Inquiry into deadly Tai Po fire reveals alleged bid-rigging, conflicts of interest
發佈日期: 2026-03-20 20:21
TVB News
New details also came to light over alleged irregularities in the tendering process for Wang Fuk Court's major renovation works -- with some records unfavourable to the winning bidder Prestige removed.
Multiple bidding companies were also found to have links with the winning bidder.
In the hearing today, the independent committee's lead barrister Victor Dawes cited the Competition Commission's findings which revealed that a number of contractors may have influenced the tender outcome through coordinated actions.
One of the bidding companies, Mega Praise Construction, is partly owned by Cheung Yin-kam, the wife of Hau Wa-kin -- who's the director of Prestige.
Hau, Cheung and their two business partners had opened another company.
The two partners own San Hoi and Sunarts respectively which also filed tenders for the renovation project.
The director of Widely Construction, which also tendered a bid, worked with Prestige's Hau for four years.
Another bidder, Man Sing, whose shareholders Tam Chee-man and Hau jointly own another company shares an office with Prestige.
That means -- including the winning bidder for Wang Fuk Court's renovation project Prestige, six bidding companies have links to Hau Wa-kin.
However, these companies did not disclose their relationships during the bidding process.
The inquiry committee had written to Hau for an explanation, but Hau says some companies were only shared tenants with them.
Engineering consultancy firm Will Power assisted in evaluating the bids.
In writing the tender evaluation report, Will Power claimed that Prestige had no criminal records, but the firm had in fact been convicted 24 times for occupational safety breaches.
A Will Power employee testified that after completing the analysis, the report was handed over to director Wong Hap-yin.
When Wong handed the information back to him for verification, the employee noticed that report had been amended with some adverse records removed. The employee raised questions to Wong, who later said the alteration could be ignored.
Another director of Will Power Ng Yeuk, who is the only registered inspector of the project, was also found to have failed his inspection duties during the tendering process and may have just rubber stamped all submissions.
Separately, the hearing revealed irregularities in the voting process for the renovation works.
Although around 300 residents attended a special owners' meeting in early 2024, over 500 votes were counted and some residents reported that votes were cast in their names without authorisation.
