Seven areas of reforms introduced after Wang Fuk blaze

Chief Executive John Lee said the government will roll out comprehensive reforms to address shortcomings exposed by the Wang Fuk Court fire. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Lee said the reforms will cover seven areas. "The reforms that we roll out now are comprehensive reforms. We are restructuring departments so that they will enforce both inspection and also take legal action seriously," he said. "And we see in this case a series of events that happened resulting in this tragedy, and the things that we are rolling out now address each and every one of them." First, authorities will crack down on bid-rigging activities in building maintenance projects by establishing specific criminal offences and incorporating them into the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. "This will empower law enforcement agencies to exercise statutory authority against suspects, including summoning individuals for questioning, demanding the submission of documents or materials, freezing assets, and confiscating proceeds of crime," he said. The government will amend the law to empower the Competition Commission to combat bid-rigging through a mix of criminal and civil enforcement measures. The commission will also team up with police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in the formation of an inter-departmental task force. The agencies will...