The ICAC and the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) have joined forces to provide comprehensive training and support to property management companies (PMCs), practitioners and relevant stakeholders through a holistic strategy, which set to strengthen the anti-corruption awareness and enhance the integrity standard across the sector.

Speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the Integrity Property Management League (the League) today (April 26), which was co-hosted by the ICAC and the PMSA and supported by 13 Recognised Professional Bodies (RPBs) of the property management sector, the ICAC’s Director of Community Relations Corinna Wong Kit-mui noted that through the concerted efforts of the League, practitioners were encouraged to uphold integrity in order to gain the trust of their clients and members of the public, and safeguard the reputation of the industry.

Wong remarked that the aim of the League was to “Co-build”, “Shared resources” and “Achieve a win-win situation”. ‘“Co-build” signifies the ICAC’s comprehensive training initiatives tailored for all levels and positions within the property management industry for fostering an integrity culture; “Shared resources” refers to the ICAC’s provision of diverse anti-corruption resources and learning materials, freely available for practitioners of different levels of the industry; “Achieve a win-win situation” refers to the continuous concerted efforts of the ICAC, the PMSA and 13 RPBs to enhance professional ethics for mutual success for the industry, regulatory agencies and the public,” said Wong.

The PMSA Chairperson Dr James Wong Kong-tin remarked that for industry practitioners, having good ethics and integrity was just as important as possessing professional qualification and knowledge. “Quality, professional and integrity-based property management services is the cornerstone of the industry. Hence it is essential for PMCs to enhance and add value to their services, and to promote a sustainable and healthy growth of the industry in the long run,” said Dr Wong.

Dr Wong added that the presence of all the leaders of the PMSA RPBs and industry bodies today at the launching ceremony signified their firm commitment to enhancing the professional standard of property management services and strengthening corporate governance through uniting the industry, laying a solid foundation and setting a crucial milestone for the industry’s work in promoting integrity management.

Following the launching ceremony, the ICAC and PMSA co-hosted an integrity seminar which was attended by around 200 managerial staff from 120 PMCs. ICAC officers shared their insights from the aspects of law enforcement, corruption prevention and education. Participants were alerted to common corruption risks, corruption prevention measures as well as the importance of an integrity culture.

Meanwhile, around 30 managerial staff from 14 major local PMCs completed the Professional Anti-corruption Training in Property Management organised by the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC) on Wednesday (April 23). Analysis of real cases concerning property management, suitable corruption prevention advice and tips for establishing a clean culture in PCMs were shared by ICAC officers from the Operations Department, Corruption Prevention Department and Community Relations Department. Participants also discussed their own experiences encountered at work during the course.

The training course was supported by PMSA and the Urban Renewal Authority (URA). Dr Wong and the URA Managing Director Ir Wai Chi-sing shared with participants the importance of integrity in PMCs and relevant corruption prevention measures concerning building rehabilitation respectively. Legislator Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, who attended the closing ceremony of the course, remarked that the training was useful in enhancing professional ethics of the property management sector.

“The HKIAAC training course helps establish a clean culture in the industry and maintain a good business environment, facilitating the sustainable development of the industry,” said Kong.

In addition, the ICAC has launched a new “Corruption Prevention Guide for Property Management Companies” (the Guide) for PMCs, outlining common corruption risks and modus operandi through analysing corruption complaints and large-scale law enforcement actions in the property management industry in the past 10 years. The Guide provides case analysis, red flag warnings, frequently asked questions and corruption prevention advice, etc., in various areas, such as management services, building maintenance, procurement and employee management, financial management to help enhance the standards of governance.

The ICAC has also produced a 10-episode integrity training video series, covering major work aspects in the property management industry, such as personnel management, project contracts, contractor supervision and managing conflict of interest. Each episode includes an explanation of the relevant anti-corruption laws so that users could appreciate the legislative intent and legal requirements.

To remind property owners of the potential corruption risks associated with property management issues, the ICAC has also produced a leaflet “Corruption Prevention 101 - Building Maintenance Tips for Owners”. The leaflet highlights the key areas of concern property owners should take note of in building maintenance projects and provides relevant corruption prevention suggestions and other practical information.

An interactive online self-learning course for frontline property management practitioners has been launched to support internal training of PMCs and enhance employees’ understanding of the gist of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, as well as to heighten their vigilance and resistance to corruption. The ICAC has also set up an enquiry hotline for building management (2929 4555). Useful reference materials can be accessed on the “Integrity and Quality Building Management Website” (https://bm.icac.hk).