The Hong Kong government has been pressing waste minimization in construction as an alternative strategy for reducing filling-up of landfill areas by promoting the implementation of various governmental controls. However, it appears that the applications of these methods have received limited effectiveness in the practices. This paper examines the factors affecting the effectiveness of implementing governmental control measures for waste reduction. These factors cover a wide range of aspects including legislation, public filling facilities, landfill areas, on-site sorting facilities, environmental management system, waste reduction framework plan, recycling scheme and subsidies by government. The data used for the analysis are from a questionnaire survey to the professionals in the local industry. Voluntary scheme on waste reduction framework plan and environmental management system found to be prompted well from the government bodies. However, the support from government in terms of financial and legislative together with the promotion of voluntary scheme should be the future developments for waste minimization in construction.