<p>香港數百名業主在 29 棟私人建築和物業被要求暫停與致命火災相關的承包商進行的裝修工作後，面臨不確定性。\n 三處物業的居民告訴《郵報》，他們已經在這些項目上花費了數百萬港元，現在不確定這些工作是否合規，延誤將持續多久，有些人正在努力選擇新的承包商。\n 但一些專家建議業主在做出任何決定之前，等待建築署對 Prestige Construction and Engineering Company 及其他兩家公司的工作進行審查，因為更換承包商可能導致合同爭議和額外費用。\n“我擔心我支付的費用超過了實際成本……我覺得他們沒有做太多，但卻索要了這麼多錢，” 中環 49 年曆史的安豐大廈居民 Tracy Lee 説。\nLee 表示，該物業的 102 户家庭每户需支付 20 萬港元（約合 25,693 美元）進行裝修，該項目幾年前就已開始。\n\n\n 根據張貼在大樓的通知，Prestige 負責的消防服務改善工作於 3 月 17 日開始，並於上個月結束。\n“我還看到工人在抽煙。我告訴保安，但沒有用，” Lee 説。\n 建築署上週宣佈，暫停涉及 29 棟私人建築和物業的 30 個項目的裝修工作，並要求三家承包商提供獨立的安全審計和改進計劃。\n 該部門表示，一些裝修可能僅涉及個別單元。根據《郵報》的計算，所有項目共有超過 3850 個單位。\n28 個項目涉及 27 棟建築或物業，聘請 Prestige 作為註冊承包商，與大埔的王福苑相同。11 個項目涉及維修，17 個項目涉及增建和改建。\nPrestige 的兩名董事和一名工程顧問因涉嫌過失殺人以及與王福苑相關的腐敗調查被捕。\n 勞工處的記錄顯示，Prestige 曾因安全違規而被定罪。但項目顧問 Will Power Architects 提交的王福苑裝修工作的進度報告明確證明，該承包商與業主沒有訴訟記錄，也沒有被該部門定罪。\n\n 與暫停令相關的另外兩家承包商，Yuen Fat Construction Engineering 和 Fulam Construction Engineering Company，被發現曾在北角的 Fortress Garden 和中環的中國旅行大廈使用塑料薄膜進行施工。\n 當局認為這種做法不安全，因為初步調查發現，王福苑用於保護窗户的泡沫塑料加劇了火焰的蔓延。\n 該部門表示，只有在承包商展示出 “有效的安全管理系統” 後，才會考慮解除暫停。\n 在 37 年的 Fortress Garden，修復牆壁和更換管道的工作兩個月前開始，費用超過 3000 萬港元，一位不願透露姓名的業主表示。\n“幸運的是，我們還沒有支付所有費用給承包商……業主委員會正在討論是否僱傭另一家承包商，” 這位居民説，他已經支付了超過 4 萬港元，預計還會支付更多。\n 根據該部門的信息，Prestige 是該物業的裝修項目經理，Yuen Fat Construction Engineering 是承包商。\n 另一位在 248 户的樓宇中居住的居民，名叫 Yan，擔心裝修費用是否過高，但強調她不是專業人士，也沒有比較價格。\n 她對參與公司的信譽也表示懷疑，因為當局表示，一家腳手架網製造商涉嫌偽造在 Fortress Garden 使用的材料的安全證書。\n“我絕對希望有人能接手這個項目，但我認為這很困難，” 她説。\n\n 在九龍的油麻地，Nathan Apartment 的業主委員會成員（不願透露姓名）表示，該建築在強制建築檢查計劃和消防安全改善工作中聘請了 Prestige 進行維修。\n 這棟 67 年的建築大約有 70 個單元，分為兩個部分，業主們為這兩個項目支付了約 17 萬港元，大部分程序已完成。\n“僱傭另一家承包商來完成工作將會很困難，” 這位居民説，並補充説業主委員會仍在等待顧問的後續跟進。\n“我們只希望工作能儘快完成，” 這位居民説。\n 嶺南大學的 Yau Yung 教授，英國皇家特許測量師學會的專業成員表示，政府應該對現場使用的材料進行測試，而不僅僅是檢查文件和證書。\n“政府不應僅依賴承包商的自我監管或自我報告，甚至是監督專業人士，” 他説。“建築署應該採取主動行動，查看是否使用了虛假報告或證書，以及現場實際使用的材料是否符合標準。\n“重建公眾對整個建築控制系統的信心是非常重要的。”\n 香港測量師學會建築政策小組主席 Kenny Tse Chi-kin 表示，部門的審查應關注所用材料是否符合防火標準，以及消防安全設備是否正常運作。\nTse 表示，居民還可以與物業管理公司合作，檢查消防安全設備和疏散路線，並瞭解更多關於物業保險的信息。\n 但他敦促居民在採取任何重大步驟（如更換承包商）之前，等待部門對項目的審查結果。\n 來自建築、測量、規劃和景觀行業的立法會議員 Tony Tse Wai-chuen 表示，居民在謹慎考慮後才應聘請新的承包商。\n“更換承包商將延長裝修週期。這也涉及更高的成本和合同問題，” 他説。\n 業主反對串標聯盟創始人 Chiu Yan-loy 表示，正在進行大規模裝修的物業業主通常需要等待至少一年，甚至三到四年，才能讓新聘的承包商開始工作。\n 他説，這種等待通常源於初始承包商與新承包商之間的談判，因為他們會討論交接材料和工具，例如腳手架。</p>

<p>數百名香港物業業主面臨不確定性，因為由於與致命火災相關的安全隱患，29 棟私人建築的裝修工程被暫停。專家建議在更換承包商之前，等待建築署的審查，以避免爭議和額外費用。Prestige Construction 及另外兩家公司正受到審查，已有因過失殺人和腐敗被逮捕的情況。有關部門要求在解除暫停之前進行安全審計，這影響了超過 3,850 個單位</p>

<p>Hundreds of property owners in Hong Kong are grappling with uncertainties after 29 private buildings and estates were ordered to suspend renovation work carried out by a contractor linked to the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court and two other firms.\nResidents at three of the estates told the Post they had already spent millions of Hong Kong dollars on the projects and were now uncertain whether the work was proper or how long the delay would last, with some struggling to choose a new contractor.