Hong Kong government defends estate administrator after Tai Po fire hearing
Minister says Hop On Management will be present ‘as necessary’ at future hearings following criticism residents lacked legal representation
The provisional administrator of the housing estate ravaged by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will attend hearings of an independent committee “as necessary” to represent the “common interest” of the owners’ corporation, the home affairs chief has said following criticism that residents lacked legal representation in the probe.
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Sunday defended Hop On Management, the firm appointed by the government as the administrator of the estate’s owners’ corporation, days after the first public meeting of the committee investigating the blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that claimed 168 lives and displaced nearly 2,000 households.
With the next hearings set to begin on March 19, some displaced residents expressed concern about not being consulted by Hop On Management regarding their need for legal representation in the probe, especially since government officials would testify before the committee’s lawyers.
Mak told a radio show the company had attended a direction hearing along with legal advisers and would cooperate and provide information if asked by the independent committee.
“For subsequent hearings of the independent committee, Hop On will attend with their legal counsel as necessary,” she said, adding that all individual owners and potential whistle-blowers could express their opinions or provide information to the committee without going through the firm.
“Hop On represents the common interest of the owners’ corporation. If it involves the owners’ corporation, Hop On has the responsibility to show up,” Mak said.