'Contractor trouble won't affect public flat supply'
A Housing Authority member said on Thursday that he believes the supply of public housing units will not be significantly affected, even if a contractor that is building over 10,000 public flats fails to renew its licence. The government said earlier that it is now reviewing the licence renewal application of Aggressive Construction Company, which is currently responsible for four Housing Authority projects.  The company was involved in a fatal crane collapse at a Sau Mau Ping construction site in September last year, that killed three workers and injured another six. Last week, an electrician also fell to his death at a Yau Ma Tei construction site overseen by the firm.  Aggressive Construction Company’s sister firm, Aggressive Construction Engineering, was on Wednesday ordered to wrap up its business within a month due to safety concerns.  Johnnie Chan, who chairs the Housing Authority’s building committee, said works at the four public housing sites are being carried out normally for the time being.  If Aggressive Construction Company is ordered to halt its operations, he said the authority will look for other firms to take over, noting that there are plenty of choices available.  "There is no need to worry that the supply of public housing will be affected," Chan said. Chief Executive John Lee, for his part, said he has asked housing minister Winnie Ho to report to him on the matter. "Of course I care about the overall public housing supply, so I've asked the Secretary for Housing to carefully examine the actual situation. We have experience with construction companies ceasing operations because of problems," he said. Lee said both Ho and development minister Bernadette Linn are "wholly devoted" to dealing with the issue.