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Brian Wong

A Hong Kong court has ordered the winding-up of an engineering consultant behind a HK$336 million (US$42.8 million) renovation project at the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court over an unspecified debt.
The High Court on Wednesday granted Tong Yiu-kwok’s application to wind up Will Power Architects after the company neither filed a statement in opposition nor sent a representative to explain its position at the hearing.
The court did not disclose Tong’s relationship with the firm or the amount of debt involved. It also ordered Will Power to bear the costs of the civil proceedings.
Will Power director Wong Hap-yin has been remanded in custody since being charged with 16 offences in connection with the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last year.
The 40-year-old previously told West Kowloon Court that he had difficulty arranging legal representation for the company because he was in custody.
The fire, which killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000, was the deadliest in the city’s recent history.
The tragedy exposed loopholes in fire-risk management for large-scale renovation projects and shed light on widespread collusion among engineering firms to manipulate the lucrative building maintenance market.

The housing estate’s high-rise towers were wrapped in scaffolding when a piece of safety netting caught fire at one of its eight blocks.
A preliminary investigation found that substandard scaffolding mesh and polyfoam boards used to protect windows during the works contributed to the blaze spreading rapidly to six other blocks in the estate.
Concerns over possible bid-rigging also emerged after the estate’s renovation budget more than doubled from a preliminary estimate of HK$152 million in September 2023 to HK$336 million in 2024, when the most expensive option was adopted.
In June, police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption laid a total of 25 charges of manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of justice and tax evasion against seven individuals and two companies, including Wong and Will Power.
In separate criminal proceedings initiated earlier this month, the Buildings Department and the Labour Department laid a total of 284 charges against Wong, Will Power and other defendants in connection with the fire.
The charges included allegedly permitting the use of defective building materials and failing to ensure workers’ safety.


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Hong Kong court winds up Wang Fuk Court renovation consultant over debt

Will Power Architects, which was involved in the renovation project at Wang Fuk Court, has been wound up. Photo: Eugene Lee

Wang Fuk Court was undergoing a HK$336 million renovation project when the fatal fire broke out last year. Photo: Elson Li

Buildings Department files 259 charges over work at fire-ravaged Hong Kong estate

The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po in November killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents.  Photo: Jelly Tse

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After the blaze last November, which killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000, the government announced a buy-back of all 1,984 flats at the subsidised housing estate in Tai Po. Photo: Sun Yeung

Under the buy-back scheme, flats are being acquired at HK$8,000 or HK$10,500 per square foot depending on whether owners have paid the land premium. Photo: Sun Yeung

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Will Power Architects, involved in HK$336 million renovation project at estate, is ordered wound up after failing to oppose creditor’s application


Will Power Architects, involved in HK$336 million renovation project at estate, is ordered wound up after failing to oppose creditor’s application.


Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Accidents and personal safety in Hong Kong

Hong Kong fires and safety

Hong Kong court winds up Wang Fuk Court renovation consultant over debt

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Will Power Architects, involved in HK$336 million renovation project at estate, is ordered wound up after failing to oppose creditor’s application

Will Power Architects, involved in HK$336 million renovation project at estate, is ordered wound up after failing to oppose creditor’s application