Hong Kong's Labour Department announced that from the 28th, it will launch a two-week special enforcement operation to inspect fire prevention facilities at construction and maintenance sites with large-scale scaffolding throughout the territory, and is also considering fully replacing traditional bamboo scaffolding with more fire-resistant metal scaffolding.
On the 26th, the Hong Fuk Court community in Tai Po, New Territories, suffered the most serious fire in Hong Kong in decades, with the death toll rising to 94 as of now.
A spokesperson for the Labour Department said on the 27th that starting from the next day, a territory-wide special enforcement operation lasting two weeks would be launched to inspect fire prevention facilities and fire response arrangements at building repair sites with large-scale scaffolding. This includes checking whether the protective screens (commonly known as "scaffold nets") on the scaffolding meet recognized fire-retardant standards to ensure work safety.
The Labour Department will also cooperate with the Buildings Department to inspect buildings undergoing major external wall repairs involving large bamboo scaffolding, to ensure that the scaffold nets set up on the scaffolding meet the requirements of relevant codes of practice/guidelines.
Discussion on Replacing Traditional Bamboo Scaffolding With Metal Scaffolding
Meanwhile, the public has pointed to the widespread use of ancient building materials and traditional bamboo scaffolding techniques as a factor in the Hong Fuk Court disaster. In response, Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki said on the 27th that the Development Bureau is working with industry stakeholders to establish a roadmap with the goal of completely replacing traditional bamboo scaffolding with more fire-resistant metal scaffolding where appropriate.
Flammable Materials on the Scaffolding
Regarding the replacement of traditional bamboo scaffolding with metal scaffolding, Ho Bing-tak, chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Scaffolders' Union, stated that the cause of this fire was the presence of flammable materials on the scaffolding: "If there are combustible materials burning, any material will collapse."
Ho Bing-tak further mentioned that there are only about 10 large companies in Hong Kong capable of carrying out metal scaffold projects; if metal scaffolding is to fully replace bamboo scaffolding, ordinary small and medium-sized enterprises simply can't afford it, "and I'm afraid hundreds of companies will go out of business."