For the first time the ICAC had gathered together over 300 stakeholders in building management, including representatives from relevant Government departments, regulatory bodies, professional bodies, District Council (DC) members from all 18 districts, Owners' Corporations (OCs) representatives, flats owners as well as property management professionals, at the Building Management Summit (the Summit) hosted by the Commission today (June 23). The event served as a platform for direct exchange and was a collective effort from different sectors to tackle issues relating to building maintenance and create a desirable living environment for citizens.

Over the years the ICAC has adopted a three-pronged approach to foster integrity in building management. To safeguard citizens’ interests and safety, the Commission takes a tough stance against all forms of corruption in building maintenance and makes an all-out effort to promote preventive education work in the building management sector. Speaking at the Summit today, ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming said building management was a core issue affecting the livelihoods of numerous households, while building maintenance, in particular, was a perpetual hot topic in the society. Property owners required assistance and support from different sectors to tackle problems arising from building maintenance, which involved various stakeholders, significant amounts of money as well as legal and professional expertise. Such assistance and support should not come from one or two individual Government departments or law enforcement agencies. Relevant stakeholders and professional bodies should put their heads together, and property owners should actively participate in order to achieve the desired result.

Mr Woo noted that the Summit, supported by all relevant departments, organisations and professional bodies across the territory, showed that the issue was high on the agenda of the Government and other stakeholders. “Not only has the Summit established a multi-faceted platform for learning and exchange, but it has also created a synergy amongst stakeholders which property owners could count on for support. Today’s Summit is just a starting point. To sustain the effort, different Government departments will take turn to host the platform to ensure property owners could regularly receive the latest information as well as timely and suitable assistance to cope with rapid changing technology and ever-evolving new crimes,” Mr Woo said. The Commissioner hoped that this “one-stop” platform would serve as a morale-booster for flat owners, and that stakeholders could help promote the Summit’s achievements in their respective fields to facilitate interactions and maximize its positive impacts.

Also speaking at the Summit today, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Ms Mak Mei-kuen noted that the Government would adopt a multi-pronged approach to support property owners and promote good and effective building management. “Building management is an important part of improving district governance. The Home Affairs Department and District Officers will, according to actual circumstances, coordinate with DC members and Care Teams in the community, as well as the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) to implement corresponding measures to help mediate disputes between flat owners and OCs or property management companies. They would play a bridging role of connecting the Government and citizens by ensuring effective communications, assisting flat owners to find solutions and facilitating effective building management,” Ms Mak said.

Ms Mak added that amendments in the Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, to take effect on July 13, aimed at strengthening protection of flat owners’ interests and minimizing potential disputes. By tightening supervision of bidding and procurement procedures as well as OC’s financial management, the Ordinance would help enhance transparency and accountability of OCs and prevent potential corrupt conduct.

Other officiating guests of today’s launching ceremony included the Hon Chan Kin-por, the Executive and Legislative Council Member cum Chairman of the ICAC’s Advisory Committee on Corruption; the Hon Chan Hak-kan, the Executive and Legislative Council Member; Mr Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police; the Hon Kong Yuk-foon, the Legislative Council member and member of the ICAC’s Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee; Mr Ho Chun-hung, the Director of Buildings; Mr Ng Hung-fai, the Assistant Director of Home Affairs Department; Dr Wong Kong-tin, the Chairman of PMSA and member of the ICAC’s Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations; Mr Chan Ka-yan, the Chairman of the Competition Commission (CC); and Mr Wong Se-king, the General Manager (Building Rehabilitation) of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA). In addition, the District Officers or Assistant District Officers from 18 districts; Mr Cheung Hoi-fo, the Chair of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA); Ms Chow Kin-tak, the Senior Vice President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and Mr Leung Chi-tim, the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) also officiated at the launching ceremony. Altogether, representatives from seven co-organisers and 21 supporting organisations participated in today’s event.

The Summit was also attended by over 200 members of the public, including property owners from various districts, OC representatives, DC members, representatives of property management companies and other stakeholders related to building management.

The Summit included two thematic discussion sessions. The first session featured nine speakers from government departments, organisations and professional bodies. They briefed participants on the assistance and services offered in building maintenance procedures as well as the way forward, covering the Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, financial subsidies as well as professional advices. ICAC Principal Corruption Prevention Officer Ms Esther Poon Tak-yi noted that to ensure useful reference and sufficient information was available for property owners, the Commission and the URA were conducting studies on enhancing transparency of registrations of building maintenance and consultancy companies as well as their integrity requirements.

The second discussion session was presided over by representatives from organisations tasked with enforcement in relation to building maintenance, namely CC, Hong Kong Police Force, ICAC and PMSA. Through analysing the latest cases and scenarios, they brought participants’ attention to illegal behaviours in building management, highlighting rigorous enforcement actions against bid-rigging, triad and organized crimes and corruption, as well as on-going efforts to strengthen professional ethics of the sector. These initiatives formed a solid line of defence in the society. ICAC Principal Investigator Mr Bill Ng Siu-kei briefed participants on two recent major ICAC operations involving corruption in building maintenance projects and expounded on common modus operandi revealed in corruption complaints received in recent years. Mr Ng said the Commission would continue to cooperate closely with other law enforcement departments and regulatory bodies. Where necessary, the ICAC would take decisive actions to promptly intervene in building maintenance projects if corruption or other crimes were suspected.

In the “Building Maintenance Workshop” held in the afternoon, over 80 participants took part in group discussions and shared their own experiences. They learned about possible problems, corresponding solutions as well as corruption prevention measures. Different stakeholders explored ways out and supporting strategies in view of concerns raised by property owners. They also reminded flat owners and stakeholders to beware of different “red flags”.

Participants also received the “Building Maintenance Guide” produced by the ICAC. The booklet includes a comic case study illustrated by artificial intelligence tools. The story covers common illegal activities in building maintenance and provides ways of detecting such. It also contains useful information and service areas of Government departments, regulatory bodies and professional organisations, providing a “one-stop” reference portal for members of the public. The booklet is also uploaded to the ICAC’s “Integrity and Quality Building Management” thematic website (https://bm.icac.hk), and will later be available at all ICAC Regional Offices.