Probe into suspected fake scaffolding net certificates widened to 6 Hong Kong estates
Earlier discovery of fake documents at two estates after Tai Po inferno prompted authorities to order removal of mesh at 200 sites last week
Hong Kong police have expanded their investigation into allegedly fake scaffolding net safety certificates to four more estates, following the earlier discovery of such documents at two housing sites that prompted a citywide removal of mesh netting.
The force said on Monday evening that it had received reports of the allegedly fraudulent certificates at the six estates and that a probe was under way.
Apart from Fung Wah Estate in Chai Wan and Fortress Garden in Fortress Hill, which were investigated by police last week, the force is now also examining scaffolding nets at renovation projects in Baguio Villa in Pok Fu Lam, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, Ching Lai Court in Cheung Sha Wan and Marigold Mansion in Hung Hom.
The cases have been classified as “requests for police assistance” and are being followed up by the Hong Kong Island regional crime unit. No arrests have been made, according to police.
Scaffolding nets used at Fung Wah Estate and Fortress Garden were previously found to have come from the same Shandong manufacturer that supplied those used at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, where a deadly blaze last month killed at least 160 people.
The nets were accompanied by what appeared to be safety certificates issued by mainland Chinese labs. But one of the labs said in a statement that the document bearing its name was fabricated.