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Jasmine Siu

Two subcontractors who purchased solder and installed pipes at six estates where tainted drinking water was found told an inquiry yesterday they did not know solder could contain lead, or that it was against Housing Authority policy to use lead solder.
The revelation came as Wing Hing Plumbing Drainage's owner, Mok Hoi-kwong, also testified that he did not know lead was poisonous.
He apologised to the affected public housing residents, and said it was "worse than death" that his ignorance brought about the scandal and great losses to main contractor Yau Lee Construction Company.
"It has been on my conscience ever since," said Mok. "I apologise to the affected estate residents."
READ MORE: ‘We weren’t alert enough’: Hong Kong contractor in tainted water scandal admits it did not inspect soldering materials
The inquiry came after excessive lead was found in drinking water at 11 public housing estates; six were built by Yau Lee.
Wing Hing was a third-tier subcontractor under Yau Lee and its subcontractor Ming Hop Company.
The inquiry previously heard there was a change in Yau Lee and Ming Hop's policy in 2005, allowing their subcontractors like Wing Hing to buy their own solder because the material was cheap and used up quickly.
But Mok's statement revealed that Ming Hop did not give instructions on the brand or specifications of solder, or suggest suppliers source the material.
Mok said he had no idea what the authority's requirements were, else he would have followed them.
His statement read: "I never knew solder could contain lead, or that there is a difference between lead and lead-free solder."
READ MORE: Hong Kong’s five biggest drinking water reservoirs found to contain harmful chemicals
The document also revealed he was not aware of the lead-free British standard that was later adopted by the authority, or the differences in composition of solder bars and wires.
Mok explained his company preferred solder bars over wires because they were more common, convenient and easier to use, with a lower risk of water leakage.
But when his suppliers ran out of solder bars, Mok said he would settle for solder wires to avoid delaying construction.
Only after the scandal broke in July did Mok learn the solder bars from Prosperity Building Materials Company were 50 per cent lead in composition.
"Did you know lead is poisonous?" asked Tony Li, counsel for Yau Lee and Ming Hop.
"I did not," Mok replied.
READ MORE: Plumbing materials vetted, says Hong Kong Housing Authority official at tainted water inquiry
Also sourcing from Prosperity Building Materials was Yau Lee's other third-tier subcontractor, Hang Lee Engineering Company, whose owner, Siu Kin-wong, likewise testified he did not know there was a difference between lead and lead-free solder.
"Generally workers within the trade do not have the understanding or awareness in this area," he testified.
The inquiry, held at the former Court of Final Appeal, continues before High Court judge Mr Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai, the commission's chairman.
 


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Mok Hoi-kwong, owner of Wing Hing Plumbing Drainage, arriving to testify at the inquiry in Central. Photo: Dickson Lee

Mok Hoi-kwong, the present owner of Wing Hing Plumbing Drainage, arriving court to testify before the Commission of Inquiry. 02DEC15 SCMP/DICKSON LEE

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Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Company boss also tells inquiry he only learned the sourced solder bars were 50 per cent lead in composition after the scandal broke in July


Plumbing subcontractor in Hong Kong tainted water scare says he didn’t know solder could contain lead

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Company boss also tells inquiry he only learned the sourced solder bars were 50 per cent lead in composition after the scandal broke in July

Company boss also tells inquiry he only learned the sourced solder bars were 50 per cent lead in composition after the scandal broke in July