Hong Kong contractors rated poorly by homeowners face removal after Tai Po fire

Hong Kong authorities may remove building maintenance contractors from a government-recommended list if homeowners are dissatisfied with their performance, as part of measures to combat bid-rigging following the deadly Tai Po fire, the city’s No 2 official has said.Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok‑ki said on Saturday that the government aimed to improve the Urban Renewal Authority’s “Smart Tender” scheme by establishing a pre‑selected list of qualified contractors.The scheme provides support to owners’ organisations through an electronic tendering platform for procuring consultants and contractors to carry out building maintenance works.Owners applying for government maintenance subsidies must accept consultants and contractors assigned by the authority.Chan said authorities would conduct surveys among homeowners to assess the performance of listed firms.“We will conduct a survey to ask homeowners if they are satisfied with the work. If they are, the contractors will remain on the list, and if they are not satisfied and have complaints, we will investigate,” he told a radio programme.