A contractor carrying out maintenance works at Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin has applied for an extension to a government order requiring scaffold nets installed on all buildings undergoing major renovations to be removed.

The deadline for bringing down the nets was Saturday, but the government has said it will allow extensions for individual cases with justified reasons.

Fulam Construction Engineering said netting removal at three blocks of the estate would be completed by Saturday, but that works for the remaining six blocks could only be finished by Thursday.

The company said more than 120 qualified scaffolders had been deployed but highlighted the challenges it is facing, such as an extensive netting area, blocks that are taller than 35 storeys and large wall surfaces.

Some residents who spoke to RTHK expressed fears over the delay.

“We are really worried because of the Tai Po fire," one woman said.

"We couldn't sleep well over the past few nights. We are afraid a similar incident will happen here because scaffold nets can catch fire. We feel hopeless.”

Another added: “Completing the removal by Thursday is way too slow. I’m really scared. I came downstairs to check if the nets on my block had been removed. There are many elderly people here, and we’re not sure if the fire alarm works.”

However, several other residents said they were less concerned, stressing that the most important thing was ensuring that no workers smoked at the site.

As of 3pm on Friday, the government noted that netting had been removed from 115 private buildings, 18 public works and two subsidised housing estates.