'Joint task force to target bid-rigging early'

Secretary for Security Chris Tang on Tuesday said officers from an interdepartmental task force on combating bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation projects would proactively look for clues to prevent such activities. Authorities have vowed to step up crackdowns on bid-rigging following the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire. Proposed measures included the criminalisation of bid-rigging in relation to these projects, enabling a dual-track approach of both criminal and civil enforcement. Authorities will also set up a joint task force that comprises officers from police, the ICAC and the Competition Commission to better coordinate law enforcement actions. Speaking to lawmakers at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Security and Panel on Economic Development, Tang said the task force's establishment could enable early intervention. Tang said officers would adopt different tactics against bid-rigging, such as surveillance, undercover operations and the use of informants. He added that the three agencies of the task force would also attend owners’ corporation meetings to look for suspicious activities, including people who hold many proxy votes or suspected triad members engaging in harassment or intimidation. Officers would take enforcement actions when necessary, he added. “If we notice any abnormal situations at the scene that violate the law, such as intimidation and blackmail, our...