Corruption watchdog sounds alarm on rampant building management graft

Hong Kong’s anti-graft agency has revealed that building management-related corruption now accounts for a significant portion of complaints in the private sector, as aging housing stock across the city triggers massive renovation projects vulnerable to abuse.

The startling disclosure came from Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Woo Ying-ming during its "Building Management Summit" on Monday. 

The event brought together over 200 stakeholders - including government officials, district council chairs, owners' corporations and residents - to tackle systemic vulnerabilities in the sector.

Mounting risks in aging city

The corruption watchdog highlighted the urgent challenge facing Hong Kong's rapidly graying building stock: over 28,000 private buildings - representing 60 percent of the city's total - have already reached the 30-year threshold requiring mandatory inspections and major renovations under the law.

Another 7,700 buildings will hit this milestone within the next decade, unleashing a wave of complex, big-ticket maintenance projects.

Woo emphasized the critical importance of proper building maintenance, noting its direct impact on residents' safety, property values, and quality of life.

The complexity of these renovation projects, often involving multiple stakeholders, substantial budgets, and specialized technical requirements, creates numerous opportunities for corrupt practices to take root, he said.

Multi-stakeholder solution needed

The ICAC chief stressed that solving this systemic challenge requires far more than government action.

"This can't be fixed by one or two departments alone," Woo said, calling for coordinated efforts from professionals, owners' groups, and most critically, engaged residents.

(Marco Lam)