(1)

The owners of not less than 5% of the shares in aggregate shall appoint an owner as the convenor of the meeting of owners. The sample form may be used to record the decision on the appointment of the convenor.

(2)

The convenor should ascertain the number of shares and voting rights of each flat by making reference to the clauses in the DMC of the building. This is to facilitate the recording at the meeting of owners the shares of the owners who attend the meeting personally or by proxy. The DMC, which is a public document, is available from the offices of the Land Registry or can be downloaded from the website of the Land Registry (www.landreg.gov.hk). The convenor can get a copy of the DMC upon payment of the prescribed fee.

(3)

The convenor should check the land register to ascertain the name of each owner.

(4)

The land register contains the land record in the building which are public information. The convenor can get a copy of the relevant information from the offices of Land Registry or by visiting the website of the Land Registry upon payment of the prescribed fee.

(5)

The convenor may use the relevant form or may click here to register, to apply to the respective DO for an exemption certificate for obtaining a free copy of the land record from the Land Registry. Each building will only be issued with the exemption certificate once.

(6)

The convenor has to make sure that the date, time and place of the meeting as well as the agenda of meeting are clearly specified in the notice of meeting of owners. The agenda shall only specify the resolutions that are related to the incorporation of the owners and the appointment of an MC.

(7)

The convenor has to make sure that the address of the building (especially the name of the building) as specified on the notice of meeting of owners is the same as the address appeared in the land register. (The book "Names of Buildings" published by the Rating and Valuation Department or the DMC of the building may be used as reference.)

(8)

The convenor has to make sure that the notice of meeting of owners is delivered to all the owners, the DMC manager and the person authorized by the DMC (if any) at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. The notice of meeting of owners may be delivered personally to the recipient, sent by post to his/her last known address, left at the owner's flat or deposited in the letter box for that flat.

(9)

The convenor has to make sure that the notice of meeting of owners is displayed in a prominent place in the building at least 14 days before the date of the meeting of owners.

(10)

The convenor has to make sure that the instrument prepared for the purpose of appointing a proxy shall be in the form set out in Form 1 in Schedule 1A to the BMO.

(11)

The instrument of proxy may be attached to the notice of meeting issued to owners or be available at the management office of the building (if any) for the owners. It is advisable to attach a statement of purposes to the instrument, stating the purposes of collection of owners' information.

(12)

The convenor is advised to remind the owners to lodge with him the instruments of proxy at least 48 hours before the time for the holding of the meeting.

(13)

The convenor has to send an acknowledgement of receipt to the owner who has lodged an instrument of proxy. The receipt may be left at the flat of the owner or deposited in the letter box for the flat.

(14)

The convenor has to determine the validity of the instruments of proxy.

(15)

The instrument appointing a proxy is valid only if it is made and lodged in the following manner -

(16)

A list setting out the flats with instruments of proxy lodged (no matter the instrument is valid or not) shall be displayed in a prominent place in the place of the meeting before the time for the holding of the meeting. The information shall remain so displayed until the conclusion of the meeting.

(If the convenor has decided that the instrument of proxy lodged by any owner is invalid, he is advised to put a mark against the flat concerned on the list for information of the attendees of the meeting.)

(1)

The convenor has to record clearly the name of the owners and proxies present at the meeting of owners, and the number of shares allotted to the flats concerned.

(2)

The convenor should make sure that the quorum, i.e. 10% of the owners (including those present personally and those represented by proxies) is met.

(3)

The convenor has to preside at a meeting of owners.

(4)

Before a resolution is put to vote, the convenor has to explain to the owners present at the meeting the voting method, for example, by a show of hands or by putting a "✔" or "❌" on the voting forms.

(5)

Unless the DMC of the building provides otherwise, an owner shall have one vote in respect of each share he owns. Any valid vote cast by the owner personally or by proxy is to be counted.

(6)

If a share is owned by 2 or more persons -

 

(i)

The vote in respect of the share of the flat may be cast -

 

(a)

by a proxy jointly appointed by the co-owners;

 

(b)

by a person appointed by the co-owners from amongst themselves; or

 

(c)

if no appointment is made under subparagraph (a) or (b), either by one of the co-owners personally or by a proxy appointed by one of the co-owners.

