Three starter home blocks to be demolished: developer

Three residential towers of a development on Anderson Road in Kwun Tong embroiled in a steel bar bribery scandal will be demolished and rebuilt, the Buildings Department and the project developer said on Thursday. The department said that it has approved the demolition plans submitted by CK Asset Holdings, although no application has been made for the works to begin. It has also given permission to the developer to carry out strengthening works at three other towers, sparing them from the wrecking ball. It is understood the remedial works already began in May. The development is supposed to provide no less than 1,000 starter homes, which cater to local, first-time homebuyers who exceed the income ceiling for subsidised housing but are priced out of the private market. Eligible buyers will receive a 20-percent discount based on prevailing market prices. The site was awarded by tender to CK Asset for HK$4.95 billion back in 2020. CK Asset had originally estimated a completion date of September 2026, but construction was halted in 2024 when it was revealed that steel reinforcement works at all six towers had deviated from required standards. A probe has found that the steel bars had either deviated from its intended position, or did not match the number or size stated in the approved plans, while structural columns were misaligned. But authorities concluded there was no obvious danger to the overall structure of the six buildings. The revelation has led to the arrest of 10 people by the Independent Commission Against Corruption last year on suspicion of committing bribery and using false documents. The Buildings Department then initiated 205 prosecutions against registered general building contractors and individuals for breaches of the Buildings Ordinance. The case will be heard in June 2027. Responding to media enquiries, CK Asset said each building was being treated independently. Citing a time-consuming investigation for three towers spanning nearly two years, it said the decision to knock down the remaining three blocks was the most economically efficient one. Edited by Aaron Tam

2026-10-08 21:58:00