The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions has proposed a statutory, independent public body to coordinate major building repairs and provide agency services to owners. Published on 15 October, the proposal would begin with a pilot in 39 estates under the Tenants Purchase Scheme.
The union says owners can lack the technical knowledge to judge complex repair projects, while evidence of alleged bid-rigging can be difficult to obtain. It argues that a public agency could support owners from the early stages of a project and help oversee the work.
The proposed body would serve private residential and mixed-use buildings of any age. Owners using government repair grants or loan schemes would have to use its agency service; eligible owners could apply voluntarily, and the government could also assign projects to it. The service would include on-site surveys, repair advice and construction supervision, with major repairs and safety-related orders among the work covered.
The union wants the body to distinguish legally necessary repairs from non-essential work or building improvements, such as aesthetic additions. It also proposes checks on consultants and contractors, including criminal convictions, professional disciplinary records and repair-related warnings or violations, followed by ongoing monitoring of approved providers.
For project allocation, the plan combines conditional rotation of work among vetted consultants and contractors with a public-private approach: the body could handle projects itself or pass some work to the private market. A cost-data platform would publish updated figures quarterly, taking account of factors such as building type, required work and damage. Professional bodies would also be asked to audit quotations, budgets and construction supervision.
The union says wider implementation should follow after the pilot's effectiveness is assessed.