Hong Kong contractor admits relying too much on subcontractor to follow rules at estates tainted by lead in water

A major contractor admitted to an inquiry on Monday that it had overrelied on its subcontractor for compliance in plumbing works at its two public housing estates tainted by lead in drinking water.

But Paul Y. General Contractors’ technical director Leung Wai-keung, a thirty-year veteran, said this was in accordance with industry practice and has recommended that main contractors be included in future dealings between licensed plumbers and the Water Authority as his company is still pondering if lead-free solder was ever delivered to its construction sites.

“The provisions of the Waterworks Ordinance and the Waterworks Regulations are all directed at the licensed plumber and customer, and as such PYGC relied heavily on the licensed plumber for compliance with these statutory provisions and regulations applicable to the project,” Leung said in his witness statement.

“In hindsight, there was an overreliance on the licensed plumber and Golden Day as a specialist subcontractor.”

Paul Y.’s Wing Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po and Tung Wui Estate in Wong Tai Sinwere among the 11 public housing estates rocked by the tainted water scandal that broke in July last year.

Its plumbing works and procurement of pipes, fittings and soldering materials were subcontracted to Golden Day Engineering Company, whose managing director, Cheung Tat-yam, also served as the estates’ licensed plumber.