Government defends estate administrator’s absence at Tai Po fire hearing

The provisional administrator of the housing estate ravaged by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will attend hearings of the independent committee “as necessary” to represent the “common interests” of the owners’ corporation, the city’s home affairs chief has said amid criticisms that displaced residents lack legal representation in the probe.Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Sunday defended Hop On Management, the firm appointed by the government as the administrator of the estate’s owners’ corporation, days after its notable absence from the first public meeting of the committee investigating the blaze that claimed 168 lives.With the next hearings set to begin on March 19, some displaced Wang Fuk Court residents expressed concern about not being consulted by Hop On Management regarding their need for legal representation in the probe, especially since government officials will testify before the committee’s lawyers.Mak told a radio show on Sunday that the company had attended closed-door direction hearings along with legal advisers, and would cooperate and provide information if asked by the independent committee.“For subsequent hearings of the independent committee, Hop On will attend with their legal counsel as necessary,” she said, adding that all individual owners and potential whistle-blowers could express their opinions or provide information to the committee without going through the firm.“Hop On represents the common interest of the owners’ corporation. If it involves the owners’ corporation, Hop On has the responsibility to show up,” Mak stressed.