ICAC urges property owners against building management graft
2010-10-17
ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming today (Sunday) called upon property owners to take an active interest in managing their buildings and stay vigilant of corruption.
Speaking after launching ICAC’s Integrity and Quality Building Management Programme, Dr Tong said that with a growing number of ageing buildings requiring repair and the large sums involved in renovation contracts, property owners should watch out for possible corruption risks.
The Commissioner revealed that while 735 complaints involving building management were received by the ICAC in the first nine months this year, the majority was trivial or speculative in nature and mainly related to management problems.
Dr Tong added that allegations received mainly concerned building maintenance or renovation projects, financial management and the day-to-day running of owners corporations (OCs).
For a small number of cases involving corrupt collusion among OC committee members, unscrupulous building consultants, contractors and other professionals, he said that the ICAC had taken rigorous enforcement actions.
“The ICAC will continue to work with the Government and relevant public, professional and district bodies to help owners equip themselves with the knowledge and skills in corruption prevention and effective property management,” he said.
The ICAC received 2,634 corruption reports in the first nine months this year, a five per cent rise over the same period last year. About 77 per cent of these were pursuable. Private and public sectors saw increases of four per cent and one per cent respe ctively.
A three-year campaign co-organised by the ICAC, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), Home Affairs Department and related professional bodies culminated in the launch of the Integrity and Quality Building Management Programme today.
A newly produced corruption prevention toolkit on OC operation covering formation, daily management, staff administration, procurement and handling of proxies will be sent to Hong Kong’s some 8,000 OCs.
Other education and publicity initiatives include a training video, TV and radio spot series, workshops, roving exhibitions, an enquiry hotline and a building management information website.
In the past two years, corruption prevention toolkits on administration of building maintenance projects and financial management were compiled and promulgated for the benefit of OCs and parties involved in building management.
Also officiating at today’s ceremony were HKHS Chairman Mr Yeung Ka-sing, Assistant Director of Home Affairs Ms Sharon Ho Ho-shuen, Advisory Committee on Corruption Member Ms Shelley Lee Lai-kuen and representatives from other co-organisers.
Speaking after launching ICAC’s Integrity and Quality Building Management Programme, Dr Tong said that with a growing number of ageing buildings requiring repair and the large sums involved in renovation contracts, property owners should watch out for possible corruption risks.
The Commissioner revealed that while 735 complaints involving building management were received by the ICAC in the first nine months this year, the majority was trivial or speculative in nature and mainly related to management problems.
Dr Tong added that allegations received mainly concerned building maintenance or renovation projects, financial management and the day-to-day running of owners corporations (OCs).
For a small number of cases involving corrupt collusion among OC committee members, unscrupulous building consultants, contractors and other professionals, he said that the ICAC had taken rigorous enforcement actions.
“The ICAC will continue to work with the Government and relevant public, professional and district bodies to help owners equip themselves with the knowledge and skills in corruption prevention and effective property management,” he said.
The ICAC received 2,634 corruption reports in the first nine months this year, a five per cent rise over the same period last year. About 77 per cent of these were pursuable. Private and public sectors saw increases of four per cent and one per cent respe ctively.
A three-year campaign co-organised by the ICAC, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), Home Affairs Department and related professional bodies culminated in the launch of the Integrity and Quality Building Management Programme today.
A newly produced corruption prevention toolkit on OC operation covering formation, daily management, staff administration, procurement and handling of proxies will be sent to Hong Kong’s some 8,000 OCs.
Other education and publicity initiatives include a training video, TV and radio spot series, workshops, roving exhibitions, an enquiry hotline and a building management information website.
In the past two years, corruption prevention toolkits on administration of building maintenance projects and financial management were compiled and promulgated for the benefit of OCs and parties involved in building management.
Also officiating at today’s ceremony were HKHS Chairman Mr Yeung Ka-sing, Assistant Director of Home Affairs Ms Sharon Ho Ho-shuen, Advisory Committee on Corruption Member Ms Shelley Lee Lai-kuen and representatives from other co-organisers.