LPH construction flaws found: industry urges probe into failures

The construction industry is urging the authorities to investigate potential management failures or deliberate concealment of construction flaws discovered at three Light Public Housing (LPH) projects.

The issues found at three construction sites -- Siu Lam, Yan Po Road in Tuen Mun and Sheung On Street in Chai Wan -- included screws that were cut short to secure Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) units to concrete walls. Around 2,000 connecting holes on iron plates were also enlarged without authorization.

Lawrence Ng San-wa, the president of the Hong Kong Construction Sub-contractors Association, noted that imperfect alignment during the assembly of MiC components is a common phenomenon, unrelated to the quality of the units. 

He explained that in such cases, contractors would generally submit relevant data to the Architectural Services Department for approval before making adjustments.

Regarding the unauthorized enlargement of the holes on the iron plates, Ng expressed confusion over the contractor's actions, stating that such flaws could have been fixed by adding parts and welding. 

He believed the incident did not pose a safety hazard, citing the low proportion of shortened screws and Hong Kong's strict building safety standards.

However, he emphasized that a conclusion depends on the investigation's results, which will reveal whether the remaining screws still meet the required length specifications.

Additionally, Ng mentioned the standard quality examination for imported materials, stating that subcontractors would be sending staff to inspect components at factories in China or overseas. A third-party consulting company also performs inspections before the materials are shipped to Hong Kong. 

During transportation, the MiC components are supported by frames to minimize collisions, further reducing the risk.