\nBut some experts advised owners to wait for the Buildings Department’s review of the work carried out by Prestige Construction and Engineering Company and the two other firms before making any decision, as switching could lead to possible contract disputes and extra costs.\n“I am worried that I have paid more than the actual cost … I feel they didn’t do much but had asked for so much money,” said Tracy Lee, a resident at the 49-year-old On Fung Building in the Mid-Levels.\nLee said each of the estate’s 102 households had to pay HK$200,000 (US$25,693) for the renovation, which began several years ago.\n\n\nAccording to a notice posted at the building, Prestige handled the fire services improvement work, which started on March 17 and ended last month.\n“I also saw workers smoking. I told the security guards, but it was in vain,” Lee said.\nThe department announced last week the temporary suspension of renovation work at 30 projects involving 29 private buildings and estates and demanded independent safety audits and improvement plans from the three contractors.\nThe department said some renovations might involve only individual flats. There are more than 3,850 units at all the projects, according to the Post’s calculations.\nTwenty-eight projects, involving 27 buildings or estates, hired Prestige as their registered contractor, the same as Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Eleven of the projects involved repairs, and 17 were about additions and alterations.\nTwo directors and an engineering consultant of Prestige have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, as well as in connection with a corruption probe related to Wang Fuk Court.\nLabour Department records show that Prestige had previously been convicted of safety offences. But a progress report for the Wang Fuk Court renovation work, submitted by project consultant Will Power Architects, explicitly certified that the contractor had neither litigation records with owners nor any convictions by the department.\n\nThe two other contractors tied to the suspension order, Yuen Fat Construction Engineering and Fulam Construction Engineering Company, were found to have used plastic sheeting for work on Fortress Garden in North Point and China Travel Building in Central.\nAuthorities deemed the practice unsafe as an initial investigation found styrofoam used to protect windows at Wang Fuk Court had worsened the spread of flames.\nThe department said it would only consider lifting the suspension when the contractors had demonstrated they had an “effective safety management system”.\nAt the 37-year-old Fortress Garden, work began two months ago to repair walls and replace pipes at Fu Kar Court at a cost of more than HK$30 million, according to one homeowner who declined to be named.