Hong Kong development chief denies U-turn over agency to support homeowners

Hong Kong’s development chief has refuted accusations of a policy U-turn over the establishment of a dedicated agency to help flat owners with building repair tenders, insisting the agency’s planned remit differs fundamentally from one rejected a decade ago.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, in a press conference on Friday, elaborated on the scope of work of the Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, which will be established by the end of this year. She was asked if this contradicted an earlier statement from the government.

“I have reservations about establishing an independent building maintenance authority. I have always had reservations about combining law enforcement with support and assistance, as there is an inherent contradiction between the two,” she said.