Residents who installed water filters after being hit by Hong Kong's lead-in-water scandal sue contractor to recoup cost
Two residents of public housing estates blighted by lead-tainted water are to sue a building contractor for the cost of filters they installed in their homes after the scandal broke.
They hope the case will set a precedent for other affected residents to follow.
Marco Chan and Alice Lee launched the lawsuit to force China State Construction Engineering - the main contractor responsible for installing water pipes at Kai Ching Estate in Kowloon City - to foot the bill for filters they installed themselves before the firm agreed last week to install the devices in all flats on the estate for free.
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Chan is seeking HK$200 for the filter he bought immediately after learning last month that tap water on his estate contained lead exceeding the guideline of 10 micrograms per litre set by the World Health Organisation.
"I hope I can recover the money, so other residents who bought HK$10,000 or HK$20,000 filters can also do so," he said.
Lee is claiming HK$600 for the filter she bought.
The government confirmed excessive lead in water samples from Kai Ching Estate on July 10.
The two residents filed their claims at the Small Claims Tribunal in Wan Chai yesterday.