Kong Cheung-fat served on the committee that approved Prestige as the main contractor in January 2024 and was re-elected when a new committee was formed following an election later that year.
He told the hearing he found out that the report on the project’s fees from consultant firm Will Power Architects was signed by a director of the firm William Shum.
The signed form was dated on September 2022, but there was evidence to suggest that Shum had in fact died two months before the date of the signature.
Kong also testified that after two typhoons last year, contractors had ignored him when he asked whether new mesh netting purchased to cover the scaffolding had been certified.
He complained via the government’s hotline and was given a response by the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit — responsible for site safety audit checks — that it had found some “exterior wall protective measures” to be sub-standard.
But he said the unit also cited contractors as saying they had been gradually replacing the netting, but didn’t say whether the new netting was certified or if it was up to standard.
Kong also said DAB district councillor Peggy Wong had been collecting proxy votes “every day” at street booths before July 2024, when residents sought to convene an extraordinary general meeting to dissolve the old management committee.
He said many residents signed the proxies after Wong explained she would help the estate apply for Urban Renewal Authority subsidies for the renovation works.
But he alleged that the councillor didn’t mention these subsidies had to be means-tested before they could be disbursed.
Kong went on to say he had repeatedly reminded authorities to seriously follow up on his complaints before the inferno happened.
He said he believes the hazard could have been avoided after a similar blaze took place at Central’s Chinachem Tower last year, when mesh netting around the building caught on fire.
The hearing will continue on Tuesday with labour officials giving evidence.
