Housing Project Hit By Substandard Steel Blunder

The Housing Society has confirmed that tonnes of concrete reinforcing rods in its redevelopment project in Shau Kei Wan were made from substandard steel.

Seven-and-a-half tonnes of the rods were used in a car park and ground-floor structures at the Ming Wah Dai Ha subsidised public housing project.

The society said the contractor is replacing the rods, and throwing away another 12 tonnes of unused ones.

It said a sub-contractor was hurrying and used the bars before getting test reports back - which later showed they were made of substandard steel.

The society said the extra construction costs and possible income loss due to delay will be paid by the contractor.

It expects the first phase of the project, which will provide 960 flats, should still be completed on schedule by the end of next year. The last of the three phases is expected to be finished in 2031.