In recent years, the systems of building control in many countriesrnwere reviewed or reformed. In the revamp processes, greater involvement of thernprivate sector in the building approval exercise was frequently proposed althoughrnthe duties to ensure the safety standard of building works have long been assumedrnby the governments. Hong Kong also followed this trend, and a minor worksrncontrol regime (MCWR) was proposed in 2003 with an aim for streamlining thernbuilding proposal approval exercise. Under the proposed regime, private sectorrnpractitioners are allowed to certify certain types of small-scale building works.rnDespite the local government claim that the proposed MCWR could improve thernoverall building quality in the city, effectiveness of the new system is highlyrndoubtful. This article aims to critically evaluate the proposed private certifi cationrninitiative. Although new system may be able to speed up the process of buildingrnproposal approval, incentives for the citizens to engage in the new process seemrnnot to be installed. Whether there exists a critical mass of qualifi ed professionalsrnin the private sector who are willing to validate existing unauthorized buildingrnworks is also questionable. More importantly, the subsidiary revalidation schemernunder the proposed control regime blurs the boundary between legal and illegalrnbuilding works.

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