Exclusive | What is role of property management firm ISS at Hong Kong estate ravaged by deadly blaze?
ISS EastPoint played a pivotal role in HK$330 million renovation of Wang Fuk Court and knew about defects in fire safety system as early as May
A global property management giant 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 that played a pivotal role in the HK$330 million (US$42.4 million) renovation of the residential complex, which was ravaged last Wednesday by the city’s worst fire in seven decades, claiming 151 lives so far.
Until it was contacted by the Post, ISS did not publicly offer any formal condolences to the blaze victims in the estate where it was providing services.
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.
The minutes examined by the Post also show ISS, the management committee of the owners and the contractors were aware of issues with the fire safety systems that needed repair as early as May this year.
Other parties included main contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering Co Ltd, project consultant Will Power Architects Co Ltd, the estate owners’ corporation and subcontractors.