The Buildings Department on Wednesday said it has laid 259 charges against two companies and four individuals linked to last year's fire at Wang Fuk Court, which took 168 lives.

The two firms facing charges are Will Power Architects Company, the consultancy firm for the estate's renovation project, and Prestige Construction & Engineering, the main contractor.

The four individuals prosecuted are Wong Hap-yin, director of Will Power; Ng Yeuk, the registered inspector engaged by the company; as well as Prestige directors Hau Wa-kin and Ho Kin-yip.

They're charged with allegedly permitting or authorising the use of defective materials or materials that do not comply with the provisions of the Buildings Ordinance in the carrying out of building works.

The parties are also accused of permitting or authorising the building works to be carried out in a manner that caused injury to persons or property damage.

The Buildings Department said it has stepped up regulation, inspection, and enforcement since the Wang Fuk Court inferno, while a special operation was launched to inspect scaffold nets and fire safety measures at about 400 buildings undergoing large-scale repair works across Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the Labour Department said it has prosecuted a project contractor, a consultant and an individual over the deaths of five workers in the Wang Fuk Court fire.

It has instigated 25 charges for breaches of the general duty provisions under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance.



Edited by Raymond Yeung