\n“Luckily, we have yet to pay all the fees to the contractor … The owners’ corporation is discussing whether to hire another contractor instead,” said the resident, who had already paid over HK$40,000 and was expected to pay more.\nAccording to the department, Prestige is the estate’s renovation project manager and Yuen Fat Construction Engineering is the contractor.\nAnother resident at the block with 248 households, who gave her name as Yan, was concerned whether the renovation cost was too high, but stressed she was not a professional and had not compared prices.\nShe also had reservations about the credibility of the companies involved, after authorities said a scaffolding netting manufacturer allegedly falsified safety certificates for materials used at Fortress Garden.\n“I definitely hope someone can take over the project, but I think it’s difficult,” she said.\n\nIn Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon, a member of the owners’ corporation of Nathan Apartment, who declined to be named, said the building hired Prestige for repairs under the mandatory building inspection scheme and fire safety improvement work.\nOwners of the 67-year-old building with roughly 70 flats, split into two sections, had to pay about HK$170,000 for both projects, and most procedures had been completed.\n“It will be difficult to hire another contractor to wrap up work,” the resident said, adding the owners’ corporation was still waiting for its consultant to follow up.\n“We just hope the work can be completed as soon as possible,” the resident said.\nProfessor Yau Yung from Lingnan University, a professional member of Britain’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said the government should test the materials used at the sites rather than simply examine documents and certificates.\n“The government should not simply rely on the self-regulation or self-reporting of the contractors, or even supervising professionals,” he said. “The Buildings Department should take proactive actions to see if fake reports or certificates have been used, and the materials actually used on site are up to standard.\n“It is important to rebuild public confidence in the whole building control system.”\nKenny Tse Chi-kin, chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors’ building policy panel, said the department’s review should look into whether the materials used complied with fire-retardant standards and fire safety equipment was functioning properly.\nResidents could also work with their property management companies to check fire safety equipment and evacuation routes, as well as learn more about the insurance covering the properties, Tse said.\nBut he urged residents to wait for the department’s review of the projects before taking any major step such as changing a contractor.\nLegislator Tony Tse Wai-chuen from the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector said residents should only hire a new contractor after prudent consideration.