logo
Report a window into department weakness in Hong Kong

Report a window into department weakness in Hong Kong

To say that some public safety measures are implemented half-heartedly by the Hong Kong government is perhaps no exaggeration. A case in point is the mandatory window inspection scheme introduced following a series of fatal accidents caused by panes of glass falling from high-rises years ago.
Advertisement
Continuous weak enforcement has resulted in non-compliance remaining commonplace.
The scale of the problem has been put into perspective by the latest value-for-money report from the Audit Commission.
It is disturbing to learn that more than 26,600 notices issued by the Buildings Department to homeowners regarding window inspections have not been addressed, of which 43 per cent have exceeded the compliance deadline by an average of 6½ years.
Penalties have also been ignored, with almost half of the 4,208 tickets issued for failing to follow statutory notices left unpaid and not referred to the court for further action, the commission said.
Advertisement
Since 2012, owners of buildings that are at least 10 years old or more, and who receive statutory notices, have to appoint qualified professionals to inspect and conduct necessary repairs to windows within nine months.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Beijing national security authorities carry out operation with police in Hong Kong
Beijing national security authorities carry out operation with police in Hong Kong

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

Beijing national security authorities carry out operation with police in Hong Kong

Beijing's national security authorities in Hong Kong launched a joint operation with local counterparts on Thursday over a case of suspected collusion with foreign forces. The investigation is believed to be the first publicly known joint operation by Beijing's national security arm in the city and the local police force. According to authorities, six people and an organisation were suspected of having committed the offence of 'collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security' under the Beijing-decreed national security law between November 2020 and June 2024. The Office for Safeguarding National Security had requested assistance and support from the city's national security police, in arranging interviews with the people involved in the case, the government said on Thursday. National security police also raided the residences of six people and the organisation's office in a commercial building in Kwai Chung. Seized exhibits included bank documents and devices, it added. More to follow ...

Customs works with University of Hong Kong to develop crypto transaction tracer
Customs works with University of Hong Kong to develop crypto transaction tracer

South China Morning Post

time4 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Customs works with University of Hong Kong to develop crypto transaction tracer

Hong Kong customs is working with the University of Hong Kong to develop a tool that can trace cryptocurrency transactions, as the department in recent years had recorded seven suspected money laundering cases involving more than HK$9 billion (US$1.1 billion) where virtual assets were used. Advertisement Mario Wong Ho-yin, assistant commissioner for intelligence and investigation of the Customs and Excise Department, said on Thursday that the organisation would ramp up collaborations with academics, finance and virtual asset industry players, and law enforcement across the region to combat cross-border money laundering. 'These money laundering threats are characterised by a transnational and borderless nature, and no single agency can tackle this problem alone,' he said. Wong also warned that illegal transactions and trades that used virtual assets, such as cryptocurrency, were on the rise. He revealed that among the 39 money laundering cases reported to the department between 2021 and May this year, seven involved the use of virtual assets to launder suspected crime proceeds. Advertisement Those seven cases involved more than HK$9 billion and were mostly trade-based money laundering cases, with the funds being transferred under the guise of normal trading activity. Last April, three people were arrested in connection with one of the cases, which involved more than 1,000 suspicious transactions worth HK$1.8 billion linked to five companies and 18 local bank accounts.

Fire erupts in busy Hong Kong shopping district
Fire erupts in busy Hong Kong shopping district

South China Morning Post

time6 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Fire erupts in busy Hong Kong shopping district

Read more: A fire erupted in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay on June 12, 2025, with smoke billowing into the streets of the shopping district. Smoke could be seen coming from what appeared to be the ground floor entrance of the Apartment O service flats near Eton Tower, as emergency personnel arrived at the scene to extinguish the blaze. At least nine fire trucks were spotted in the area. Police and firefighters also blocked off road access along Hoi Ping Road. The smoke could be smelt from Times Square, just a few blocks away from the scene.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store