‘We weren’t alert enough’: Hong Kong contractor in tainted water scandal admits it did not inspect soldering materials

The major contractor who built six of the 11 estates affected by a tainted water scandal admitted this morning that it had not been adequately vigilant with its long-time subcontractors, an inquiry commission heard.

The revelation came as Yau Lee Construction Company’s managing director Conrad Wong Tin-cheung said in his witness statement that the company, like other industry members before the crisis hit, was not sufficiently aware to inspect soldering materials used in their construction.

As the Housing Authority did not require such inspection nor did it provide invoices on purchases of soldering materials, Wong said his company did not require their subcontractors to do the same.

READ MORE: Housing Authority never checked soldering materials at Hong Kong estates in tainted water scandal, inquiry hears

“The cost of solder is not high,” he said in his statement. “I never thought of using substandard materials.”

The inquiry commission was told that Yau Lee allowed its subcontractors – Wing Hing Plumbing Drainage and Hang Lee Engineering Company – to purchase soldering materials on their own because they were cheap and used up quickly.

Wong also said Yau Lee had cooperated with Wing Hing for over 20 years and knew Hang Lee’s staff to be experienced.

Since there was no problem with past construction projects, both Yau Lee and its subcontractor Ming Hop Company trusted Wing Hing and Hang Lee to provide them with quality solder, Wong said.