\n“Changing a contractor will extend the renovation period. It also involves higher costs and contractual issues,” he said.\nChiu Yan-loy, founder of the Property Owners’ Anti Bid-Rigging Alliance, said owners of properties undergoing large-scale renovation generally had to wait for at least a year, or even three to four years, before a newly hired contractor could start work.\nHe said the wait usually stemmed from negotiations between the initial contractor and the new one, as they would discuss passing on materials and tools, such as scaffolding.\n</p>
<div class="lb-trans"><p>香港數百名業主在 29 棟私人建築和物業被要求暫停與致命火災相關的承包商進行的裝修工作後，面臨不確定性。\n 三處物業的居民告訴《郵報》，他們已經在這些項目上花費了數百萬港元，現在不確定這些工作是否合規，延誤將持續多久，有些人正在努力選擇新的承包商。\n 但一些專家建議業主在做出任何決定之前，等待建築署對 Prestige Construction and Engineering Company 及其他兩家公司的工作進行審查，因為更換承包商可能導致合同爭議和額外費用。\n“我擔心我支付的費用超過了實際成本……我覺得他們沒有做太多，但卻索要了這麼多錢，” 中環 49 年曆史的安豐大廈居民 Tracy Lee 説。\nLee 表示，該物業的 102 户家庭每户需支付 20 萬港元（約合 25,693 美元）進行裝修，該項目幾年前就已開始。\n\n\n 根據張貼在大樓的通知，Prestige 負責的消防服務改善工作於 3 月 17 日開始，並於上個月結束。\n“我還看到工人在抽煙。我告訴保安，但沒有用，” Lee 説。\n 建築署上週宣佈，暫停涉及 29 棟私人建築和物業的 30 個項目的裝修工作，並要求三家承包商提供獨立的安全審計和改進計劃。\n 該部門表示，一些裝修可能僅涉及個別單元。根據《郵報》的計算，所有項目共有超過 3850 個單位。\n28 個項目涉及 27 棟建築或物業，聘請 Prestige 作為註冊承包商，與大埔的王福苑相同。11 個項目涉及維修，17 個項目涉及增建和改建。\nPrestige 的兩名董事和一名工程顧問因涉嫌過失殺人以及與王福苑相關的腐敗調查被捕。\n 勞工處的記錄顯示，Prestige 曾因安全違規而被定罪。但項目顧問 Will Power Architects 提交的王福苑裝修工作的進度報告明確證明，該承包商與業主沒有訴訟記錄，也沒有被該部門定罪。\n\n 與暫停令相關的另外兩家承包商，Yuen Fat Construction Engineering 和 Fulam Construction Engineering Company，被發現曾在北角的 Fortress Garden 和中環的中國旅行大廈使用塑料薄膜進行施工。\n 當局認為這種做法不安全，因為初步調查發現，王福苑用於保護窗户的泡沫塑料加劇了火焰的蔓延。\n 該部門表示，只有在承包商展示出 “有效的安全管理系統” 後，才會考慮解除暫停。\n 在 37 年的 Fortress Garden，修復牆壁和更換管道的工作兩個月前開始，費用超過 3000 萬港元，一位不願透露姓名的業主表示。\n“幸運的是，我們還沒有支付所有費用給承包商……業主委員會正在討論是否僱傭另一家承包商，” 這位居民説，他已經支付了超過 4 萬港元，預計還會支付更多。\n 根據該部門的信息，Prestige 是該物業的裝修項目經理，Yuen Fat Construction Engineering 是承包商。\n 另一位在 248 户的樓宇中居住的居民，名叫 Yan，擔心裝修費用是否過高，但強調她不是專業人士，也沒有比較價格。\n 她對參與公司的信譽也表示懷疑，因為當局表示，一家腳手架網製造商涉嫌偽造在 Fortress Garden 使用的材料的安全證書。\n“我絕對希望有人能接手這個項目，但我認為這很困難，” 她説。\n\n 在九龍的油麻地，Nathan Apartment 的業主委員會成員（不願透露姓名）表示，該建築在強制建築檢查計劃和消防安全改善工作中聘請了 Prestige 進行維修。\n 這棟 67 年的建築大約有 70 個單元，分為兩個部分，業主們為這兩個項目支付了約 17 萬港元，大部分程序已完成。\n“僱傭另一家承包商來完成工作將會很困難，” 這位居民説，並補充説業主委員會仍在等待顧問的後續跟進。\n“我們只希望工作能儘快完成，” 這位居民説。\n 嶺南大學的 Yau Yung 教授，英國皇家特許測量師學會的專業成員表示，政府應該對現場使用的材料進行測試，而不僅僅是檢查文件和證書。\n“政府不應僅依賴承包商的自我監管或自我報告，甚至是監督專業人士，” 他説。“建築署應該採取主動行動，查看是否使用了虛假報告或證書，以及現場實際使用的材料是否符合標準。\n“重建公眾對整個建築控制系統的信心是非常重要的。”\n 香港測量師學會建築政策小組主席 Kenny Tse Chi-kin 表示，部門的審查應關注所用材料是否符合防火標準，以及消防安全設備是否正常運作。\nTse 表示，居民還可以與物業管理公司合作，檢查消防安全設備和疏散路線，並瞭解更多關於物業保險的信息。\n 但他敦促居民在採取任何重大步驟（如更換承包商）之前，等待部門對項目的審查結果。\n 來自建築、測量、規劃和景觀行業的立法會議員 Tony Tse Wai-chuen 表示，居民在謹慎考慮後才應聘請新的承包商。\n“更換承包商將延長裝修週期。這也涉及更高的成本和合同問題，” 他説。\n 業主反對串標聯盟創始人 Chiu Yan-loy 表示，正在進行大規模裝修的物業業主通常需要等待至少一年，甚至三到四年，才能讓新聘的承包商開始工作。\n 他説，這種等待通常源於初始承包商與新承包商之間的談判，因為他們會討論交接材料和工具，例如腳手架。</p>
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香港一些住宅區的居民因裝修工程暫停而感到困惑，他們不知道接下來會發生什麼