fire-retardant.
Responding to these escalating concerns, the owners’ corporation confirmed that the contractor has implemented stringent new safeguards focused on deterring the most common cause of construction fires: unauthorized smoking. New site protocols mandate that, daily, workers must undergo searches before accessing the scaffolding and are strictly prohibited from carrying smoking materials, including cigarettes and lighters. To enforce this, a whistleblower system has been instituted, offering a HK$2,000 reward for information leading to the reporting of anyone photographed smoking on the scaffold or outside designated areas. Offending workers face immediate removal from the site.
Beyond smoking, residents voiced unease over the accumulation of flammable materials near ongoing worksites and demanded stricter control over combustible storage. Given the high proportion of elderly residents at Sui Wo Court and the close proximity of several scaffolded blocks, residents emphasized that the fear will persist until the entire temporary infrastructure is dismantled.
Compliance and Timeline Updates
The estate’s safety consultant provided updates on the removal schedule, noting that while the scaffolding for Block C is expected to be fully removed by Christmas, timelines for other blocks may extend into January or the first quarter of next year. Addressing calls to prioritize the removal of netting from completed sections, the consultant affirmed this could proceed, provided adequate measures are adopted to mitigate falling-object risks.
Crucially, the consultant addressed material compliance directly, stating that the mesh had been subject to multiple burn tests in the past year, confirming its fire-retardant properties and adherence to relevant standards. Adding a layer of official scrutiny, the Fire Services Department inspected Sui Wo Court following the Tai Po incident and collected samples for independent analysis.
On Friday afternoon, further verification was conducted. Under the supervision of a district councilor and the safety consultant, netting samples from three separate blocks underwent third-party combustion testing. Preliminary reports from the testing reportedly confirmed the materials met required fire safety performance specifications.
The urgency demonstrated by the residents of Sui Wo Court highlights a critical need for transparent oversight and proactive safety communication in urban construction environments. Moving forward, collaborative verification of safety materials and clear, expedited timelines for the removal of temporary structures will be essential to restoring trust and ensuring the well-being of residents living alongside large-scale refurbishment projects. The actions taken here may establish a precedent for managing fire risk during major building overhauls across Hong Kong.