Hong Kong's Housing Authority did not do enough on water safety at public housing estates, judge says
Contractors never intended to use lead-containing materials when they built Hong Kong public housing estates where drinking water was later contaminated with the metal, an inquiry heard.

The Housing Authority did not do enough to ensure water safety for residents of public housing estates, a judge chairing an inquiry into contaminated drinking water at 11 estates said yesterday.
Meanwhile, contractors for the estates denied any knowledge of lead-containing materials being used to connect water pipes in the homes, and blamed mistakes possibly made by workers and a lax sub-contracting system for the scandal.
On the fourth day of the hearing, Mr Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai, chairman of the commission of inquiry, asked why components used in the water supply works had not been checked when sanitary-ware such as toilet paper holders and toilet bowls had detailed checks.
"You won't know whether people have cheated if you never check those pipes," Chan said.
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Giving evidence yesterday, deputy director of housing Ada Fung Yin-suen said water supply works had been directly regulated by rules set out by the city's water authorities, and housing authorities were only responsible for ensuring the buildings were up to standard.