Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn introduces improved "Smart Tender" service
發佈日期: 2026-01-18 21:19
TVB News
The massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, has sparked public concern over bid-rigging and malpractices in building maintenance projects.
On TVB News' talk show "On the Record," Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn explained that the government aims to introduce an improved version of the "Smart Tender" service in the latter half of this year, allowing homeowners to choose from a stricter list of qualified contractors.
The "Smart Tender" scheme is a fee-based service rolled out by the Urban Renewal Authority in 2016, with an aim to curb bid-rigging.
Through an electronic platform, homeowners can get professional advice and procure consultants and contractors to carry out building maintenance projects.
To strengthen the vetting process, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said the authorities will probe into the past performance and background information of contractors and consultants under the enhanced scheme.
But what if the industry players hike their prices collectively?
Linn said: "In the tender assessment process, the URA will definitely make reference to relevant price indices collected by representative bodies. They will just not look at the tender prices being submitted by the contractors or the consultants, but they will also have reference indices in the market, and those indices worked out by reputable organizations."
She added the government is likely to continue subsidising homeowners who participate in the scheme.
Meanwhile, scaffolding meshes on buildings across the city currently undergoing major renovation projects have been taken off for more than a month.
{Reporter: When will they be put up again?)
Linn said: "The Construction Industry Council, which has been helping with this special exercise, has started to distribute the first batch of the qualified and tested nets to the contractors."
"I understand from them that different batches of the nets are being delivered to Hong Kong every few days or one week. Upon arrival, those nets will be taken to our designated laboratories for another stage of screening. In the coming weeks, you will see all these going on and on in different batches."
