LD states previous review found Wang Fuk Court scaffolding net complied with standards

The Labour Department (LD) has defended its oversight of the Wang Fuk Court renovation project, stating that inspections repeatedly confirmed the scaffolding safety netting met recognized flame-retardant standards, even as public anger grows over a resurfaced 2024 email in which the department described the fire risk from such nets as “relatively low”.

In a response to Sing Tao Headline's inquiry today, the department confirmed it had received a public complaint email last September regarding renovation works, including issues related to scaffolding nets.

In its reply on October 4 last year, the department explained that the primary purpose of installing the net is to limit the falling range of objects and stated that current regulations enforced by the department for construction sites contain no provisions covering flame-retardant standards for safety nets or any materials.

The department subsequently received a complaint arguing that this response was incorrect. After the investigation, it concluded that the initial reply "was unclear and had led to misunderstandings."

On December 4 last year, it issued a written response clarifying that staff had reviewed the netting's quality certificates during inspections, while a related document showed that the flame-retardant performance complied with standards outlined in the Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety.

The department further reiterated that its reference to "relatively low" fire risk referred specifically to the absence of hot work such as welding on the building exterior and did not imply fire risks were overlooked.

The email reply clearly stated that the department had reminded the contractor to implement fire prevention measures at the construction site.

Between July 2024 and November 2025, the department carried out 16 inspections at Wang Fuk Court, issued six improvement notices, and launched three prosecutions—all for unsafe work-at-height practices rather than fire-related issues.

The most recent visit took place on 20 November, just six days before the fire, and was again followed by a written reminder to the contractor about fire prevention measures.