Fire-linked contractor faces winding-up over wage arrears
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
At the High Court on September 23, winding-up petitions against Wang Yip Construction Engineering Co. Ltd. and Wing Shun (Hong Kong) Engineering Co. Ltd. were adjourned to November 11 after the petitioner said the companies still owed substantial sums linked to unpaid wages and reimbursements to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund. The two firms were identified as the main contractor and subcontractor respectively for maintenance works at Tuen Mun's Yee Lok Garden, while Wang Yip is also the main maintenance contractor in the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire case.
Key Points
- Petitioner Chan Yim (陳艷) filed winding-up petitions against Wang Yip Construction Engineering and Wing Shun (Hong Kong) Engineering, alleging unpaid wages owed to workers.
- The petitioner told the court Wang Yip still owed about HK$2.29 million to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund, while Wing Shun owed about HK$3 million.
- The court was told Wang Yip had paid HK$32,400, with reports saying the money was used toward wage payments involving Wing Shun workers.
- Wang Yip was legally represented at the hearing, but Wing Shun had no representative and was absent when the two petitions were heard together
- The petitioner said the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund may later replace Chan Yim as petitioner if the debts remain unpaid, and the cases were adjourned to November 11.
Why It Matters
The petitions add another layer of financial and legal pressure on a contractor already linked in public attention to the Wang Fuk Court fire investigations and criminal proceedings. For workers and creditors, the next hearing will show whether the companies can repay the outstanding sums or whether the wage-protection fund will step in directly as petitioner.