A global property management giant that was engaged to oversee the tender for fire safety and serve as the interface between residents and renovation contractors at Hong Kong’s ill-fated Wang Fuk Court estate broke its silence on Monday to offer condolences but declined to comment on its involvement.
ISS EastPoint, a subsidiary of Denmark-based ISS, was among the key parties playing a pivotal role in the HK$330 million renovation of the residential complex that was ravaged last Wednesday by the city’s worst fire in seven decades, claiming 151 lives so far.
While public outrage had initially focused on the renovation contractor, meeting minutes of the management committee of Wang Fuk Court’s owners’ corporation show ISS was the administrative gatekeeper for the estate’s safety infrastructure, executing the security work responsible for emergency response and managing tenders for fire safety equipment maintenance.
Until it was contacted by the Post, the company did not publicly offer any formal condolences to the blaze victims in the estate at which it was providing its services.
Other parties included main contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering Co Ltd, project consultant Will Power Architects Co Ltd, the estate owners’ corporation and subcontractors.
