The inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court inferno heard on Monday that a previous owners' corporation management committee stationed security guards at homeowners' meetings — a move a witness said was intended to prevent the gatherings from turning unruly.

Kong Cheung-fat told the hearing he had run for election to the committee many times in the past, but was unable to join due to what he described as "loyalist votes".

He said through a recommendation by a board member, he finally joined the management board in May 2024, which was several months after the major renovation project had been approved.

However, Kong said he had been isolated and had not been given access to documents from the previous board.

He also said the committee would deploy many security guards at homeowners' meetings to prevent participants from becoming rowdy.

At the meeting that approved Prestige Construction and Engineering as the main contractor for the renovation works, Kong said there were around 200 residents present, and there were over 500 votes.

He said there were always proxy votes at each election that decided the outcome.

Kong said when he and a new management committee won an election in September 2024 to take charge, homeowner meetings became smoother and residents were allowed to communicate directly with project contractors.

The independent committee's senior counsel, Victor Dawes, asked Kong about discussions to carry out the renovation project in stages, instead of having works conducted on Wang Fuk's eight blocks all at once.

Kong said the previous committee wanted to complete the renovation in less than three years so as to minimise the nuisance to residents.

The new board, he said, had asked the main contractor, Prestige, to carry out the works in stages, but that was rejected due to cost and insurance issues.

The hearing continues.


Edited by Tony Sabine