Hong Kong Development Bureau Ning Hanhao: Strengthened version of "Tender Procurement" will be launched in the second half of the year, service charges will increase accordingly, but still within the affordable range for small property owners.

On April 16, the Director of Hong Kong Development Bureau, Ning Hanhao, stated at a special meeting of the Financial Committee of the Legislative Council that in terms of building maintenance, an enhanced version of the "Tendering Properly" is expected to be launched in the second half of this year. At that time, the Hong Kong Housing Authority will handle the tendering and evaluation work for hiring consultants and contractors, and establish a more rigorous "pre-qualification list". Due to the increased involvement of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, service charges will increase accordingly, but with the high subsidy from the government, it is still affordable for small property owners. Ning Hanhao pointed out that with the enhanced version of "Tendering Properly", the Housing Authority will be responsible for evaluation work, greatly assisting property owners. Although the increase in services leads to a fee increase, it is emphasized that "Tendering Properly" itself has already received a high subsidy from the authorities, and the new charges will ensure that small property owners can afford it. She hopes that the enhanced services can promote healthy building maintenance and prevent unscrupulous contractors from taking advantage and offering low bids. Ning Hanhao stated that continuing to promote the development of the Northern Metropolis Area will be a key focus in the coming year. The land leveling and infrastructure works of 4 out of the 9 new development areas in the north are progressing rapidly. If approved by the Legislative Council, this year will also see the start of the construction work for the Niu Tan Wei University City, the first phase of the Xin Tian Science and Technology City, and the Government Joint Use Building in Gu Dong Bei. The goal is to submit a draft of the "Accelerated Development of the Northern Metropolis" specific legislation to the Legislative Council by mid-year and complete the legislative work by the end of the year. During the meeting, some legislators raised concerns about whether the mandatory building inspection requirement for buildings aged 30 years or above would be relaxed. Ning Hanhao clarified that under current legislation, the Director of Buildings Department in Hong Kong has the authority to issue inspection orders for buildings aged 30 years or older. However, past data shows that more than 70% of buildings that actually receive inspection orders are over 50 years old. She emphasized that the government does not issue inspection orders arbitrarily when a building reaches 30 years old, but rather considers the actual condition of the building.