LCQ9: Building Management

Following is a question by the Dr Hon David Li Kwok-po and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 5):

Question:

The Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 (BMO) came into operation on August 1, 2007 with the aim of rationalising the appointment procedures of a management committee, and assisting owners' corporations ("OCs") in performing their duties and exercising their powers.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective numbers of OCs formed under the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) in each of the 12-month periods beginning on October 1 each year from 2002 to 2007;

(b) of the average number of enquiries handled each month by the District Building Management Liaison Teams ("DBMLT") under the Home Affairs Department ("HAD") in the 12-month period ended  September 30, 2008;

(c) of the number of exemption certificates issued in the 12-month period ended September 30, 2008 to convenors for obtaining a free copy of record of owners of the building from the Land Registry for the purpose of convening a meeting of owners to form an OC; and

(d) whether the HAD provides to owners wishing to form an OC any assistance, other than that provided by the DBMLT (including distribution of information booklets) and the Property Management Advisory Centres of the Hong Kong Housing Society; if so, of the details of such assistance?

Reply:

President,

(a) The respective numbers of Owners' Corporations (OCs) formed under the Building Management Ordinance (BMO) in each of the 12-month periods beginning on October 1 each year from 2002 to 2007 are shown as follows –

Year	Number of OCs set up under the BMO
Oct 1, 07 – Sep 30, 08	216
Oct 1, 06 – Sep 30, 07	270
Oct 1, 06 – Sep 30, 06	356
Oct 1, 06 – Sep 30, 05	254
Oct 1, 06 – Sep 30, 04	337
Oct 1, 06 – Sep 30, 03	272

(b) In the 12-month per1iod ended September 30, 2008, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) District Building Management Liaison Teams (DBMLTs) handled 1,217 enquiries per month on average.  

(c) In the 12-month period ended September 30, 2008, a total of 145 exemption certificates were issued to convenors of owners' meetings for obtaining a free copy of record of owners of the building from the Land Registry for forming an OC.

(d) The DBMLTs are set up as part and parcel of HAD's establishment to provide assistance to owners on building management matters.  Through the DBMLTs, HAD has been providing support for owners in the formation of OCs.  These include rendering advice to owners on the procedures of OC formation, issuing exemption certificates to convenors of owners' meeting for obtaining a free copy of record of owners of the building from the Land Registry, and attending owners' meetings to provide assistance.  In addition, HAD maintains a dedicated website on building management which contains useful materials on the formation of OC, such as the relevant legislation, forms, and publications.

HAD also partners with the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) to provide financial assistance and free legal advice to owners to facilitate formation of OCs.  Under the Building Management Incentive Scheme of HKHS, each OC will be granted $3,000 to cover the expenses incurred in its formation.

Ends/Wednesday, November 5, 2008