More experts 'applying to join building-repairs lists'

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said government has received an encouraging response from consultants and contractors seeking inclusion in three pre-qualified lists under a new council that will soon be offering full-cycle building repairs. The non-statutory Building Maintenance Support and Services Council – to be established by year-end – will gradually take over the Urban Renewal Authority’s building-upkeep subsidy schemes under its Smart Tender system. Taking to the airwaves on Saturday, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said the government had received about 150 applications from inspection and supervision consultants as well as 350 applications from contractors. "Why do I say it’s encouraging? Because the URA’s Smart Tender platform also had a pre-qualified list – now it has been taken down as we have this new one," she said. "The number of applications this time, compared to the one that was taken down, saw an increase of two to three times. "This means that there are more consultants and contractors who did not participate in the past. I took it as a vote of confidence in the future system." While the council will prioritise around 1,800 maintenance projects that are already in the Smart Tender system, Linn said it would first focus on the 600 or...