Timber
Discussions at the first full meeting of the legislature on Wednesday centred on better efforts to oversee bids for renovation works and resettling residents of fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, with the new batch of lawmakers taking turns to offer suggestions.
The meeting also saw the government move a motion on support measures for the residents and rebuilding work following the devastating blaze, with officials outlining plans to enhance the Urban Renewal Authority’s role to prevent bid-rigging.
Election Committee lawmaker William Wong suggested utilising artificial intelligence to assist with checks.
“The administration could look into consolidating the business data of companies, including shareholding structures, the track records of contractors in bidding and performance on projects, among other things,” he said.
“The use of artificial intelligence could analyse data in different segments and projects.”
Alan Chan called for a new discussion feature under the existing electronic tendering platform of the Urban Renewal Authority.
“I am proposing to establish a discussion forum for individual owners to [share opinions] on services provided by engineering consultants and contractors,” he said, likening the function to how people look for restaurants on delivery platforms.
On the different options offered by the government to residents on the key issue of rehousing, Ronick Chan, who represents the finance sector, said cash buybacks would be the most flexible choice and suggested the administration base its acquisitions on prices that prevailed before the fire.
He said repurchasing the flats would cost around HK$6 billion in total, according to an earlier estimate by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.
Taking into account fire-related donations and insurance claims, Ronick Chan said: “The actual amount paid by the government should be only about HK$2 billion.
“It amounts to less than HK$1,000 per taxpayer. I think this option is worth considering.”
Another focus at the legislature was the work relating to mental health and rehabilitation support, with David Lam, who represents the medical sector, warning that signs of post-traumatic stress disorder were beginning to appear.
“The fire undoubtedly brought massive psychological impact on the residents, their carers and many members of the public. Many of them experienced fear, depression, anxiety and insomnia,” Lam said.
Ken Wong, from the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, called for a medium- to long-term plan to support the mental health recovery of students and more educational psychologists to be involved so as to ensure each affected student received sufficient help.