 

(ii)

where more than one of the co-owners seeks to cast a vote in respect of the share, the convenor shall only treat the vote cast by the co-owner whose name, in order of priority, stands highest in relation to that share in the register kept at the Land Registry be a valid one no matter whether such vote is cast personally or by proxy.

(7)

In determining whether a resolution is passed by a majority of the votes of the owners at a meeting of owners, the following shall be disregarded -

 

(i)

owners who are not present at the meeting;

 

(ii)

owners who are present at the meeting but do not vote;

 

(iii)

blank or invalid votes;

 

(iv)

abstentions.

(8)

The convenor has to make sure that the resolution on the appointment of an MC must be passed by a majority of votes of the owners, and supported by the owners of not less than 30% of the shares in aggregate.

(9)

The convenor has to make sure that the resolution on the number of MC members is passed by a majority of votes of the owners.

Paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the BMO specifies the number of MC members which is determined according to the number of flats in the building -

 

• where the building contains not more than 50 flats, the number of members shall be not less than 3;
• where the building contains more than 50 flats but not more than 100 flats, the number of members shall be not less than 7;
• where the building contains more than 100 flats, the number of members shall be not less than 9.

(10)

The convenor has to make sure that the resolution to appoint eligible MC members from amongst the owners attending the same owners' meeting is passed by the "first past the post" voting system. Where the number of candidates is not more than the number of MC members, the candidates shall be deemed to be appointed as members uncontested.

(11)

The convenor has to make sure that the resolution on the establishment of the office of the MC vice-chairman is passed by a majority of votes at the same owners' meeting.

(12)

The convenor has to make sure that the resolutions to appoint the MC chairman, vice-chairman (if applicable), secretary and treasurer from amongst the MC members by owners attending the same owners' meeting are passed by the "first past the post" voting system.

The secretary and treasurer need not be MC members or owners.

Where there is only one candidate respectively for each of these offices, the candidate shall be deemed to be appointed uncontested.

(13)

If the secretary and treasurer are not MC members, the convenor has to point out that they shall not become MC members by virtue of their appointment to these two offices.

(14)

If, after the counting is finished, two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, the result shall be determined by drawing lots and the candidate on whom the lot falls is to be appointed.

(15)

The convenor has to put clearly on record the voting results and the resolutions passed.
(To facilitate vote counting, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) has designed the "Easy Count System" vote-counting computer programme.)

(16)

The convenor has to remind every MC member to make a Statement (with Notes about Personal Data), in the form specified by the Land Registry, that they do not fall within the description of the paragraph below, and lodge with the MC secretary the signed declaration within 21 days after the appointment. An MC member who fails to comply with the requirement shall cease to be such member.

(17)

The convenor has to remind owners that a person is not eligible to be appointed as an MC member if he -

 

(i)

is an undischarged bankrupt or has, within the previous 5 years, either obtained a discharge in bankruptcy or entered into a voluntary arrangement within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) with his creditors, in either case without paying the creditors in full;

 

(ii)

has, within the previous 5 years, been convicted of an offence in Hong Kong, or any other place for which he has been sentenced to imprisonment, whether suspended or not, for a term exceeding 3 months without the option of a fine.

(1)

The convenor has to deliver all the instruments for the appointment of proxies received to the newly appointed MC who should keep them for at least 12 months.

(2)

The convenor has to keep all the instruments of proxy received for at least 12 months if the meeting did not pass the resolution to appoint an MC.

(3)

The newly-appointed MC shall within 28 days after its appointment make an application in the prescribed Form (with Notes about Personal Data) to the Land Registrar for the registration of the owners as a corporation.

(4)

An application shall be accompanied by the following documents -

 

(i)

a copy of the DMC of the building;

 

(ii)

a certified copy of the Resolution (with Notes about Personal Data) or any other document (e.g. minutes of the meeting) evidencing the appointment of an MC and its chairman, vice-chairman (if any), secretary and treasurer;

 

(iii)

a Declaration (with Notes about Personal Data) by the MC chairman or secretary that the appointment of an MC is in compliance with the BMO;

 

(iv)

a Statement (with Notes about Personal Data) by each MC member that he does not fall within the description of paragraph 4(1)(a) or 4(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the BMO.

