Lessons from Hong Kong's High-rise Fire for Singapore's Review of Building (Strata Management) Act

17 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Government's review of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act 2004 will incorporate learnings from the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong; and (b) if not, why not.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Sun Xueling) (for the Minister for National Development): The Hong Kong authorities are still investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire incident. Notwithstanding, the Government has been reviewing the learning points based on the early observations.

Where relevant, the Ministry of National Development will incorporate findings from the review into our legislative and policy framework, including the Building (Strata Management) Act.

Mr Speaker: Mr Fadli Fawzi.

Mr Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied): Thank you, Speaker. Given that one of the potential causes of the fire that the Hong Kong government is looking into was the corruption by the management of the Wang Fuk Court, will the Ministry or the Building and Construction Authority be looking into how to strengthen oversight over management councils that are conducting large-scale infrastructure repairs, whether by the Government or by the subsidiary proprietors themselves?

Ms Sun Xueling: I thank the Member for his question. When reviewing the Building (Strata Management) Act, we will be looking at the powers of the Management Corporation Strata Title. I will be sharing more information in due course.