30th October 2026 – (Hong Kong) Secretary for Security Mr Chris Tang Ping-keung said today that a new joint task force on building-maintenance bid-rigging will send officers to owners’ corporation meetings at high-risk blocks, including sites linked to suspected triad activity, to gather signs of collusion.
Tang and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr Algernon Yau Ying-wah led a 2.30pm press conference on measures to crack down on bid-rigging in large-scale building works, a day after the independent committee’s report on the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po was published with 120 recommendations. Also present were Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Mr Keith Yip Wan-lung, ICAC Director of Investigation (Government Sector) Mr Choi Shu-keung and Competition Commission chief executive Mr Rasul Butt.
Speaking as a member of the political team, Tang again apologised to victims and the public and said he would give his all in post as the Chief Executive had required. The crackdown, he said, would move on three fronts — amending the law, coordinating enforcement and front-line prevention — to hit bid-rigging and related crime hard.
The government has announced a Joint Task Force against building-maintenance bid-rigging, with Tang as coordinator. He said the unit would investigate proactively and would not wait for complaints. At high-risk target buildings, or where suspicious triad activity is involved, officers would attend owners’ corporation general meetings to collect intelligence and look for indications tied to bid-rigging.
Yau also apologised to victims and the public on behalf of the political team. He said the Competition Ordinance would be amended to create a new criminal offence for building-maintenance bid-rigging, carrying a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$10 million. The existing civil regime would be tightened as well, with the maximum civil fine raised to HK$8 million.
On Thursday, Secretary for Justice Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok said the authorities planned to amend three ordinances to criminalise bid-rigging in large building-maintenance projects, extending the net to preparatory work and consultancy services. Conviction would carry the same top jail term and HK$10 million fine, and enforcement agencies would be empowered to use interception and asset-freezing powers against highly covert bid-rigging crime.
The legislative package cited covers amendments to the Competition Ordinance, the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance, the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance and application of the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance — tools meant to let investigators move earlier and freeze proceeds once the new offences are in force.