(The MC secretary shall complete and sign the Confirmation on Lodgment of Statement (with Notes about Personal Data) after receiving the statements from MC members. The duly signed Confirmation shall be submitted together with the application to the Land Registry.)
(If the meeting of owners is held under section 3 of the BMO and the appointment of the convenor is duly recorded in the form, the MC may submit such form as a proof together with other documents required evidencing that the convenor is duly appointed.
If an OC is formed under sections 3A or 4 of the BMO, a copy of the relevant order issued by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs or the Lands Tribunal, as the case may be, shall be submitted as well.)

(5)

The declaration mentioned in paragraphs (4)(iii) above can be made at the offices of the Land Registry or the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) of DOs, or before other person authorized by law to administer an oath (e.g. a justice of the peace, lawyer or notary public).

(5A)

The statement mentioned in paragraph 4(iv) above shall be signed by the appointed MC member in the presence of a witness who shall also sign the statement to confirm that the signature of the member is genuine. A witness may be any person aged 18 or above such as a family member, a neighbour or another MC member. The MC member may lodge the statement in or outside Hong Kong.

(6)

The MC chairman or secretary should, where possible, make the application and pay the fee in person at the relevant office of the Land Registry. To save time, the MC chairman or secretary may make an appointment with the Land Registry before submission of an application.
(If the MC chairman or secretary is a body corporate, its representative shall bring along the body corporate's seal or chop when making the application at the relevant office of the Land Registry.)

(7)

It may take 1 to 3 months for the Land Registry to process the application, depending on individual circumstances. If there is a need to complete the registration in 1 month's time, reasons have to be given in writing to the Land Registry at the time of submission of an application.

(8)

Upon approval of the application for incorporation and payment of the registration fee, a certificate of registration will be issued.

(9)

The date of formation of an OC is the date on which the certificate of registration is issued by the Land Registry. With effect from the date of issue of the certificate, the owners for the time being shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and the new MC shall be deemed to be the first MC of the corporation.

(10)

Under section 11 of the BMO, an MC shall display in a prominent place in the building the following documents -

 

(i)

a copy of the certificate of registration of OC; and

 

(ii)

a notice of registered office of OC (if the office is located in the building); or

 

(iii)

a copy of that notice endorsed with the address of the registered office (if the office is not located in the building).

(11)

Where an OC's registered office is not located in the building, a notice of registered office shall be displayed by the MC in a prominent place at the registered office of the OC.

(12)

The Land Registrar shall maintain a register of corporations and permit any person to inspect the register at any reasonable time. The name of the OC, the name (if any) and address of the building, the address of the registered office of the OC as well as the name and address of all MC members, etc. will be entered in the register. Even if the secretary and the treasurer are not MC members, their name and address will be entered in the register.

(13)

The MC secretary shall, within 28 days of the date of any change in the particulars in the register, give notice thereof to the Land Registrar in the form specified by the Land Registrar.

(14)

The MC secretary shall maintain a register containing the name and address of each owner in the building. Where any flat is subject to a mortgage, the secretary shall enter in the register the name and address of the registered mortgagee.

(15)

The address of an owner shall be the address of the flat which he owns and the address of a registered mortgagee shall be his address appearing in the registered mortgage, unless the owner or registered mortgagee notifies the MC secretary in writing of some other address.

(16)

The MC secretary shall from time to time amend the register if there is any change to the particulars of owners and registered mortgagees.

(1)

An MC shall convene the first annual general meeting of the OC not later than 15 months after the date of the registration of the OC.

(2)

An MC shall convene another annual general meeting not earlier than 12 months, and not later than 15 months, after the date of the first annual general meeting. At the annual general meeting, all MC members, together with the secretary and the treasurer (even if they are not MC members), shall retire from office. An OC shall, by a resolution passed at the same annual general meeting, appoint a new MC.